Story Of Ciung Wanara

Ciung Wanara Story

Long time ago in west Java there was a kingdom called Galuh.  The ruler was King Barma Wijaya Kusuma.  He had two wives – Pohaci Naganingrum and Dewi Pangreyep.  At that time both of them were pregnant.  The king was very happy when Dewi Pangreyep gave birth to a baby boy.  The king named him Hariang Banga.  He was a handsome boy.
Several months later Pohaci Naganingrum also gave birth.  Dewi Pangreyep helped her during the birth process but she had an evil plan.  She had prepared a baby dog and gave it to Pohaci.  Then she put the baby in a box and had it thrown to a river.  Lengser, the man who received the order to throw the baby in a river, put him in a safe box and gave an egg.  Meanwhile Dewi Pangreyep reported to the king that Pohaci had given birth to a baby dog.
‘Oh, Your Majesty,  Pohaci is an evil woman.  Last night he gave birth but her baby is a dog!  They are sinners.  God had punished them.  This a shame for Your majesty the King and the whole kingdom”
The king was shocked and very angry to hear that.  He thought it was a shame for the royal family.  So he ordered his soldier to kill Pohaci and the baby.
‘There is no place here for sinners.  They must go to hell”
Then the king called his servant , Lengser.
“Lengser ! Bring them to the wood and kill them!”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
Lengser, who had to carry out the order, did not dare to do it.  He saved Pohaci instead.  Then  Pohaci lived in a remote village.
Meanwhile in a village by the river lived a couple of husband and wife.  Aki Balangantran lived with his wife Nini Balangantran.  Several years had passed after their marriage but still they had no children.  Day and night they prayed to god to ask for children.  One night Nini was dreaming that she saw a full moon.  Aki interpreted the dream that they would receive provision from god.  The next morning Aki went to a river with his net to fish.  Suddenly something caught his attention.  In the middle of the river there was a wooden box floating on the water.  Then he grabbed it.  He was shocked when he saw a baby inside it.  He brought the baby home and gave him a name of Ciung Wanara.   In Sundanese language Ciung means bird and Wanara means monkey.  They were very happy since they had no children.
Several years later Ciung Wanara grew up to be a handsome and smart boy.  The egg had become a cock.  Ciung loved cock fighting.  He went everywhere to play cock fighting game.  His cock was so quick and strong that it won all of its fights.  Soon he and his cock became famous in Galuh.  Everybody knew them.
Then the king of Galuh who had many cocks and also loved cock fighting heard the news.  So he ordered Lengser, his faithful assistant, to find the boy.  As Lengser got to Ciung’s house he was surprised to see the box.  He realized that it was the box he threw into the river some years earlier.  When he asked Ciung’s father he was sure that Ciung was the king’s son from Pohaci Naganingrum.   That time he wanted to do a good deed for Ciung.  Then he told Ciung that the king invited him to palace for a cock fight.  He also told ciung to ask for the kingdom if his cock win the fight.  Ciung agreed so they went to palace immediately.
Later in the palace of Galuh,  Ciung told the king that he had a condition for the cock fight.  If his cock wins, he wants the king to give him his kingdom.  If he his cock loose,  then he will give his head.  The king agreed because he was sure that his cock would win.  Then in a fierce fight Ciung’s cock won the fight.  Everybody was surprised.  The king had no choice.  He had to keep his words and give his kingdom to ciung Wanara.  Then Lengser told the king that ciung was actually hing own son from Pohaci naganingrum.  He revealed Dewi Pangreyep’s evil action.
The king was shocked and very angry.  He ordered his soldiers to arrest and punish Dewi Pangreyep.  This event made Prince Hariang Banga got very angry.  He quickly attacked Ciung Wanara.  Finally the king decided to divide his kingdom into two parts.  The border was Cipamali river.  The west of the river was given to Hariang Banga while Ciung Wanara ruled the eastern part of the kingdom.

