The Origin of Humans Based on Javanese Literary Studies

Abstract

Though the origin of humans has been widely discussed by numbers of scholars, its matters still remain mystery and contradiction. Different people in communities have various sources and truth criteria. This study aimed at unearthing the origin of humans based on Javanese written and oral literatures. Results showed that there were two meaningful but different versions regarding how humans were originated based on both written and oral literatures. The two versions were initiated and supported by different religion backgrounds. The first version was born from older Javanese literatures that showed the significant influence of Hindu in which humans were portrayed through Gods pedigree. Meanwhile, the second version was born from literatures affected by Islam, either puritanical or Javanese Islam, which made Islam number one so that Gods in Hindu were under Prophet Adam in Islam. However, such Javanese people's views regarding the beliefs of the origin of humans should not be debated with other truths. Since the truths in Javanese literatures were only believed and carried out by those supporting communities, truths were then actually relative.