Pangkur
(KGPA. Mangkunegara IV, Wedhatama)
Mingkar-mingkuring angkara,
Akarana karenan mardi siwi,
Sinawung resmining kidung,
Sinuba sinukarta,
Mrih kertarto, pakartining ngelmu luhung,
Kang tumrap neng tanah Jawi,
Agama-ageming aji.
Tembang macapat or Javanese traditional song is a Javanese literary work that has a tone in the form of traditional Javanese songs or poetry. Macapat are usually bound by guru gatra, guru wilangan, and guru lagu. In Javanese culture, apart from being entertainment, macapat also has a role as education and philosophical guidance. Like Pangkur, for example, has a meaning as advice where we as humans should mungkur (withdraw) from worldly matters and start prioritizing religion.
The name Pangkur itself comes from the name of penggawa, a member of the clergy. In Serat Purwaukara, pangkur itself means a tail. Therefore, pangkur is usually interpreted as a description where humans have a backward phase from physical life to spiritual life. Tembang Pangkur has a character or nature that is dashing, mighty, and has high belief to guide someone in preparing for the future.
Pangkur itself has 7 guru gatra, which means it has 7 lines of sentences. It also has 8, 11, 8, 7, 12, 8, 8 guru wilangan, which means that the first line has 8 syllables, the second line has 11 syllables, and so on. In addition, Pangkur has guru lagu a, i, u, a, u, a, i, which means that the first line ends with the vowel a, the second line ends with the vowel i, and so on.
Author: David Aria Wijaya