Story Of Tangkuban Perahu

Tangkuban Perahu 

 

Once upon a time in west Java, Indonesia lived a wise king who had a beautiful daughter.   Her name was Dayang Sumbi.  She liked weaving very much.  Once she was weaving a cloth when one of her tool fell to the ground.  She was very tired at the time so she was too lazy to take it.  Then she just shouted outloud.
‘Anybody there?  Bring me my tool.  I will give you special present.  If you are female,  I will consider you as my sister.  If you are male, I will marry you
Suddenly a male dog, its name was Tumang, came.  He brought her the falling tool.  Dayang Sumbi was very surprised.  She regretted her words but she could not deny it.  So she had to marry Tumang and leave her father.  Then they lived in a small village.  Several months later they had a son.  His name was Sangkuriang.  He was a handsome and healthy boy.
Sangkuriang liked hunting very much.  He often went hunting to the wood using his arrow.  When he went hunting Tumang always with him.  In the past there were many deer in Java so Sangkuriang often hunted for deer.
One day  Dayang Sumbi wanted to have deer’s heart so she asked Sangkuriang to hunt for a deer.   Then Sangkuriang went to the wood with his arrow and his faithful dog Tumang.  But after several days in the wood Sangkuriang could not find any deer.  They were all disappeared.  Sangkuriang was exhausted and desperate.  He did not want to disappoint her mother so he killed Tumang.  He did not know that Tumang was his father.  At home he gave Tumang’s heart to her mother.
But Dayang Sumbi knew that it was Tumang’s heart.  She was so angry that she could not control her emotion.  She hit Sangkuriang at his head.  Sangkuriang was wounded.  There was  a scar in his head.    She also repelled her son.   Sangkuriang left her mother in sadness.
Many years passed and Sangkuriang became a strong young man.  He wandered  everywhere.     One day he arrived at his own village but he did not realized it.  There he met Dayang Sumbi.  At the time Dayang Sumbi was given an eternal beauty by God so she stayed young forever.  Both of them did not know each other.  So they fell in love and then they decided to marry.
But then Dayang Sumbi recognized a scar on his Sangkuriang’s head.  She knew that Sangkuriang was his son.  It was impossible for them to marry.  She told him but he did not believe her.  He wished that they marry soon.  So Dayang Sumbi gave a very difficult condition.  She wanted Sangkuriang to build a lake and a boat in one night!  She said she needed that for honeymoon.
Sangkuriang agreed.  With the help of genie and spirits Sangkuriang tried to build them.  By midnight he had finished  the lake by building a dam in Citarum river.  Then he started building the boat.  It was almost dawn when he nearly finished it.  Meanwhile Dayang Sumbi kept watching on them.  She was very worried when she knew this.  So she made lights in the east.  Then the spirits thought that it was already dawn.  It was time for them to leave.  They left Sangkuriang alone.  Without their help he could not finish the boat.
Sangkuriang was very angry.  He kicked the boat.  Then the boat turned out to be Mount Tangkuban Perahu.  It means boat upside down.  From a distant it looks like a boat upside down.

Story Of Gunung Bromo

The Legend of Gunung Bromo

Hundreds of years ago, during the reign of the last king of Majapahit, Brawijaya, one of the King’s wives gave birth to a girl, who was named Roro Anteng. Later this young princess married Joko Seger, who came from a Brahman caste. Because of an unfortunate situation the couple was forced to leave the kingdom. They settled down in the mountain area. They ruled the area and named it “Tengger”, which was derived from the couples’ names: Roro Anteng and Joko Seger.
After several years the region flourished in prosperity, but Roro Anteng and Joko Seger were unhappy because they did not have a child. Frustrated, they climbed the top of the mountain and prayed night and day hoping that the gods would listen. The prayer was heard and Betoro Bromo promised them many children. However, the couple had to promise that they would sacrifice their youngest child in return.
Roro Anteng gave birth to a child, then another, and another. In the end Roro Anteng and Joko Seger got 25 children. Soon it was time for them to sacrifice the youngest child, Kesuma, but the parents just could not do it. They tried to hide the child, but an eruption happened and Kesuma fell into the crater. There was silence before they heard a voice: “I have to be sacrificed so that you will all stay alive. From now on, you should arrange an annual offering ceremony on the 14th of Kesodo (the twelfth month of Tenggerese calender.”It was Kesuma’s voice. Kesuma’s brothers and sisters held the offering ceremony every year. Instead of a human being, these people collected fruit, vegetables, rice and meat to be offered to the gods. And this has been done generation after generation until today.

