Raden Ngabehi Ranggawarsita (14 March 1802 – 24 December 1873,, ) was a Javanese philosopher and poet. He was born into the famous literary Yasadipura family in Surakarta, in Central Java. He is sometimes called the last Javanese poet.

Biography

Ranggawarsita was born in 1802 with the birth name Bagus Burhan. He was son of Mas Pajangswara and grandson of Yasadipura II, a famous poet of Surakarta Sunanate. His father was the offspring of the Kingdom of Pajang, his mother of the Demak Sultanate. Once reaching adulthood, Ranggawarsita quickly gained a reputation for his intellectual capabilities which included authoring poetry, grammar books, and working as a redactor for the Dutch periodical Bromartani.

Works

Ranggawarsita authored numerous texts that covered a myriad of subjects which included poetry, mysticism, and ethics. Additionally, his works included prophecies as well as criticism of the politics and society of his time. Some of his notable works included: Several works by Ranggawarsita were republished posthumously by Tan Khoen Swie of Kediri in the early 20th century.

Legacy

There is a museum in his name in Semarang.