Page 78 - E-BOOK SEJARAH DAN BUDAYA INDONESIA

ETYMOLOGY

According to Rouffaer states that the word Sunda comes from the root of the word sund or
the word suddha in Sanskrit which has the meaning of shining, bright, shiny, white. In Kawi
language and Balinese language there is also the word Sundanese, with the meaning of: clean,
holy, pure, impeccable / stained, water, pile, rank, alert. The Sundanese believe that having a
Kasundaan ethos or character, as a path to the virtues of life. The characters of the Sundanese in
question are cageur (healthy), bageur (good), true (true), singer (introspective), wanter (brave) and
pinter (intelligent). This character has been carried out by the Sundanese people since the time of
the Salakanagara Kingdom, Tarumanagara Kingdom, Sunda-Galuh Kingdom, Pajajaran Kingdom
until now.

The name Sunda began to be used by king Purnawarman in 397 to refer to the capital of
the Tarumanagara Kingdom he founded. To restore Tarumanagara's declining prestige, in 670,
Tarusbawa, the 13th ruler of Tarumanagara, changed the name of Tarumanagara to the Sunda
Kingdom. Then this event was used as an excuse by the Galuh Kingdom to separate its country
from Tarusbawa's rule. In a weak position and wanting to avoid civil war, Tarusbawa accepted the
demands of king Galuh. Finally, the Tarumanagara area was divided into two kingdoms, namely
the Sunda Kingdom and the Galuh Kingdom with the Citarum River as the boundary

Linguistic map of West Java

Outlook on Life

In addition to religion as a view of life, the Sundanese also have a view of life inherited by
their ancestors. This view of life does not conflict with the religion he adheres to because it is
expressly and impliedly conceived also in the teachings of his religion, especially the teachings of
the Islamic religion. The Sundanese view of life inherited from their ancestors can be observed in
the following traditional expressions:

"Hana nguni hana mangke, tan hana nguni tan hana mangke, aya ma beuheula aya tu
ayeuna, hanteu ma beuheula hanteu tu ayeuna. Hana arrears hana watang, tan hana arrears tan hana
watang. Hana ma stumpna aya tu catangna." (Sanghyang Siksa Cage Karesian)

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