Alun-Alun Lor (northern Alun-Alun)

The Wok and Jenggot banyan tree

Alun-Alun Loris a broad, leveled, open square, originally covered with sand. It has twin waringin or banyan trees, Ringin Kurung Sakembaran that are planted in its center, around which used to be other shade trees. A pathway leads from the court to the Great Mosque, on the west of the Alun-Alun. The sand has now been replaced by grass, while the Alun-Alun itself is divided in two halves by a tiled pathway, flanked by royal palm trees. The term'Alun -alun' refers to the vision of the hot, heavy air hovering above the field, which seems to move like the waves of the sea, amunamun apindo alun when, at mid-day the sun's rays are most intense. Another interpretation is that it comes from the Javanese word alonalon, meaning 'to move slowly', 'patiently'; after all, in the hot sun one can only move slowly across the field.

Originally Alun-Alun Lor was a place of assembly for Mataram's troops before they left for war, and a place of assembly for the public when important royal announcements or laws were proclaimed. It also served as a military training ground, and as an area where the fierce public displays known as rampog, fights between animals, or animals and humans were held. It also served as a place where courtiers or commoners could perform topo pepe, a form of meditation that consists of sitting (Arying out') in the sun. Seated between the twin waringin trees in the center of the Alun-Alun

in the blazing sun they could be seen by and admitted into the presence of the ruler. Such meditation was a last and rather desperate attempt to ask for royal justice or pardon.

 Structures on and around Alun-Alun Lor

South of Gapuro Parnurakan, in the shadowy lane leading to the third pair of Gladhag gates, is a pair of banyan trees, each enclosed by an octagonal wall of brick and iron. The eastern tree is called Waringin Wok,'girl waringin: this is where the troops from the realm's Bang Wetan or eastern territories rested. The western tree, called Godhek or Menggot,'male waringin' is where the troops from the Bang Kulon or western territories rested. The pair of trees is a reminder that every human's life is created by Allah through a man and a woman. The trees thus also symbolize fertility.

The two waringin trees in the center of AlunAlun are known as Waringin Kurung Sakembaran. The word kurung,'enclosed, refers to the iron fence enclosing each of them. The eastern tree is called Kyahi Joyodaru, or'Light of Victory, the western one Kyahi Dewodaru, 'Divine Light'PLight of Glory' These two trees were transplanted from the former court at Kartasura, which was destroyed in the mid- 1811 century, during the Geger Pacinan (Chinese uprising'; 1740-42). The two enclosed waringin trees symbolize our striving for perfection during our short human lives, with all their limitations. They also point to victory and glory, which, they seem to say, is certainly possible to achieve. The trees are seen as offering hayorn, hayem, hayu, or royal power and wisdom. They also symbolize legal protection, a notion perhaps influenced by their rich, protective foliage.

From a symbolic point of view the trees refer to glory, victory, and attaining a pure life, for which one should, ideally, eliminate one's individual emotions. It symbolizes the idea that those who have reached such a state of perfection will always be illuminated by the rays of Divine Light.

There are several local beliefs regarding the two waringin kurung. For instance when someone finds two leaves on the ground in the position of godong rnlumah-kurep (meaning: 'one with its shiny side up, the other with its shiny side down'), these leaves will become heirlooms or amulets for protection. When someone meditates beneath the trees, or walks around them seven times, it is believed that one's wish will surely come true.

At the south side of Alun-Alun Lor there is another pair of waringin trees, known as Waringin Gung,'tall waringin'in the cast, and Waringin Binatur, 'short waringin in the west. These symbolize that Karaton Surakarta is duwur tan ngungkul-ngungkuh, andap tan keno kinungkulan, meaning: 'not too tall, and although short, not to be underestimated'.

Several other waringin planted around the Alun-Alun function as shade trees, providing shelter from the sun and the rain. They are also thought to symbolize the position of the ruler, who is seen as panagyomaning kawulo, a 'boundless protector of the people'.