Folktales From Indonesia: Jaka Tarub (East Java Fairy Tales)

Once upon a time, there was a widow who lived in Tarub village. She had a son named Jaka who is usually called Jaka Tarub. Jaka's hobby is shooting the birds.

One day Jaka Tarub went to herd the outs at the edge of the forest. Then he saw a colourful bird perching on the tree. He was excited to that bird, but when he tried to shoot the bird, it flies away to the forest.

Tarub was curious. Then he tried to chase the bird to the woods. Finally, he arrived in the middle of the woods, but he couldn't find the bird. It disappeared. He disappointed and stayed for a moment. Then he heard the laugh of women.

Jaka Tarub approached the source of that laugh. He saw seven women swimming at the river. He spied from behind a big stone and took one shawl which put on the rock.
Folktales From Indonesia: Jaka Tarub (East Java Fairy Tales)
Illustration of Jaka Tarub image:yehachan.deviantart.com


Those women are seven beautiful angels from heaven. They still playing in the water. These girls unrealised the coming of Jaka at that place. But then one of them realised it and screamed,

"Look, there is a man!"

They were so surprised and soon prepare themselves to fly to the heaven by wearing their shawl. One of them, the youngest one couldn't find her shawl which taken by Jaka.

The girl was so sad because she cannot fly without that shawl. All his sisters left her alone.

Jaka then approached that girl and asking,

"Hi beautiful girl, what are you looking for?"

That girl told him what was going on and that she lost her shawl. She introduced herself and her name is Nawang Wulan.

Jaka offered his help and took her to his house. Without more consideration, Nawang Wulan accepted that offer.

Jaka's mother was so glad to meet Nawang Wulan at home. Nawang Wulan was beautiful and kind. She has great respect for her. Nawang lived with Jaka and his mother in a small house.

Jaka and Nawang loved each other and then they decided to get married. Day by day, they spent together until they have a daughter named Nawangsih.

As we know that Nawang Wulan is an angel, so she had a magical power. It was helpful in maintaining their life. Although Jaka only stayed home and had no job, they still can live sufficiently.

Jaka never goes to the rice field, but they always had the surplus of rice and vegetables. It made their neighbour amazed. They suspect there was something wrong with Jaka's wife.

The neighbours thought that Nawang had magical power. Firstly, Jaka never knew about it until one day. He feels astonished why his granary was suddenly full. But the stock of rice began to decrease although he never put the rice on it.

One day Nawang went to the river to wash up the dress. She left Jaka home and warn him not to open the pan while she was cooking the rice.

Jaka felt curious and neglect his wife's warning. Then he went to the kitchen and opened the pan. He was so surprised when he saw there's only a stalk of rice inside the pan.

At the same time, Nawang was back from the river. Nawang Wulan angry when she knew that her husband had disobeyed her warning.

"Oh my God... what are you doing? "Why do you open it?" said her.

From that moment she had no power anymore, so they had to work hard to maintain their life. Day by day the stock of rice in their granary was getting a decrease.

One day, Nawang found her angel shawl which stolen by Jaka which can bring her back to the heaven. Jaka then explained that he had taken it when Nawang and her sisters were swimming at the river. Jaka Tarub was hidden the shawl at the granary. He apologised to her for what he had done.

"That's OK, but now I have to go home," said Nawang.

Jaka tried to avoid her.

"No, you may not go, don't leave us, please!"

Nawang said, " I'm sorry but I can't stay here any longer I have to go" then she wearing her shawl. After that, she gave her last kisses for Jaka and her daughter Nawangsih. Suddenly, she got her power again and flew away to heaven leaving Jaka and Nawangsih.

Seven angels flies
Illustration of Jaka Tarub and seven angels image:permaibrunei.org

Nawang Wulan had disappeared behind the cloud, and there were only Jaka and his daughter. They were sad. Finally, they lived separately. Jaka lives with his daughter while Nawang Wulan lives together with her sisters in heaven.

Indonesian Fairy Tales In English: Lutung Kasarung

Illustration of Lutung Kasarung and Purbasari image from: itunes.apple.com
Once upon a time in Sunda land, there was a big beautiful kingdom named Pasir Batang. The king was Tapa Agung. He has seven adorable daughters. He still confuses to choose one of them to change his position with his Queen.

Tapa Agung discussed it every time, but there is no conclusion for this problem. The name of his seven daughters are Purbararang, Purbalaras, Purbakencana, Purbaningrat, Purbajati, Purbasekar, and the last is Purbasari Ayuwangi.

Purbasari Ayuwangi is different from all of her sister. Her appearance was not as beautiful as her six sisters. The goodness of her heart is spout from her face. She is a smart girl, and her intelligence can only compete by her first sister, Purbararang.

In the day the decision, Tapa Agung announced to Pasir Batang people. He will resign as the King of Pasir Batang Kingdom.

