LORO JONGGRANG

Candi (Temple) of Prambanan stands in Jogjakarta Special Area,

has another name, Temple of Loro Jonggrang. Actually it isn't just
a temple, it is a complex of temples, made circa 9th century.
Prambanan is a sacred temple for Shiva Hindunese, and it has
about 200 temples. This is the myth and the fact about the making
of the temple.

Loro Jonggrang was a daughter of a giant king called Ratu Baka

(King of Death), and she had a propose from a young noble,
Bandung Bandawasa. He was handsome, wealth and powerful, but Loro Jonggrang didn't want to
marry him.

Ratu Baka gave a task to Bandung Bandawasa. He had to make 1000 temples in one night, to
prepare his marriage to Loro Jonggrang. Bandung Bandawasa used his supernatural force to call
the genies, and they made the temples in unbelieveable speed.
Loro Jonggrang used the classical tactics to sweep away the genie: She ordered her servants to
help her hit the rice punchers, and made the sound of cooking, so the genies thought morning had
come and they ran away. Bandung Bandawasa was so angry with her act. He already finished
999 temples and when he built the 1000th, he cursed Loro Jonggrang into it.

The largest temple in Prambanan complex is the Shiva temple, and inside the temple, there is a
Durga (Goddess of Darkness, wife of Shiva, God of Destruction) believed as the body of Loro
Jonggrang.

Historians said the myth is based on the true story. In 9th century, Rakai Patapan Pu Palar, a
member of Sanjaya Dynasty in Central Java, started a rebellion againts the ruling Syailendra
Dynasty. Scared by his threat, King Samaratungga had his daughter Pramodawarddhani married
to Rakai Patapan's son, Rakai Pitapan. Rakai Pitapan then became the King of Central and East
Java and started making Prambanan complex, which completed at 915 AD.
 Timun Mas, Folk story from Central Java.
Timun Mas retold by Renny Yaniar Long long time ago, there was a
farmer couple. They were staying in a village near a forest. They lived
happily. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had any children yet. Every day they
prayed to God for a child. One day a giant passed their home. He heard
what they were praying. Then the giant gave them a cucumber seed.
“Plant this seed, then you’ll get a daughter,” said the giant. “Thank you,
Giant,” said the couple. “But in one condition, in her 17-th birthday, you must give her to me,”
said the Giant. The couple wanted a child so much that they agreed without thinking first. Then
the couple planted the cucumber seed. Each day they took care the growing plant so carefully.
Months later, a golden cucumber grew from the plant.

The cucumber was getting heavier and bigger each day. When it was ripe, they picked it.
Carefully they cut out the cucumber and how surprised were they when they found a beautiful
baby inside. They were so happy. They named the baby Timun Mas, or Golden Cucumber. Years
were passing by and Timun Mas had grown into a beautiful girl. Her parents were very proud of
her. But their happiness turned to fear when her 17th birthday came. The giant returned to ask for
their promise. He was going to take Timun Mas away. The farmer tried to be calm. “Just a
moment, please. Timun Mas is playing. My wife will call her,” he said. Then the farmer came to
his daughter. “My child, take this,” as he was giving her a little bag to Timun Mas. “This will
help you from the giant. Now, run as fast as you can,” he ordered. So Timun Mas ran away. The
couple was very sad about her leaving. But they didn’t want the giant to eat Timun Mas.
Meanwhile, the giant had been waiting for too long. He became impatient. Somehow he knew
that the couple had lied to him. So he destroyed their house and ran for Timun Mas. The giant
was chasing Timun Mas and he was getting closer and closer. Timun Mas then took a handful of
salt from her little bag. She spread out the salt behind her. Suddenly a wide sea appeared between
them. The giant had to swim to reach her Timun Mas was still running, but now the giant almost
caught her. Then she took some chilly and threw them to the giant. The chilly suddenly grew into
some trees and trapped the giant. The trees grew some thorns as sharp as a knife. The giant
screamed painfully. At the mean time, Timun Mas could escape again. But the giant was very
strong. Again he almost caught Timun Mas. So Timun Mas took the third magic stuff, the
cucumber seeds. She threw the seeds and suddenly they became a wide cucumber field. The giant
was very tired and hungry so he ate those fresh cucumbers. He ate too much that he felt sleepy
and fell asleep soon. Timun Mas kept on running as fast as she could. But soon she was very tired
herself. To make things worse, the giant had woken up! Timun Mas was so scared. Desperately
she then threw her last weapon, terasi (a kind of shrimp pasta). IT did a miracle again. The pasta
became a big swamp. The giant fell into it but his hands almost reached Timun Mas. Suddenly
the lake pulled him to the bottom. The giant panicked and he couldn’t breathe. At last he was
drown. Timun Mas was very relieved. She was safe now. Then she returned to her parents’
house. Her parents were of course very happy to see their daughter safe and sound. “Thanks God.
You have saved my daughter,” they cried happily. From then on, Timun Mas lived happily with
her parents with no fear anymore
Damar Wulan
Damarwulan is is a prince by birth, a nephew of the prime minister,
Patih Logender, but was raised in the hermitage of his grandfather.
Following his grandfather’s advice, he goes to the Majapahit court
seeking employment. His cousins, the prime minister’s sons, mistreat
him when he arrives. Patih Logender, not wanting him to compete
with his own sons, assigns him as grass-cutter and stableboy. Though
he is stripped of his fine garments, he still has his striking beauty. Rumors of this beauty
eventually reach Anjasmara, the prime minister’s daughter. She seeks him out secretly and they
fall in love and are clandestinely married. One night, Anjasmara’s brothers overhear voices in her
chamber.

