The actual name is Taman Kaputren Panyepi Ing Raga. It means a place for the Cirebon sultanate family to play accompanied by tawasul. Our understanding of life in Islam is local wisdom because it is built with a Muslim concept. Actually, Panyepi Ing Raga has the same meaning as meditating. It's just that the term meditating or meditating is for our Hindu brothers and sisters.
Taman Sari Guha Sunyaragi is not Goa Sunyaragi. The definition is Guha means built or man-made, while Goa means natural. This is proof that the name and meaning of Guha Sunyaragi is made or constructed but not a natural cave. If we refer to the historical records written by Prince Sulaeman Sulendraningrat, Taman Guha Sunyaragi was built during the time of Prince Aria Cirebon or Prince Adipati Aria Karangrangen +- 1703. However, there is a proverb that explains that year was the first repair and perfection in the Guha Sunyaragi area. This refers to the proverb regarding Candra Sangkala Bujangga Ratu Oba Ing Bumi.
Bujangga 8
Ratu 1
Oba 5
Ing Bumi 1
8151 but if Candra Sangkala is read backwards it becomes 1518. While the difference between the Javanese year and the international year is 78 years. This means that in general terms it means 1596. This period was the pre-Zaenal Arifin or Prince Mas period who was the first Sultan of Cirebon after the death of Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah or Sunan Gunung Jati. Prince Mas was the son of Sunan Gunung Jati from a mother named Nyai Mas Tepasari from Demak.
Taman Sari Guha Sunyaragi was built as a replacement Kaputren Park after Nur Giri Sapta Rengga Kaputren Park changed its function to Pasarean or a tomb where Sunan Gunung Jati was buried which we now know as Astana Gunung Sembung in Gunung Jati Village. Choosing the place we now know as Sunyaragi was not easy. This was through deliberation on the orders of the first Sultan of Cirebon involving construction workers / architects and other experts including our brothers and sisters of Chinese descent who had lived in Cirebon at that time. On the initiative of Prince Kertasari who would later be known as Prince Juru Taman, a place was chosen located on the edge of Segara Amparan Jati to build the Kaputren Park.
Segara : Sungai Besar
Amparan Jati : Sekelilingnya adalah Pohon Jati
Then Raden Sepat, an architect of Demak descent, was appointed to lead the construction of Taman Kaputren Panyepi Ing Raga or Guha Sunyaragi with the concept of Tirta Yasa or Tata Guha Air. As for why on the edge of Segara Amparan Jati?
- The function of water as a safety and comfort for the Sultan's family when they are in this area because in the past, to enter the Sunyaragi Cave area from the South West and North, they had to use a raft or getek, aka a small boat. This is proven by the existence of the Jembangan Island Cave, a resting place for the Raftmen.
- The function of water as a cooler and air conditioner where the water channels flow almost all over the existing parts.
- The water is used for ablution when someone is doing Panyepi Ing Raga and their ablution is canceled.
Looking at the conditions, it is clear that Guha Sunyaragi Water Park is a special area for the sultanate family. This means that not everyone at that time could enter the Guha Sunyaragi Water Park area. Guha Sunyaragi Water Park faces East. The meaning is to welcome the sun as a
sign of earning a living. It's just that in this millennium era, the manager did not open the door from that direction but diverted it from the West & South due to the dense population while the main road built by the government is to the West & South. Currently, Guha Sunyaragi is managed by the Guha Sunyaragi Water Park Management Agency (BPTAGS) under the Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon Foundation with a core zone area of 1.8 Ha & Buffer 1.2 Ha. So the total area is 3 Ha.
1. Alun – Alun Pandekemasan
This square functions as a place for war training for the soldiers of the sultanate, especially the soldiers guarding Sunyaragi Cave.
2. Guha Simanyang
This pond is an ornamental pond that used to contain white lotus flowers originating from China.
3. Guha Pengawal
A resting place for the guards from the sultanate who guard the family or Sultan when visiting Taman Sari Guha Sunyaragi.
4. Guha Simanyang
This cave is interpreted as the front guard post. Since long ago, there has been a check when someone wants to enter. This is done because Taman Sari Guha Sunyaragi is a special area for the Sultanate family.
5. Guha Pandekemasan
This area is actually built in 1788. In the proverb it is said that it was built at the same time as Bale Kambang and Guha Arga Jumut.
Pande : Ahli Kemasan : Cinderamata
It's just that in this area also made arrows, spears & keris as tools for soldiers. This was considered illegal by the colonial government at that time which finally in 1790 was burned or destroyed by the Dutch.
6. Bangsal Jinem
The dome-shaped building where the sultan gave advice and watched the Kanuragan exercises of the Keraton soldiers and guards and traditional dances. The meaning of Jinem itself is Ji from the word siji or one. Nem from the word nenem or six. This is in accordance with the concept of building Guha Sunyaragi in an Islamic way. Because in Islam, there are six Pillars of Faith, the meaning is that we must have one faith, namely in Allah.
7. Mande Beling
Mande means hall or place. Glass because it used to be made of marble because it was so clear like glass. This place is a resting place for the Sultan while giving advice or suggestions to the community or guests in an Islamic way so that our lives are always in Islamic clarity of mind.
8. Guha Pawon
Pawon means kitchen. However, the term pawon here is not like the general term but to store supplies brought by the sultanate family when visiting Taman Guha Sunyaragi.
9. Guha Lawa
This name was immortalized because in the past, above this cave there was a large tree where birds such as swallows or lawa perched as the locals say. This cave functions the same as the Pawon Cave, namely storing food.
