Cerita Rakyat Lau Kawar

Cerita rakyat from North Sumatra

Lau Kawar

Once upon a time, there was a very fertile land at the Karo Regency. It was known as the Kawar Village. Its people were mostly farmers, and the land did produce wonderful harvest. It is said that one day the harvest was doubled compared to the previous year. The barns were extremely full with rice. For this reason, the people agreed to have a celebration party. On one beautiful day, all the villagers gathered in a field. They wore beautiful dresses and made delicious food. Everybody was having good times. They were singing, laughing, and of course, eating delicious food.

All of the villagers attended the party except an old woman who was paralyzed. Her son, her daughter-in-law, and her grandson all went to the party. The old woman lay on her bed alone. “I really want to be at the party but I cannot even stand on my feet,” sobbed the old woman. She could only see the merry party from distance.

The lunch time came and all of the people at the party gathered around the table for the foods that had been prepared. All of them enjoyed the foods happily. Contradictory to what was going on at the party, the old woman was starving in the house. She didn`t eat even a bite since morning. “My goodness, I am so hungry. Why any of my family didn`t come to bring me something to eat?” sighed her with her body shivering for hunger. She forced herself up from the bed and searched for something to eat in the kitchen, but there’s nothing. Her daughter in law did not to cook that day, realizing that foods would be prepared in the feast. The poor old woman came back to her bed. She was so disappointed and sad that her tears dropped. She cried for her poor life.

At the party, the son asked her wife, "Why don't you take some food from the party and give it for my mom. Ask our son to deliver it. “Alright”, said the woman while hurriedly wrapping the foods for the mother. After that, she asked her son to take the foods home for her as her husband told her previously, “My son, please take these foods for your grandmother.”

The old woman was very happy for the foods. Finally, she got something to eat. But her happiness turned into sadness when she saw find only leftovers. It just had little rice and there were only some bones of beef and lamb which were almost without any meat to eat. “What is this!? Do they think I’m an animal? Why did they give me leftovers and bones!” moaned her furiously.

The mother stored complete grilled meat into the package in fact. However, the grandson ate the foods on his way to his grandmother that only bones were left. The old woman didn`t know anything about this that she thought her son and daughter in law did it on purpose. She felt so disappointed and humiliated that she hardly held her tears to fall down. She then prayed to God to curse both her son and daughter in law. “My God, they were sinful to me. I beg You to punish them!” said the woman in her prayer.

Suddenly, there was a very strong earthquake not even a minute when the woman completed her prayer. The sky was turned dark and cloudy, and there was a great thunder followed by heavy rain. All the villagers were so scared. They wanted to save themselves. They tried to find shelters. The village was drowned in a short time and there was not even a single person survived. The drowned village turned into a big crater and flooded by water. The people in the surroundings later on call it Lau Kawar.

Cerita Rakyat The Legend Of The Holy Stone Papua

The Legend of The Holy Stone

                                           

The Holy Stone (Batu Keramat) lies on top of Mount Kamboi Rama, Kepulauan Yapen Regency, Papua, Indonesia. Once a year, the local people hold a ceremony to worship the holy stone. Why do they sanctify and worship the stone? Who found it first? Find the answer in the story of The Legend of the Holy Stone.