Story Of Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi 

 

Legend of Banyuwangi
Long time ago Banyuwangi was called Blambangan. It was a kingdom under a wise king who had a handsome and smart son. Raden Banterang was his name. He liked hunting very much. He often went to forest around Blambangan to hunt for animals. One day when he was in a forest he saw a deer. He chased it and the deer ran deeper into the forest. His horse was so good and strong that he left his guards behind. Unfortunately he lost the deer. As he took a rest under a big banyan tree suddenly a lovely lady appeared in front of him. Raden Banterang was very surprised to see a beautiful girl alone in the forest. He was suspicious that she was not a human being. So he asked her.
‘Excuse me lovely lady, do you live around here?’
‘No, I don’t. I’m from Klungkung, Bali. My name is Surati. I’m a princess, the daughter of the king of Klungkung. I need your help’
‘I will gladly help you, but please tell me what your problem is’
‘I’m in danger. There was a rebellion in Klungkung. The rebel killed my father but I could escape. My guards took me here but I lose them. Now I’m alone. I don’t know where to go. I have no relative here. Please help me’
‘You are coming to the right person. I’m prince Banterang from the kingdom of Blambangan. I will protect you. Please come with me.’
Then Raden Banterang took Surati home. He fell in love with her and then several months later he married her. One day when Surati was in the street he met a man. The man called him.
‘Surati, Surati’
She was surprised to realize that the man was her brother Rupaksa. Rupaksa told her that it was Raden Banterang who killed their father. He came to Blambangan to take revenge and asked surati to join him. Surati was shocked but she refused to join.
‘I’m really shocked to hear the news. But I’m not sure. Raden Banterang is now my husband. He’s very kind to me. He never hurts me. He’s protecting me. As a good wife I will never betray him. It is my duty to serve him.’
‘But he killed our father’.
‘It is hard for me to believe it. When I met him he was here, not in Klungkung’
Rupaksa was disappointed with her sister. He was also very angry to her.
‘OK then. I have to go now. But please keep my head dress. Put it under your pillow’
Rupaksa gave his head dress to his sister Surati. To respect her older brother Surati put it under her pillow. Several days later Raden Banterang was hunting in a forest when he met a man that looked like a priest. The man greeted him politely. Then he said something.
‘Your life is in danger. Someone has an evil intention to you’
‘Who is he?’
“Your wife Surati’
“Surati? How do you know?’
‘I am a priest. I have clear spiritual vision. I just want to save you. Search her room. If you find a head dress under her pillow then my words are correct. It is from a man who will help her kill you’
‘Thank you your Holiness’
Raden Banterang was shocked. He was very angry to his wife then he immediately went home. When he got to the palace he immediately searched Surati’s bed room. As he found the head dress under her pillow he was sure that the priest was right.
‘You are unfaithful wife. I know that you want me dead. This is the evidence. This is from a man who will help you kill me. Tell me who he is’
Surati was shocked and cried.
‘It is my brother’s head dress. I met him several days ago when you  went hunting. He gave me his head dress and told me to put it under my pillow. So I put it there to respect him. It is him who want to kill you, not me’
But Raden Banterang did not trust her. He gave her a death sentence. He took his wife to a river bank as he would stab his wife and throw her body into the river.
‘Before I die, let me say a few words’
‘Please do’
‘After I die, just throw my body into the river. If the water become dirty and smelly, it means that I am guilty. But if the water become clear and fragrance come out of it, it means that I am innocence’.
Then as Raden Banterang would stab her wife with a kris Surati threw herself into the river. Amazingly the water became clear and fragrance came out of it. Surati was innocent! Raden Banterang regretted his emotional behavior. Since then on he changed the name of his kingdom into Banyuwangi. Banyu means water and Wangi means fragrance.