10. Guha Langse
Langse means curtain. Because when someone sits inside it is not visible because it is blocked by the waterfall. The curtain here is a waterfall that covers the view from the outside. This cave functions as a place of prayer for the sultans.
11. Guha Peteng
Peteng means dark. This place is used for the soldiers of the sultanate to train the science of kanuragan or body immunity.
12. Cungkup Guha Puncit
Located above Peteng Cave, its function is as a watchtower/observation tower.
13. Patung Gajah
It is said that in the past, due to pressure and natural factors, its trunk sprayed water on the sons and daughters who were playing in the water at the Kaputren Pond. Another verse explains that the Elephant Stone Statue is related to 2 birds that are attached to the wall of the Kaputren room. In Cirebon language it is said "Kuntul Umalayang Anne Daksi Gajah Derum Tane Daksi". The flying egret leaves its traces like footprints and feathers while the elephant derum does not show what the marks are and is in the form of a puddle. This means that the 2 sons/daughters of Pajajaran, namely Raden Walangsungsang or Prince Cakra Buana and Nyai Mas Rara Santang, their descendants and residences exist to this day, while the greatness of the Pajajaran Palace, Prabu Siliwangi, is still unknown.
14. Kolam Kaputren
A water playground for the sons and daughters of the sultanate when they were in the Guha Sunyaragi Water Park area. In the past, the pool was decorated with Chinese plate ornaments. Currently, only the remains of the place where they were attached remain.
15. Pelataran Taman Bujanggik
In this area there is a connecting door called the Candi Bentar door with the Majapahit architectural style, namely Kosotan, which means only rubbed or polished, not plastered or polished.
16. Guha Kelanggengan
Klanggengan Cave is taken from the word Langgeng or eternal. In the past, it was used for the sultans to achieve their dreams and perpetuate their positions.
17. Guha Padang Ati
Meaning padang means bright while ati from the word heart. The point is we must always live in the light of the heart. This place functions as a place to calm the hearts of the families of the Cirebon Sultanate.
18. Patung Garuda Dililit Ular
The word garuda actually comes from the word Garudea or a symbol of bravery. Wrapped by a snake means that no matter how brave a human is, they will definitely be wrapped in problems. The point is that in life we must respect each other and not be arrogant.
19. Monument China
The original name of this monument in Chinese is Mei Man Cia Ting which means peace and prosperity. This is not a tomb even though its shape is like Bong Pai or Ancient Chinese Tomb. This is only a monument built to commemorate our brothers and sisters of Chinese descent who helped build Taman Sari Guha Sunyaragi.
20. Pohon Kelengkeng
The longan tree where the leaves do not dry out throughout the year, but the lower part of the tree or the trunk of the tree only has bark, meaning it is not intact like trees in general. In the proverb, this longan tree was planted in 1604 by Prince Juru Taman.
21. Kamar Kaputran & Kaputren
These two rooms were not the bedrooms of the sultan's sons and daughters, but rather the study rooms of the sultan's sons and daughters.
22. Bale Kambang
It is called Bale Kambang because it is made from teak wood above the water surface. This is a connecting building between the temples in front and the Arga Jumut Temple. This place was also used to welcome guests of the sultanate, perform tadarus, and provide religious discourses.
23. Guha Arga Jumut
Arga : Hidangan Jumut : Mengambil
In this area there is a stone shaped like a dining table where you can take dishes prepared by the guard or person appointed to care for and maintain the Sunyaragi Cave, better known as NGABIHI. In this
area there are also two rooms called the Mecca Medina room and the Gunung Jati Chinese Room. This room is not a tunnel or corridor but an ordinary room measuring 1x1 meter. Thick with tunnel myths. The meaning of the room is:
- If the Cirebon people study Islam, it means referring to Mecca Medina because the Qibla is in Mecca while the tomb of the Messenger of Allah is in Medina.
- If the Cirebon people study worldly knowledge, it means looking to China as the proverb says, seek knowledge in China.
- Meanwhile, if you want to deepen your religious teachings, go to Gunung Jati because that is where the Islamic Boarding School was at that time.
Another Pitutur explains these two corridors as a symbol of these two nations participating in enlivening and introducing Cirebon to the outside world. In accordance with the meaning of Carbuna which means mixing.
24. Patung Perawan Sunti
Definition of the Virgin Statue is a virgin who is pregnant and gives birth not through intercourse like a husband and wife but with the permission and will of Allah. In the Bible, both the Qur'an and the Bible, it is stated that the Virgin Sunti or Holy is There is a similar case as happened in Islam, Siti Maryam, the Mother of Prophet Isa AS. (Islam), Mother Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ (Christianity) coincidentally in Cirebon there is a story about the daughter of Ong Tien who was pregnant because of the arrogance of her father, Emperor Ong Hong Jin, trying the knowledge of Sunan Gunung Jati. He made a scenario that On Tien was pregnant and her stomach was covered using a Brass Bowl to deceive Sunan Gunung Jati. Although covered using a brass bowl, with the permission of Allah, Sunan Gunung Jati said she was pregnant and in reality she was pregnant after that. This is the beginning of the history of the Chinese nation to Cirebon and Indonesia. The meaning of this myth is advice that means that if you are pregnant and give birth, it must be clear who the husband and father of the child are. Once again, this is just a myth that has developed in Guha Sunyaragi.
25. Gedung Pesanggrahan
This place was built in 1848 by RR Adimah from Keraton Kacirebonan as a residence for Ngabihi and a place to stay overnight for the Sultanate family when visiting and staying overnight. In front of the Pesanggrahan building there is a main pool that used to function as a pool for water circulation before being channeled into the Guha Sunyaragi Water Park area.
