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King of Worldly Serpents | |
 A 19th century Balinese-style drawing byI Ketut Gedé, depicting a Balinese man named Juarsa worshipping Antaboga. | |
| Other names | Anantabhoga(in Kawi) |
| Javan-Bali scripts | |
| Venerated in | Javanism,Sundanism,Balinese Hinduism |
| Texts | |
Antaboga (from Kawi Anantabhoga;Javanese:ꦄꦤ꧀ꦠꦨꦺꦴꦒ;Sundanese:ᮃᮔ᮪ᮒᮽᮧᮌ;Balinese:ᬅᬦ᭄ᬢᬪᭀᬕ), or colloquially also known as theJavan Dragon Snake deity is aserpent deity inJavanism andSundanism (later also adopted inBalinese Hinduism).[1]
Antaboga is aJavanese-origin name, derived or inherited fromAnantabhoga inOld Javanese meaninglit. 'endless food'.[2] According to the Balinese literatures, the term might possibly rooted from twoSanskrit words, namelyĀṉanta (अनन्त,lit. 'infinite') andBhoga (भोग,lit. 'to enjoy, to benefit'). InHindu traditions, he is identified withSheshanaga.[2]
At the beginning of time, only Antaboga existed. Antabogameditated and created theworld turtle named Bedawang from which all other creations sprang.[3] In Javanese and Balinese mythology, Antaboga has two offsprings, a male named Bambang Naga Tatmala and a female one named Dewi Nagagini.[1]
According to Sundanese myth, Antaboga was also responsible for the birth ofDewi Sri, the rice goddess of Java and Bali. According toWawacan Sulanjana, Dewi Sri emerges from the tears that turned into an egg, shed by Antaboga.[4][5]
These days many of the old myths and legends are celebrated in thewayang performance that became a vehicle to combine the syncretic philosophies from outside with those philosophies and ideas already rooted within the local cultures and traditions.
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InJavanese art, Antaboga is often depicted as a crowned serpent. As a divine serpent symbolism, it is applied into ornaments and decorative carvings. Generally it will appear on gong decorations as a symbol of the Javanese dragon. Artefacts of ancient objects are also generally decorated with Javanese dragon figures, such askeris, temple doors, stairs railings and other Javanese ornaments.[1]
Antaboga is possibly derived from the actual nativeJavan dragon snake (Xenodermus javanicus), originally and traditionally venerated in Javanism folk religious belief, widely practiced by the local Javanese since pre-Islamic era (before the Islamization of Demak Kingdom, which later transformed asDemak Sultanate).[citation needed]
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