The aesthetics of sabda rasa and angan-angan: the formulation of vibration in ranggawarsita's serat sopanalaya

Abstract

This study aims to examine the aesthetic formulation of sabda in Ranggawarsita's Serat Sopanalaya through two main dimensions of vibration, namely the vibration of sabda rasa and the vibration of sabda angan-angan. This study uses a dhvani aesthetic approach from the Sanskrit tradition that emphasizes the latent meaning (vyanjana) in sabda, and is contextualized with Javanese spirituality. Data were obtained through philological and hermeneutic readings of the Serat Sopanalaya text. The results show that the vibration of sabda rasa radiates three layers of bhavarasa: nlangsa (sorrow and awareness of suffering), tresna (divine compassion and love), and jati (enlightenment and the authenticity of life). Meanwhile, the vibration of sabda angan-angan reveals Ranggawarsita's inner work in constructing the image of candra as a symbol of coolness of mind and inner calm that leads to metaphysical experience. Both interact to form a harmony of sabda that displays the power of rasa and clarity of creativity in achieving kasejatining urip.