The Udan Liris offers a harmonious dance of rain and life, the divine and the natural, the community and the individual. Each thread, each line, each angle is a symbol, a story, a prayer. Like the rain itself, the motif is both a blessing and a mirror, reflecting the complexities of the world around us, inviting us to appreciate the details of life and our place within it.
Batik motifs of this time and stature were often inspired by geometric shapes in nature. Batik Kawung borrows its design from kolang kaling, the fruit of the areca palm tree. Cut precisely in half, this fruit offers the oval and diamond shapes that are often seen in this traditional motif.
Inspired by the small details of nature, batik Tanahan is a motif that requires expert-level hand-drawn skill to capture intricate flower buds and small plants like ferns or manggar (the flower pistil of a coconut palm tree).
Of the many batik styles and stories embedded in each motif, none is known more for its illustriousness and prestige than Parang. Though this batik motif is worn outside the royal courts today, it still carries the reputation and cosmic wisdom embedded in its design. Here are some types of batik parang and the symbolism and stories behind them.