In the area of East Yapen, Kepulauan Yapen Regency, Papua, Indonesia, there stood a mountain called Kamboi Rama. Upon the mountain were two villages, namely Kamboi Rama which was people’s residence, and Aroempu, which was a plantation of sago palms belonged to a God called Iriwonawani. God Iriwonawai also owned a tifah or magic drum named sikerei or soworoi. When the drum sounded, all the people of Kamboi Rama would gather in Aroempi Village to watch it. However, not all of them could see the unseen drum, except the elderlies who posited supernatural power.For sustenance, the women of Kamboi Rama took sago from Aroempi, while the men hunted animals in the jungle. Everyday, the women of Kamboi Rama would go to Aroempi in groups. Before cutting off the sago trees, they would first perform an honoring ceremony to God Irowonani so that they could get the good and healthy essence of the sago.After cutting off a tree, they peeled the stem off to take out the sago. They then pounded the sago using pangkur [1]. Due to the tool used, the process of pounding sago is now known as memangkur (pounding using pangkur). Like what we can still see nowadays, the sago will be pounded until it becomes a soft substance which resembles coconuts. Then, water will be poured to the substance and it will be squeezed in a bamboo container. After the essence of sago precipitates, the water is taken out. The precipitation is shaped round like a tennis ball or long capsule, and kept in a tumang, a basket made of rattan. The women take the sago home by carrying it on their back. Such was the routine of Kamboi Rama women.Over the time, the sago palms in Aroempu were becoming scarcer. Seeing this, God Iriwonawani was very angry. He moved his plants to other area. And to run away from God Iriwonawani’s wrath, the people of Kamboi Rama migrated to coastal area and set up a new residence named Randuayaivi. There was, however, a couple of husband and wife who insisted on staying upon the mountain with God Irowanawai. The couple was Irimiami and Isoray. For sustenance, they hunted deers in the jungle and planted tubers in their field.One day, on their way from their field, Irimiami and Isoray took a rest under a shady tree. Irimiami sat on the ground with his back leaning on the tree and Isoray sat on a big stone next to him . All of a sudden, Isoray shouted and jumped off the stone.“Ouch! The stone burns!” cried Isoray as she was rubbing her buttocks.“What is happening, my dear?” asked Irimiami.“I do not know, my husband! The stone suddenly burns,” answered Isoray in panic.A short time later, a roll of smoke came out of the stone. Curious, Irimiami tried to sit on the stone. But as he touched it, he shouted just like his wife did before. Then he had an idea to measure the stone heat. He took the deer he killed in the jungle and put it on the stone. After a while, the meat produced an exquisite smell, arousing appetite. When it was cooked enough, the couple took it out and tasted the meat.“What a delicious meat,” Irimiami said to himself after a small nibble on the deer meat.“My dear! Try this meet!” shouted Irimiami as he handed a slice.Having tasted a little bit of it, Isoray wanted more. They were hungry after hunting all day long. They ate up the meat eagerly. From then on, they always cooked their meals by putting them on the stone. Day after day, the hot smoke coming out of the stone was increasing in amount. Thus, Irimiami and his wife got more curious of the heat level of the stone.The couple took a stem of bamboo and rubbed it on the stone. In a wink, the bamboo was broken into two and the rub apparently ignited. They cut off some grasses and dry leaves and put them on the stone. The grasses and leaves were burnt and there was a thick roll of hot smoke.On a bright day, Irimiami and his wife garnered more grass and leaves and put them on the stone. The grass and leaves were burnt that a very hot fire was coming out of it.“My husband! What have we done? The place is burning down,” worried Isoray.Irimiami and his wife tried to put out the fire but in vain. In desperation, they begged God Iriwonawai for help. With a magical power, God Iriwonawai extinguished the fire. But, this time, the couple had not learned a lesson. They kept on testing the stone heat. They came back with more grasses, leaves, and now timbers to put on the stone. As can be predicted, there was bigger smoke and fire on the top of Mount Kamboi Rama combusting for seven days and seven nights. They were now in real panic and fear. They begged God Iriwonawai to help them again.Randuayaivi people living on the shore were startled by the situation. They thought there was a forest fire on Mount Kamboi Rama. When they heard the sound of saworai drum, they all ran to the mountain to see the situation closer. Upon the mountain, they met Irimiami and Isoray, who later told them about the magical stone. At first, they did not believe in the story. But after the couple told them to have a nibble on the cooked meal, they gave in. Since then, Irimiami and his wife called the stone “Batu Keramat”, the Holy Stone, and gathered the people to hold a traditional feast.The next morning, the people of Randuayaivi assembled on the top of Mount Kamboi Rama for the party. They carried calladiums, fishes, and other kinds of food. The food were put on the holy stone and the traditional feast lasted for three days and three nights. Irimiami along with his wife and the people danced around the stone, worshipping it. During the feast, the couple told everyone stories about the stone. The people of Papua, particularly those of Yapen Islands, sanctify the fire stone hitherto. They believe that Irimiami and Isoray were the first to found it. Once a year, they worship the holy stone.***This is the story of the Holy Stone that tells about the origin of the rite of worshipping the holy stone performed by the people of Papua upon Mount Kamboi Rama. Until current times, once a year they always worship the stone by holding a traditional feast which is now used as a gathering event. Such value is also upheld by Malay people. This is very important and must be put before anything else. 