Story Of Mythical Origin Of Irrawaddy Dolphin

The mythical origin of Irrawaddy dolphin

       

In East Kalimantan there is a famous river of Mahakam River. In the river there are fish that are very distinctive shape that is Irrawady Pesut Mahakam (Orcaella brevirostris) is a freshwater dolphin Indonesia. Body robust, small and triangular dorsal fin and the head rounded / blunt reply with a small eye. Classified as a small dolphin, the Irrawaddy dolphin has an adult length of 2.0 to 2.75 m, 1.0 m. The dolphin baby is very active, sometimes jumping low). Actually Irrawaddy Dolphin is not fish but mammals of water as the dolphins and whales. According to the residents around the river Irrawady is not just any fish but is a human incarnation.
The story in the days of yore in the Mahakam, there is a village inhabited by several families. They live as farmers and fishermen. Every year after harvest, the villagers usually customary to throw a party filled with a wide range of performances and artistic dexterity.
Amid the people living in hamlets, there is a family living in harmony and peace in a simple hut. They consist of a husband and wife and two sons and daughters. Needs of their lives are not too difficult to achieve because they have a garden planted with various kinds of fruits and vegetables. So did all kinds of difficulties can be overcome by a wise, so they lived happily for many years.
At one point, the mother was attacked by a disease. Although some people have been treated by a physician, but the mother never recovered until she eventually died. After the death of the mother, the family lives in sorrow. They are hold deep sorrow of losing people they loved so much. The father became withdrawn and morose, while her two children are always overwhelmed with a sense of confusion, not knowing what to do. Their house and their garden are now no longer maintained. Some village elders have tried to advise his father to not dissolve in sadness, but their advice can not make any change. This situation lasts long enough.
One day in the village feast was again held customary harvest. Various performances and entertainment is held again. In one of the stage show, there is a girl that very beautiful and fascinating, she always attracted the village youth when she was in action. Hearing such news, it also stirred the heart of the father to watch too, he want to see what kind of the show is so highly praised among villagers and turn many youth so crazy
That night was the seventh night of the event, held the crowd. Slowly his father walked over to the venue where she will play. He deliberately stood in front so it can be clearly witnessed the game and face the girl. Finally the show began. Unlike the other spectators, the father was not much amused laugh or praises the girl’s appearance. Yet occasionally there is also the father smiled a little. The girl threw a cheery smile to the audience who praised him as well as a tease. One time, the girl sees the father, it happens many times. Both of them fall in love each other without know when the love is start to begin in their heart. Many people, especially the villager’s youth did not expect that the young girl would want to marry him, who already have two child.
Soon after, with the approval of both parties and the blessing of the elders they get marriage just after the customary feast in the village over. And also was the gloom over the family, now they began preparing a new life. They began working on activities that previously they did not try again. The father returned diligent farming with the help of her two children, while her stepmother stayed at home preparing food for their family. And so on down for months until their life bright again.
Peoples of the village saw a happy family, but nobody know the truth that the brother are live in a different situation. The two children were fed only after there are leftovers from his father. The father can only tolerate his wife’s actions; he can not do anything because she really loved her. Finally, the whole household organized in the hands of the young wife who is greedy. The brother work hard every day tirelessly and even told to do things beyond their capabilities.
At one point, his stepmother had made an evil plan. He told both his stepson to look for firewood in the forest.
“Both of you, go another pile of firewood today!” Ordered the mother, “There should be three times more than you earn yesterday. And remember! Do not go home before the wood is much collected. Understand?! ”
“But, Mom …” his son replied, “Why do you need so much wood …?. Our wood stock is still quite a lot. We could take another more when the stock are almost empty.
“What! You have dared to argue with me? Do you want me told your father that you were lazy! Come, go now!! ” the stepmother angry.
The young boys then pulled his sister’s hand to get going. He knew that his father had influenced by his stepmother, so it is useless to argue because they will get blamed too. After bringing some supplies, they departed into the forest. Until dusk approached, the wood they have collected is not sufficient as required by their stepmother. They was forced to spend the night in the forest, in a former villager cottage to continue their work in the next day. They can sleep despite the hunger is still wrapping their stomachs.
The next morning, they started collecting as much wood. By midday, the hunger was unbearable again; finally they lay on the ground for several moments. And without knowing, an old man came up to them.
“What are you doing here, kids?!” The old man asked them. Both the poor child was then told everyone, including the behavior of their stepmother and their circumstances that have not eaten rice since yesterday until it was no longer able to continue the work.
“Well …, you go down that way.” The old man said, pointing toward the hedge grove. “There are many fruit trees. Eat all of it until you are full. But remember; do not search again the next day because it will be in vain. Go now! ”
After saying thank you, both sisters are rushing toward the place. It was true what was grandfather said before, there are many different kinds of fruit trees. Durian, jackfruit, similar to jackfruit, mango and papaya fruit that have been fully matured scattered on the ground. Other fruits such as bananas, rambutan and coconut are visible hanging from the tree. They then eat the fruit until the body feels fresh again. After resting a while, they can return to continue the work to collect wood in accordance with the requested his stepmother.