"To all my beloved people. From this day I will quite from my position as the King of Pasir Batang Kingdom," said Tapa Agung.

Unexpectedly, people choose Purbasari Ayuwangi to be the King of Pasir Batang Kingdom. It made her six sisters jealous, particularly Purbararang.

"I must thwart Purbasari Ayuwangi to lead this country," said Purbararang to herself.

One night, Purbararang did her evil plan. Purbararang entered to Purbasari Ayuwangi room when Purbasari was falling sleep.

Then, a tree sap in a coconut shell was rubbing to Purbasari body. The day after that, when Purbasari woke up, she shocked see her skin. Her skin becomes black like a monkey.

"Oh, my God! What happened to me, Oh no, I become a black monkey!" Purbasari Ayuwangi sighed.

At that time, all the Pasir Batang people tumultuous and the Kingdom Guard stand by in their position. They didn't know, who that black monkey is. Although Purbasari Ayuwangi tried to convince that she is not a monkey, nobody believed her.

"Chase that monkey away! I don't want to see that beast trample this castle!" Purbararang exclaim.

Purbasari was crying and begging, but nobody heard her. Than  Purbararang commanding her guard to exile Purbasari to the jungle.

In the jungle, Purbasari meets with a black monkey named Lutung Kasarung. He served Purbasari and tried to find some leave to cured Purbasari. After that leave scrub to Purbasari body, in a second Purbasari become beautiful again. Their friendship becomes closer.

One day, when Lutung Kasarung did his asceticism. Suddenly, in front of Purbasari, there stands a beautiful castle kingdom. Name of that kingdom was Cupu Mandala Ayu.

Lutung Kasarung and Purbasari moved from jungle to that castle.  Purbasari becomes the Queen of that country.

A lot of Pasir Batang people moved to Cupu Mandala Ayu. The people knows that the queen of this kingdom is Purbasari.

Purbararang as the queen of Pasir Batang is so angry. He mads because a lot of people moved to Cupu Mandala Ayu.

She said that "I must kill the Queen of Cupu Mandala Ayu!"

She tried to challenge Purbasari, but Lutung Kasarung knew her trick. Purbararang offers Purbasari to be the queen of Pasir Batang, but a condition. Purbasari should have a groom.

Lutung Kasarung offer himself to be Purbasari groom. Purbasri received Lutung Kasarung.

She said,"Yes, I do."

Thunderclap split the sky. The simple word which said by Purbasari changed God curse. Lutung Kasarung incarnate become a beautiful princess. He is Princes Guriang.

With amazement face, Purbararang said to Purbasari "Now you had had a husband. So I should hand over this kingdom to you."

Finally, Purbasari and Princes Guriang lead the Pasir Batang Kingdom. All Pasir Batang people live in peace and prosperous.

Folklore Legends and Myths From Indonesia: The Beginning of Cianjur

Once upon a time, there is the richest man lives in West Java. He is the one owner of the fields in the whole area. The villagers are just as labourers to him, so they called him as "Pak Kikir" or "Mr. Kikir" (a stingy man).

Pak Kikir has a son. His son has a different character with him. He is a humble and kind boy. He always helps the villagers.

One day, Pak Kikir celebrates a Thanksgiving party. He thinks this party can be effect to the harvest of his fields. All the villagers get invitation.

The villagers are happy because they think that they can find many delicious foods in that party. But it's out of what they already imagined. Pak Kikir just put out small food.

"Huh.... The miserly man. I can't imagine flow stingy he is."

“The Lord is never blessing him," Says some of the villagers in that party.

At the same time, there is an old woman comes to Pak Kikir. She asks for his mercy.

"Give me a plate of rice please...” Says the old woman.
“What! I must work hard to get the place of rice!” Said Pak Kikir.

"Have a mercy on me, please..."

"No....... get out of my face! The old women crying and leave the party.

However, Pak Kikir's son is sad about that. So he gives his lunch snipe at for the old woman.

After that, the old lady walks to a mountain. When she arrive at the top, she saw Pak Kikir's house. The best home in that area. She said,

"Remember this Pak Kikir! Your gluttonous will sink you! And the Lord will never bless you!"

Then the old woman jabbed her stick to the land, Then the water from the trace jabbed.

Time after time the water becomes the flood. The villagers and Kikir's Son run to save themselves to the mountain.

While they are running, Pak Kikir tries to keep his prosperity. The flood is getting fast, and Pak Kikir sinks with his money.

The villagers and the son saved. They are sad with this accident. They decided to find a new area. The villagers elected Pak Kikir's son as their leader.
Megalith Site Gunung Padang Cianjur-Indonesia
This boy teaches the villagers how to be a good farmer, how to handle the fields and water balance. Then the villagers called this boy as Anjuran (a Suggestion). The villagers obey their leader said.

Some years later, the villagers change the name to be Cianjur. It means full of water. Now, Cianjur known as the best area to produce rice in West Java Province-Indonesia.