Sunan Kalijaga
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[edit] History
also known as (Raden Said) (Lokajaya,Syekh Malaya, Pangeran Tuban atau Raden Abdurrahman). Considered to be one of the Wali Sanga of Java, {Indonesia.
He was the most celebrated and well-known Wali in Java. Born in 1450 to a Majapahit Ronggolawe rebel known as Arya Wilatikta, Adipati Tuban. The title Kalijaga was said to have been driven from an orchard called Kalijaga in Cirebon. According to other account his popular hobby of submerging himself in Kali (another name for river in Javanese) gave him this title. But also some noted that the name Kalijaga derived its nature from the Arabic notion of "qadli dzaqa" which means (holy leader) in the sultanate.
Kalijaga was a best friend to Sunan Gunungjati and said to have lived up to one hundred years which gave him the chance to witness the downfall of Majapahit (ended in 1478 A.D), Kingdom of Demak, Kingdom of Cirebon and Banten, also the kingdom of Pajang which in 1546 A.D. Mean while Kalijaga was believed to have seen the dawn of Mataram Kingdom under the rule of Panembahan Senopati.
[edit] Contributions
- Among the greatest contribution of Kalijaga was the development of Masjid Agung Cirebon and Masjid Agung Demak. The main collum in the grand mosque was inspired by him.
- In dawah (missionary work) Kalijaga seemed to have resemble the work of his great mentor aka close friend Sunan Bonang. He is more to "sufistic basis salaf" in his teaching applying arts and culture as means of dawah and was so tolerance to local tradition. His exegesis from the Quranic perspective giving him the understanding that people will keep away from dakwah if their personality is questioned. In this premise one should consider a step by step approach to his people by the principle of: following yet influencing. To him if Islam is truly/fully understood people will gradually give up their old habits.
This method can be seen in many Indonesian traditional cultures especially in carvings, shadow puppets (wayang kulit), gamelan (javanese traditional musical performance), and singing. From this idea he popularized Baju Takwa, Perayaan Sekatenan, Grebeg Maulud, Layang Kalimasada, Lakon Wayang Petruk Jadi Raja.[1]
The landscape of a city called Kraton and Alun Alun were said to be inspired by Kalijaga idea. This method was so effective until most of the Adipati accepted Islam under the influence of Sunan Kalijaga. Among them were Adipati Padanaran, Kartasura, Kebumen, Banyumas, and Pajang (nowadays Kotagede-Yogjakarta).[2][3]
Sunan Kalijaga was buried in Kadilangu -of southern Demak