By late afternoon, they have successfully installed it into the house. They arranged the wood without diligently. Once completed, then they got into the house to report to his stepmother, but were surprised when they saw the house that has been empty.
Apparently their father and stepmother had left the house. All property within the house have been fully taken along, this means they are leave both of them and never come back again to the house. The young brother only cries. Hearing the cries of the two, the surrounding neighbors came to the house to know what the hell was going on. They were shocked after learning that both his father and stepmother of the children had been moved secretly.
The next day, the children are determined to find her parents. They announce the plan to the nearest neighbor. Some neighbors who pity then exchanged fire wood with the stock of food for the journey of two brothers. By midday, they went looking for their father and stepmother.
It has been two days they are running but have not found their parents, while food supplies had run out. On the third day, they came in a hilly area and were seen by their smoke billowing in the distance. They immediately headed toward the place was just asked the residents probably know or see both their parents.
They finally come across a decrepit cottage already. It seemed an old man sitting in front of the cabin. Two sisters and pay homage to the old man and saluted.
“Where are you guys? What do you mean to come to my place far this remote?
“Sorry” The boy said, “We are currently looking for our parents. Do you ever seen a man and a young woman through here? ”
The old man paused as he wrinkled his forehead; apparently he is trying hard to remember something.
“Hmmm …, a few days ago there was a husband and wife who come here.” “They bring a lot of stuff. Are they that what you’re looking for? ”
“No doubt” The boy said excitedly, “They must be our parents! Which way they go, sir? ”
“At that time they borrow a boat to cross a river. They said they wanted to settle there on the other side and want to create a cottage and a new plantation. Try your search on the other side. ”
“Thank you, sir …” said the elder son is, “But …, can you help us across the river?”
“I am already old kids … I don’t have the strength to paddle a boat!” Said the grandfather with a chuckle, “If you want to catch them, use an existing boat alone on the edge of the river.”
Both of them have the courage to take boats the grandfather. They promised to return the boat if it has managed to find their parents. After saying thank you, they then boarded a boat and headed across. Both are oblivious to the hungers that convolute their stomachs because of a sense of joy upon learning the existence of their parents. Finally they reached the other side and the boat moored in a creek. After two days walking on an empty stomach, then they meet the edge of a hamlet that is rarely populated.
They both saw a newly built cottage. Slowly they approached the cabin. With feelings of anxiety and doubt the brother get up in the stairs and calling out the occupants, while the little brother walked around the cabin until he found a clothes horse who is behind the cabin. He also remembered his father’s clothes; after he approached then rest assured that it was indeed his father’s clothes. Immediately she ran to her sister as she showed her father had found clothes in the back. Without thinking again they entered the cottage and the cottage was indeed contained the belongings of their father.
Apparently their parents were in a hurry to leave, so in the kitchen there is a pot that is placed over the fire that is still burning. Inside the pot there is a rice that become porridge. Because the starved stomach, the brothers finally ate the rice porridge. His sister who just followed into the kitchen is surprised at what he was doing, she immediately grabbed the pot whose contents were low. Starved, she immediately ate rice porridge at once along.
Because the porridge that is still hot, their body temperature rises. In circumstances such abysmally, they ran to seek the stream. They hug each banana trees they encountered on either side of the road to the river, the banana tree become wither. Once they arrived at the river bank, they immediately jump into it. Almost at the same time, the residents of the cottage that was indeed the father of the brother were astonished when he saw many banana trees around their cottage becomes withered and charred.
But they were very surprised when entered into the hut and encounter a pack and two sabers belong to her two children. The wife continued to examine the contents of the cottage down to the kitchen, and she could not find a longer pot that had been left behind. He then reported it to her husband. They then hurried down from the hut and follow the road to the river on the left-right that there are many banana trees that have withered and charred.
Arriving on the banks of the river, they saw the two creatures that move to and fro in the water while spraying water from his head. Mind the husband remembered the sequence of events that might once have anything to do with family. He was surprised because all of a sudden his wife was not there beside him. Apparently she disappeared mysteriously. Now the husband realized that his wife is not a common human ancestry. Since their marriage, the wife does not ever want to tell their origins. He almost becomes the victim of a wicked witch. Thanks to the children who have eaten the porridge
Not long ago, the villagers came flocking to the riverbank to witness the oddity that had just happened. Two fish whose head is similar to the human head is moving to and fro in the middle of the river as he occasionally appears on the surface and squirted water from his head. The people that are in place it estimates that the water bursts of two entities was hot that can cause the baby fish die if exposed.
By Kutai people, the fish are named pesut (Irrawady dolphin). While communities in the interior of the Mahakam named Bawoi fish.