They break in and try to kill Damarwulan, but he is able to overcome them. They flee to their
father, who orders that Damarwulan be executed. Anjasmara pleas for her lover, and he doesn’t
execute Damarwulan, but imprisons the pair. Meanwhile, Menak Jingga has wrote a letter to the
queen asking for her hand. When the queen rejects him, he declares war on the Majapahit
kingdom. He is successful in dispatching Majapahit’s allies, and finally the kingdom is threatened
by his forces directly. In distress, the queen announces that whoever kills Menak Jingga and
brings her his head can have her hand. Worried when no saviors present themselves, she has a
divine revelation that a young knight named Damarwulan can overcome him. She orders Patih
Logender to release him from jail and send him forth on his mission. Damarwulan, accompanied
by his servants, makes his way to Blambangan. Arriving at night, he steals into the gardens and
manages to overhear a conversation at the pavilion between two resentful captive princesses.
Damarwulan enters the pavilion and confides in them, and, enraptured by his beauty, they
become devoted to him. At this time, Menak Jingga decides to visit the princesses, and discovers
Damarwulan. They fight, but Damarwulan is unable to hurt Menak Jingga, and, severely
wounded, appears to die. Menak Jingga leaves, ordering his servants to guard the body. However,
they fall asleep, and the two princesses carry him away, revive him, and explain to the secret of
Menak Jingga’s magic invulnerability, a club of yellow iron kept behind his headrest. If the king
is hit on his left temple with this club, he will die. Risking their lives for the sake of their lover,
the princesses manage to steal the club while the king is asleep. A second battle between Menak
Jingga and Damarwulan follows, in which Damarwulan manages to behead the king. Successful,
he returns to Majapahit, but the prime minister’s sons ambush him outside the palace, killing him
and presenting Menak Jingga’s head to the queen. However, a hermit revives Damarwulan, and
the queen learns what happened. In a final battle, Damarwulan defeats his cousins, is crowned
King of Majapahit, and is permitted to retain Anjasmara as his other wife.
Folklore from North Sumatra “Sampuraga”

Once upon a time in Padang Bolak, North Sumatra, lived a man

named Sampuraga. He lived with his mother. His father had passed
away when Sampuraga was a baby. Sampuraga and his mother
lived in a hut. They were poor. Sampuraga worked in his
neighbor’s rice field. When they had harvest, the neighbor gave
some money to Sampuraga for his work.
Sampuraga worked in the morning and went home in the afternoon. One day while he was
working, his neighbor told him about a place named Mandailing.

It was a great place.

