SUSTAINING CULTURE THROUGH ECOFEMINISM:ARCHETYPAL PORTRAYALS OF SRI, KITRI, DANA, LIYU, AND PUKAH IN CARIYOS DEWI SRI

Abstract

The ancient Javanese manuscript Cariyos Dewi Sri weaves ecological wisdom and socio-religious values together through five symbolic agricultural cycles: Sri, Kitri, Dana, Liyu, and Pukah. These cycles, part of pitungan Jawa, guide the optimal timing for planting rice. Instead of representing individual characters, these terms embody philosophical principles that resonate with ecofeminist ideas, linking the well-being of women, community, and the environment. This study explores how these cycles serve as cultural codes that uphold Javanese ecological ethics and agrarian identity. Using a qualitative approach, the research applies an ecofeminist literary criticism framework and symbolic-archetypal analysis. The manuscript was intentionally selected as the primary source, and thematic coding was conducted using NVivo 15 to identify lexical patterns, narrative structures, and symbolic motifs related to ecofeminism and cultural sustainability. The coding process resulted in 152 references across 38 thematic nodes, organized into three main domains: (1) ecological wisdom (42%), (2) gender relations (36%), and (3) spiritual ecology (22%). Lexical queries identified recurring terms associated with nature, such as pari (rice), banyu (water), and bumi (earth), each contextually reflecting the reciprocal relationships between humans and nature. Narrative analysis indicated that “Sri” is dominant within the nurturing-fertility cluster, associated with metaphors of rice abundance and seasonal cycles, accounting for 28% of coded references. “Kitri” aligns with maintaining communal harmony (21%), while “Dana” symbolizes resource sharing during times of scarcity (18%). “Liyu” represents resilience against exploitation (17%), and “Pukah” signifies transformative renewal through environmental restoration (16%). Together, these symbolic cycles articulate a localized form of ecofeminism rooted in Javanese cosmology, where agricultural timekeeping is tightly linked to ethical land stewardship. The findings reveal that Carios Dewi Sri functions both as a repository of ecological knowledge and as a medium for conveying gender-inclusive values that promote environmental sustainability. This highlights the potential of indigenous literary heritage as a culturally grounded platform for contemporary ecological advocacy.