Story Of Candi Prambanan

Candi Prambanan Legend

 

In the old days of Java Island, in a region called Prambanan, lies two kingdom. Kingdom of Pengging and Kraton Boko. Pengging kingdom is gifted with a fertile and get prosperous. The kingdom is lead by a wise king named Prabu Damar Moyo and has a male son named Raden Bandung Bondowoso while Kraton Boko is a kingdom that obey under the rules of Pengging. The Boko king is very cruel, he is strong and tall, like a giant. The people of Boko always afraid of the kings anger. Although the king were not handsome, he has a very beautiful daughter called Princess Roro Jongrang.
One day, the king of Boko wants to rebels against the Pengging. Lead by the Boko prime minister, the giant race, Gopolo, the Boko army is prepared to announce the war between Boko and Pengging. They even raid its own people’s properties to support the campaign
Fierce war happens in the borders of the Pengging teritorial mark. Many victims were falling on both sides and people Pengging be suffering because of war, many people hunger and poverty. Knowing his people suffer and have many victims soldiers who died in the borders, then Prabu Damar Moyo sent his son Raden Bondowoso go to war against King Boko. The young Bondowoso is able to defeat king Boko. Seeing the king died, then Prime minister Gupolo escape. Raden Bondowoso pursue Patih Gupolo to Kraton Boko.
After reaching Kraton Boko, Patih Gupolo reported on Princess Roro Jonggrang that his father had been lost in the battlefield, by a knight named Raden Bandung Pengging Bondowoso. Princess Loro Jonggrang wept, saddened his heart because his father had been killed on the battlefield. Raden at Kraton Boko Bondowoso arrived, soom he troubled to see Puteri Raden Bondowoso Loro Jonggrang beautiful, so he wanted to marry Princess Loro Jonggrang as his wife.
As the Boko kingdom is lost in the rebels, and o save her fathers kingdom, the Loro Puteri Raden Jonggrang accept the princes, with some request. She did not want to marry Bondowoso because he had killed his father. To reject the proposal Raden Bondowoso, then Princess Loro Jonggrang have a strategy. The first request, Princess Loro Jonggrang asked for Jalatunda wells (very deep well) while the second request, asked for him to make 1000 temples in one night.
Raden Bandung Bondowoso agreed. Raden Bondowoso Immediately make Jalatunda wells and after so he called Princess Roro Jonggrang to see the well. She trick the prince and send him down. She ask Boko’s prime minister to close the well with heavy rocks so that the prince could not reach the top of the well. Raden Bondowoso is a tough man, he is also smart. Its not a longtime before he was able to come out from the wells. He was very angry to the princess, but soon after meet the princess, he falls again with the beauty of the princess
She ask Raden Bondowoso the second request, to make 1000 temples in 1 night. Bondowoso then command his workers from genie tribe to help him build the 1000 temple. The 1000 temples are building up, one by one with the help of the genie tribes. The princess wants to sabotage the building of the temples. She asks her servants to pound the rice pounding tools and also burns lots of paddy’s straw .
Because of it, the roosters crowed. The genie take a lookto the sky and its brighter in the east. The leader of the genie reported to Bondowoso that they have stopped to make the temple because the morning has arrived. Princess Roro Jonggrang told to count the temples and its only 999 temples, not 1000.
So, Bondowoso won’t be able to marry the princess because he failed to complete the request. Being deceived and tricked, Raden Bondowoso angry and curse Princess Roro Jonggrang. “It’s missing one, and you that should fit the numbers”. The princess is soon turned into a stone statue; it is exist in the heart of the Prambanan temples until now.