The land was fertile. There were many rich people there. Sampuraga listened to his neighbor
carefully.
He really wanted to go to
Mandailing and became a rich man.
Later he told his mother about his plan. His mother was sad. She did not want to lose his only
child.
But Sampuraga promised that he would go home and brought her a lot of money.
Finally Sampuraga went to Mandailing. There, he worked for a very rich merchant.
The merchant liked Sampuraga because he was diligent and honest. Soon, the merchant gave
Sampuraga a lot of money. He wanted Sampuraga to have his own business.
Sampuraga was successful with his new business.
He was very rich. The merchant knew that Sampuraga could be a great merchant like him.
The merchant wanted to retire and gave his business to Sampuraga. He had a plan. He wanted
Sampuraga to marry his daughter. Sampuraga agreed. Afterall, he fell in love with her. The
merchant’s daughter was very beautiful.
Then the merchant set a great wedding party.
He invited many people. He wanted to hold the best wedding party for his daughter.
People started to talk about the party. They were talking about the great party and the merchant’s
daughter. They said Sampuraga was very lucky. He was going to marry the most beautiful girl in
Mandailing.
The news about Sampuraga’s wedding party finally arrived in his hometown,
Padang Bolak. The people there almost did not believe that Sampuraga would marry the
merchant’s daughter. They also did not believe that Sampuraha could become a rich man.
However his mother believed that. “I’m sure my son is a rich man now. He already promised me
that he will be a rich man,” said Sampuraga’s mother.
With great happiness, she went to Mandailing. She wanted to attend his son’s wedding party.
When she arrived at the party, Sampuraga’s mother immediately called his name.
“Sampuraga… Sampuraga…It’s me… I’m your mother.”
Sampuraga was surprised.
His wife was also surprised.
“Who is she? Is she really your mother?” asked Sampuraga’s wife.
“No! My mother is dead. This ugly and old woman is not my mother. Go away!” Sampuraga
yelled at his mother.
His mother was crying. She was very sad. She knew Sampuraga had already forgotten her. She
cried and cried. She prayed to God to punish him.
Suddenly, rain fell down heavily. Thunder attacked the place. People ran away to save
themselves.
Soon, the party changed into a big pond.
The water was hot. Around the pond there was a big stone. It looked like a cow. There were also
other ruins. People said that the stone and the ruins were from Sampuraga’s party.
Talaga Warna
Long long ago there was a kingdom in West Java. The kingdom
was ruled by a king. People called their king His Majesty Prabu.
Prabu was a kind and wise king. No wonder if that country was
prosperous. There’s no hunger in this kingdom.

It was a very happy condition. But it was a pity that Prabu and
his queen hadn’t got any children. It made the royal couple very very sad. Some old men and
women who was respected by Prabu suggested the king to adopt a child. But Prabu and the queen
didn’t agree. “No, thank you. But for us, our own daughter or son is better than adopted
children.”

The queen was very sad. She often cried. That was why Prabu decided to go. He went to the
jungle. There he prayed to God. Everyday he begged for a child. His dream come true. A few
months later, the queen got fregnant. All people in the kingdom felt happy. They sent many
presents to the palace to express their happiness.

Nine months later a princess was born. People sent their presents again as a gift to a little
princess. This baby grew as a beautiful teenager then.

Prabu and Queen loved their daughter so much. They gave what ever she wanted. It made
Princess a very spoiled girl. When her wish couldn’t be realized, she became very angry. She
even said bad things often. A true princess wouldn’t do that. Eventhough the princess behaved
badly, her parents loved her, so did the people in that kingdom.

Day by day, the princess grew more beautiful. No girls couldn’t compare with her. In a few days,
Princess would be 17 years old. So, people of that kingdom went to palace. They brought many
presents for her. Their presents gift were very beautiful. Prabu collected the presents. There were
really many presents. Then Prabu stored them in a building. Some times he could take them to
give to his people.

Prabu only took some gold and jewels. Then she brought them to the goldsmith. “Please make a
beautiful necklace for my daughter,” said Prabu. “My pleasure, Your Majesty,” the goldsmith
replied. The goldsmith worked with all his heart and his ability. He wanted to create the most
beautiful necklace in the world because he loved his princess.

The birthday came. People gathered in the palace field. When Prabu and queen appeared, people
welcomed them happily. Prabu and his wife waved to their beloved people.

