Royal Palace of Singaraja, North Bali

LONTAR OF BALI - Palm Leaf Manuscripts

Lontar - The word 'lontar' is composed of two Old Javanese words, namely 'ron' (leaf) and 'tal' (rontal tree). The word 'rontal' therefore means 'leaf of the rontal tree'. The rontal tree belongs to the family of palm trees (Borassus fabellifer). Due to the shape of its leaves, which are spread like a fan, these trees are also known as 'fan trees'. The leaves of the rontal tree have always been used for many purposes, such as for the making of plaited mats, palm sugar wrappers, water scoops, orrnaments, ritual tools, and writing material.

The making of lontar palm leaf paper
In order to produce lontar leaf paper, the first step is for suitable leaves to be collected, ideally those of approximately 25cm in length. The leaves are dried for one day after which the rib of the leaves are cut out. Then the leaves are soaked with water for three days in order to remove the chlorophyll. The next step is to clean the leaves with a brush of coconut fibre to remove dirt and the eggs of insects. After cleaning, the leaves are dried again for one day. The leaves are then steamed above boiling water mixed with liligundi leaves and gambir (uncaria) in order to give the lontar their subtle yellowish-red color. The leaves are dried once again. In order to prevent the leaves from wrinkling and being hard to flatten, the drying process is done slowly in a damp place. As soon as the leaves are supple they are piled up one by one and flattened with a specially designed press.

A completed lontar is used to define the correct length, and then a cempurit (a special perforating device) is used to perforate the leaves in three designated places. Finally each lontar leaf is bound and pressed tighter with the use of screws, their edges are refined with a plane and the tips are cut to make them even. Kincu, or paint, is used to color the lontar in red, after which the lontar is stored for six months before they are ready for inscriptions.

Inscription tools
Lontar are inscribed with a special tool called a pengerupak. It is made of iron and its tip is sharpened in a triangular shape so it can make both thick and thin inscriptions. There are two types of pengerupak, one for writing and one for drawing. The pengerupak for writing is approximately 15cm and 1.5cm wide, the pengerupak for drawing has the same length but is only 0.5 - 1 cm wide. There also is a third, longer type which is used for the cutting of lontar leaves.

Lontar classification
The subjects that are dealt with in the lontar cover a variety of aspects of Balinese life. These can be classified as follows:

1. Weda lontar (Holy Books), written in Sanskrit, Old Javanese and Balinese Mantra, incantations originating from Java and Bali and Kalpasastra, lontar dealing with religious rituals.

2. Agama lontar - religious rules, laws, regulations, ethics and morals; Palakerta, dealing with rules and regulations. These can also be found in the books of Dharmasastra, Kerta Sima, and Awig-awig (written and unwritten customary village laws); Sasana, guidelines for ethics and morals Niti, dealing with juridical systems

3. Wariga Lontar dealing with astronomy and astrology; Tutur and Upasdesa, dealing with spiritual science of the universe; Kanda dealing with language, mythology, architecture, and other special subjects.

4. Usada lontar deals with homeopathy and healing, such as Bodhakcapi, Dalem, Kuda, and others.

5. Itahasa lontar (epics) Parwa, epics in prose form Kakawin, epics based on old Indian rhythms Kindung, literature in Balinese, composed with a macepat rhythm, e.g. Sinom and Pangkur

6. Babad lontar (history and genealogy) Pamancangah, dealing with genealogy. Stories with a historical aspect, such as Panji Wijaya Krama and Rangga-Lawe, covering the period of the Majapahit Kingdom up to the rebellion of Rangga-Lawe. Stories of the falling of the Kingdoms in song form, such as Rusak Buleleng.

7. Tantri lontar - Tantra Kamandala, stories from ancient Indian literature, written in Sanskrit; Satua Pengatihan Bali, stories containing Tantric influences or indigenuous Balinese; Surat Pengeling-eling, notes written by Royalty and scholars.

8. Lelampahan lontar - Stories from the performing arts, such as Gambuh, Arja, etc.

9. Prasi lontar - The illustrations on these lontar are deried from wayang (shadow puppet plays). The wayang drawings on these lontars can be classified into five groups, based on the stories they tell:
1. Kekawin, Ramayana, Bharata Yuddha, Bomakawya, Arjunawiwawa, a.o.
2. Kidung, Jayendria, Damputi-Lelangan, Tantri, Brama Pasangupati, a.o.
3. Parwa-parwa, such as Adiparwa
4. Cerita Tantri, telling the story of King Asmaryadapala's experiences with Dyah Tantri.
5. Animal Fables
Stories from 'Kekawin' take the classical form, which is called Wayang Purba in Northern Bali, stories derived from 'Kidung' take the Wayang Panji form, and stories from 'Parwa' take the Wayang Parba form.