Story Of Rawa Pening

The Legend Of Rawa Pening

Once upon a time in old Java there was a village.  Pening was its name.  Pening was a prosperous village.  The land was fertile and the weather was always good all year round.  It was on the slope of Mount Merbabu so the climate was cool.  People made their living by cultivating rice, vegetables and fruits.  The harvest was always satisfying.  So all of them lived a happy life.  That’s why once a year they held a ceremony called ‘Bersih desa’.  It was a kind of thanks giving day.  It was a day when they express their thankfulness to God for a successful harvest.  They would clean their village and then they would pray together.  At night they would have a dinner together and held teater performances.
One day after a succesful harvest they would celebrate it.  That time they wanted something special.  They wanted more meat for dinner.  So they went hunting in a wood.  Just outside of the village there was a wood where there were many animals like deer, buffalo, mouse deer, lamb and many other.  But that day there was no animal at all.  Animals were nowhere to be seen.  They had searched every inch of the wood but still their effort were in vain.  When it was almost dark, they were very tired so they took a rest.  They sat on something that look like a rock and a big root.  Everybody was silent because they were exhausted and disappointed.
Then suddenly someone chopped the big root with his sword to relief his disappointment.  Amazingly there was blood coming out of the root.  They were surprised.  Someone tried to chop it deeper.  He found meat !  So they chopped more and more.  After their bags were full of meat they were satisfied.  Then they went home happily.
That night the people of Pening were preparing a big dinner.  They wanted a special dinner with the meat they got from the wood.  Just as they were preparing dinner, a boy came to the village.  He looked poor.  He begged food to some people.  But they refused.  Someone said :
‘We are preparing dinner.  You may come to our dinner tonight.  But not now’.
‘But I am very hungry, please’.
‘Just come here tonight’.
But then there was an old widow who took care of him.  She was just a poor widow.  She gave him food and shelter.
‘You may take a rest here.  Join us tonight for dinner’.
‘Thank you very much.  You are very kind to me.  You are the only one who helped me.  That’s why I will save you.  Tonight there will be a great event here’.
‘Yes, there will be a great party’.
‘No, I mean something special’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I cannot say now.  But listen to me.  Prepare a boat for you’
‘Why? What will happen?’
‘Just do as I say’
‘Please tell me what will happen?’
‘OK, you are very kind to me so I will tell you but please promise me you won’t tell anyone’.
‘OK, I promise’
‘I am Naga Baru Klinting.  I am a dragon. I was meditating in the slope of Mount Merbabu when your people hurt me.  They hurt me by chopping my body.  Now they are preparing dinner with meat from my body.  So I will take my revenge tonight,  but I will save you.  Prepare a boat for you’.
‘Oh, please don’t do that.  Forgive my people’
‘Whatever will be , will be.  Good bye’.
Then the boy left.  Just before the dinner began at the village hall some boys were playing in the yard.  Suddenly a boy came to them.
‘Hi guys a have a game for you’
Then he held a small bamboo and attached it to the ground.
‘If you can pull it, I will give you a special present’
‘Oh, that’s very easy’, a boy said.
He tried to pull it but it was very strong so he could not pull it.  Another boy tried but he also failed.  Everybody failed.  Then this game drew adult’s attention.  One by one they tried to pull but all of them could not make it.  When many people gathered then the boy said.
‘O people of Pening.  I am Naga Baru Klinting.  I am a dragon.  I was meditating in the slope of mount Merbabu when you chopped me.  Now I will take my revenge.  Enjoy your party’.
Then he pulled the bamboo.  Amazingly, water poured from the ground.  The water immediately flooded the village.  Finally the whole village sank under water.  They were all drowned and died in the lake.  There was only one survivor.  The poor old widow.  She had prepared a simple boat so she could survive.  Since then on the lake is called Rawa Pening.  Rawa means lake in Javanese and Indonesian language.  Today the lake is located in the province of central Java, Indonesia.