The Origin of Prince Mangkunagara I's Appellation as the Catcher of Souls

M. C. Ricklefs*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Prince Mangkunagara I of Surakarta (1726-1795), also known as Mas Said, was one of the most flamboyant figures of eighteenth-century Java. After his death he acquired the appellation Saměr Nyawa, meaning 'catcher of souls' or 'snatcher of souls', but the origin of this name has not previously been clear. A reference in his autobiographical account of the war years of 1742-1757, the Sěrat Babad Pakuněgaran (British Library Add. MS 12318), however, makes clear that this appellation does not derive - as one might imagine - from some spiritually interpreted episode in his life, but rather was of more mundane origin.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)543-548
    Number of pages6
    JournalBijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde
    Volume171
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The Origin of Prince Mangkunagara I's Appellation as the Catcher of Souls'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this