Cheers were louder and louder when the princess appeared with her fabulous pretty face.
Everybody admired her beauty. Prabu got up from his chair. A lady gave him a small and
glamourous pillow. A wonderful necklace was on it. Prabu took that necklace. “My beloved
daughter, today I give this necklace to you. This necklace is a gift from people in this country.
They love you so much. They presented it for you to express their happiness, because you have
growing to a woman. Please, wear this necklace,” said Prabu.

Princess accepted the necklace. She looked at the necklace in a glance. “I don’t want to accepted
it! It’s ugly!” shouted the princess. Then she threw the necklace. The beautiful necklace was
broken. The gold and jewels were spread out on the floor

Everybody couldn’t say anything. They never thought that their beloved princess would did that
cruel thing. Nobody spoke. In their silence people heard the queen crying. Every woman felt sad
and began crying too. Then everybody was crying.

Then there was a miracle. Earth was crying. Suddenly, from the under ground, a spring emerged.
It made a pool of water. The palce was getting full. Soon the place became a big lake. The lake
sank all of the kingdom.

Nowadays the water on that lake is not as full as before. There is only a small lake now. People
called the lake “Talaga Warna”. It is mean “Lake of Colour”. It’s located in Puncak, West Java.
On a bright day, the lake is full of colour. So beautiful and amazing. These colors come from
shadows of forest, plants, flowers, and sky arround the lake. But some people said that the
colours are from the princess’s necklace, which spreads at the bottom of the lake.
Legend of Lake Toba
I was cleaning up my old stuff that I brought from Indonesia the other day and found one torn-
apart book. That was my elementary school book!! I went through pages and remember that one
of my teachers used to give us assignment to write tales/legends/fables and present it in front of
the class, oh my God I still remember those groggy moments
Anyway, one of the ‘story’ I presented at that time was about the legend of Danau Toba/Lake
Toba, here goes the tale…

Once upon a time there was a man living in the area of the present day Danau Toba (Lake Toba).
He lived in a simple hut in a farming field, did some gardening and fishing for his daily life. One
day he caught a big golden fish in his trap. It was the biggest catch he ever had in his life.
Back home this fish turned into a beautiful princess. He felt in love with her and proposed her to
be his wife. She said yes with one condition… the man had to promise not to tell a soul about the
secret that she was once a fish, otherwise there would be a huge disaster. The man made the deal
and they got married and had a daughter.
Few years later, this daughter would help bringing lunch to her father out in the fields. One day,
this daughter was so hungry and she ate his father’s lunch. He found out and got furious, and
shouted “You damned daughter of a fish”.
The daughter ran home and asked her mother. The mother started crying, felt sad that her
husband had broke his promise. She told her daughter to run up the hills because a huge disaster
was about to come. When her daughter left, she prayed. Soon there was a big earthquake
followed by non-stop pouring rain. The princess also ran from the house, and each footprint she
left became a natural spring. The whole area got flooded and became Lake Toba. The princess
turned into a fish again and the man became the island of Samosir (the big island in the middle of

Lake Toba).

There are tons of tales from North Sumatra that I learned from my parents and relatives. Back
then I used to believe that every place, every river, every house, every stone, every banyan tree
had their own story that would wow us as kids
Hmm I should find that tale about Hutabarat woman who got curse because she felt in love with a
snake…
 Simardan

Tales and stories about the legend of the prodigal son.

Among other things, Malin Kundang in West Sumatra
who was sworn into stone, Sampuraga in Mandailing
Natal North Sumatra who reputedly said, turned into a
well full of hot water. In the City Council, due to
rebellious against her mother, a young man condemned
to be a land surrounded by waters, the island Simardan. Network City society stories, Simardan
are poor women and orphaned children. One day, she went migrated to the country side, in order
to seek his fortune. After several years of wandering and unknown, reportedly, one day his
mother the old and weak, hear from the public about berlabuhnya a sailing ship from Malaysia.
According to her community, the owner of the ship was named Simardan is none other than the
son who for years was not met. Happy his son has returned, the mother Simardan then went to the
harbor. In the harbor, the old lady walking with a woman finds Simardan beautiful and rich. He
then hugged his son's body Simardan, and said, Simardan is his son. Not surprisingly, embrace
love and affection of a mother, ignored Simardan. In fact, without mercy Simardan reject his
mother's body until the fall. Although his wife asked Simardan to admit the old woman as his
mother, but the stance remains unchanged. In addition, Simardan also drove his mother and say it
as a beggar.

