The puppet play entitled Dewa Ruci has attracted the attention of researchers. Besided, this play is considered as unique due to the contradiction between Bima and Drona characters shown with spirituality capacity. The Dewa Ruci play for the Javanese is seen as an important work in terms of spiritual and ethical aspects. In it there are teachings of harmony between God, man and nature that guides man on his duties to God, human relationships and man and the universe.
“The Dewa Ruci play is a work of art that covers sufism about Islamic-Javanese syncretism. As the character of Dewa Ruci is not found in the Mahabharata text, therefore this play is genuinely Javanese," lecturer of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta, Aris Wahyudi, S.S., M.Hum., said in his doctoral exam at the Graduate School UGM,m Wedenesday 15/6().
Aris Wahyudi explained that the structure in the Dewa Ruci play is the way Javanese describe common aspirations to realise the ideals. In it is described knowledgeme on duty and right of the Javanese people, norms and values that should be adhered to and implemented to establish harmonious relationship with God (vertical), with other creatures (horizontal). "All is human order of living," he said.
Aris Wahyudi added that shadow puppet performance is not only a guide and a spectacle. There is the construction of thinking of the Javanese that makes this play is still performed. Prof. Dr. Timbul Haryono, M.Sc., promoter, said that Aris’ research is interesting in terms of studying shadow puppet play. "It’s very interesting as the Dewa Ruci play is a story about Bima’s experiences to have perfection or spiritual experiences," he said.
After maintaining his dissertation ‘Bima dan Drona dalam Lakon Dewa Ruci’, Aris Wahyudi passed cumlaude and became the 1397 doctor from UGM. His promoter is Prof. Dr. Timbul Haryono, M.Sc. and co-promoter are Prof. Dr. Soetarno, D.E.A. and Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, M.A.