Originating Tapanuli
Before the incident, is still a Simardan Island waters where the ship docked. Location
berlabuhnya ship, on Village Road Sentosa Island City Simardan IV Environmental Network,
said community leaders in P. Simardan, H. Daem, 80, a resident of Jalan Masjid P. Simardan
Cities Network. Network, located at 20.58 latitude (north latitude) and 0.3 meters above sea level.
While the extent of about 6052.90 hectares with a population of approximately 144,979
inhabitants (census 2003-ed). Although the incident occurred in the area Network, Daem said,
actually comes from upstream Simardan Network or around the area Tapanuli. It also said
another community leader, Abdul Hamid Marpaung, 75, a resident of Jalan Binjai Originally So
the City Council. "Regional Network of origin Simardan not, but in the upstream Network,
namely Porsea Tapanuli area," he explained.

Selling Treasure
Of the various stories or stories about the legendary rebellious child, the child usually go
wandering to look for work, with the aim of changing the fate of the family. Unlike Simardan, he
traveled to Malaysia to sell the treasures he found around his home, said Marpaung.
"Simardan dream location of buried treasure. The next day, he went to a place which is reflected
in his dream, and memukan various kinds of jewelry that much, "said Marpaung. Then, Simardan
plans to sell the treasures he found it, and the Network is its target area. Because, obviously
Marpaung, stood a large and rich kingdom in the Network. But upon arrival at the Network, none
of the kingdom who can afford Simardan finding treasure, so he was forced to go to Malaysia.
"One of the kingdom on the island of Penang Malaysialah who buy these treasures. In fact,
Simardan also gain royal princess, "he said Unlike the description Marpaung, according to H.
Daem, goals Simardan go migrate to Malaysia to find work. After several years in Malaysia,
Simardan finally managed to be rich and marry princess as his wife.

Shame
After decades of wandering, Simardan eventually return to the Network with his wife. His arrival
to the Network, according Daem, to trade at the same time looking for supplies. If according
Marpaung, Simardan come into Network is based because it has no descendants. So on the advice
of parents in Malaysia, the couple had gone to the Council. Furthermore Marpaung said, the news
coming in Network Simardan community submitted to his mother. Delighted children alone
wayangnya return to the homeland, the mother then prepare a variety of dishes, food typical of
their faith who do not know religion. "Dish is her mother prepared the food that is forbidden in
Islam," said Marpaung. With joy, mother Simardan then go out to Network with some of his
close relatives. Arriving at the Network, was the attitude and treatment Simardan not like he had
imagined. Simardan argue that the old man is a woman who has given birth. This was done
Simardan, clear Marpaung, because he embarrassed his wife when it was revealed his mother did
not know religion. "Food brought her mother is proof that their beliefs are different." Meanwhile,
according to H. Daem, Simardan harsh treatment because of embarrassment to see her mother
who are poor. "Because of the poor, his mother wore ragged clothes-comping. As a result,
Simardan not recognize as her parents. "

Apes and Tali White Ship

After treated harshly by Simardan, the old woman and prayed while holding her breasts. "If he
were my son, show me Thy glory," so about the spoken mother Simardan. After praying, down
strong winds accompanied the waves that lead to a sailing ship, so that the ship was falling apart.
While Simardan body, according to a story Marpaung and Daem, drowned and turned into an
island called Simardan. The waiters and white wives turned into apes, and Marpaung Daem said.
This is due to the servants and his wife have no link with Simardan rebellious attitude to his
mother. They are given a place to live in the woods Simardan Island. "About forty years ago, still
found the white monkey who allegedly incarnation Simardan servants and wives," said
Marpaung. However, due to increasing human population in the Network, especially on the
island Simardan, the white monkey was never seen again. In addition, about the fifties people
found the rope large ships in the area of Main Street Simardan Island. The discovery occurred
when people dig pit (wells). In addition to the ship ropes and anchor chains are also found, which
probably derived from the ship Simardan, Marpaung said. "True or not the legend Simardan,
depending on our perceptions. But with the discovery of rope, chain and anchor the ship to prove
that the first is Simardan Island waters. "