Cerita Rakyat Gunung Batu Bangkai

Cerita rakyat from South Kalimantan

Legend of Gunung Batu Bangkai

Many years ago, in Loksado, lived a young man with his mother. He was called Andung Kuswara. He was a smart young man. He had medical skill that he learned from his late father. Andung Kuswara worked hard everyday to fulfill their daily needs. One day, Andung Kuswara went to the forest alone, searching for fruits and vegetables. On his way home, he found an old man squeezed badly between two big trees. Andung Kuswara immediately helped him. He then healed his wound perfectly. “Dear young man, I thank you for your help,” the old man said and took something hanging on his neck. “As my gratitude, I give you this necklace. Hopefully it would bring good fortune for you,” said the old man. Andung Kuswara took the gift and went home.

Both Andung Kuswara and his mother passed their times happily. But Andung Kuswara wanted a better life for him and his mother. “Maybe it is better to leave my home to another country and practice my medical skill,” he thought. However, he had not enough courage to tell his intention to his mother. He knew his mother would be alone if he left. After a month passed, finally Andung Kuswara told his mother about his intention. “Mother, I want to make our life better. I want to go to other country and find a better job,” he said to his mother. “Andung… my son. If it is your final decision, I won’t stop you. All I can do is pray for you to find what you’re searching for,” his mother said wisely. “Thank you, Mother,” Andung Kuswara smiled happily.

The next morning, Andung Kuswara left his homeland to pursue his dream. He went overseas. He walked for weeks until he reached the kingdom of Basiang. On his way, he met a farmer whose body was full of ulcers and scabies. Andung Kuswara tried to help him. He cured the farmer with his medical skill.

The farmer was so happy. He offered Andung Kuswara to stay at his home. He also told Andung Kuswara that almost all inhabitants of the country were suffering from the same diseases. The news about Andung Kuswara’s medical skill quickly spread throughout the whole country. All sick people come to him to be cured from their sickness.

The king of Basiang also heard the news about Andung Kuswara’s excellent medical skill. The king then ordered his guard to brought Andung Kuswara to cure the princess who was also been sick. “My daughter has been on her bed for two weeks. She can not do anything. Many healers had attempted to recover her, but they failed. Will you cure her?” asked the king to Andung Kuswara. “My Majesty, I am just a poor wanderer and I have minimal medical skill. So, please forgive me if I also fail in recovering the princess”, Andung Kuswara replied.

Andung Kuswara was then allowed to enter the princess‘s room. The princess was very pale and weak. However, her beauty clearly seemed through her wonderful face. Andung Kuswara was amazed looking at her, “Ah, the princess is so beautiful,” he said to himself. He then tried to cure the princess with all his skill, but the princess did not move at all. Andung Kuswara then thought of another way. He took the necklace hanging on his neck. The necklace was soaked in the cup of water for a moment. After reading some prayers upon the water, Andung Kuswara spattered it on the princess‘s face for several times. Suddenly, the princess could move her body. Her eyes and lips opened, and her face turned bright. The princess was eventually able to sit on her bed.

The king was very grateful for Andung Kuswara‘s help to his only daughter. To express his gratefulness, he allowed Andung Kuswara to marry his daughter. The princess was happy to welcome Andung as her husband. The same was felt by Andung who fell in love with the princess.

A year passed, and the princess was pregnant. She told her husband that she desired to eat kasturi fruit that only grew in Kalimantan Island. Andung Kuswara‘s accompanied by several kingdom troops went to search the fruit. After arriving at the Kalimantan Island, Andung Kuswara headed to Loksado to find the kasturi tree which, according to local people, was bearing fruit. Andung Kuswara stood surprisingly after knowing that the tree grew exactly in front of his mother‘s small hut. Andung Kuswara immediately commanded the troops to return to the kingdom without taking the fruit to avoid meeting his own mother.

But suddenly Andung Kuswara’s mother went out from the hut. She saw her son among the troops in front of her home. “Andung…Andung…my son,” she tried to call her son. Andung Kuswara and the troops continuously walked to keep away from the old woman. However, she ran after them and kept calling for his son. Feeling ashamed in front of the troops, Andung Kuswara said angrily to his own mother, “Stop calling me as your son, old woman. I am a nobility of the Basiang Kingdom. I never know an old woman like you.” After that, Andung kuswara continued walking.

Andung Kuswara’s mother was shocked to hear those words from her beloved son. She cried and prayed with trembling lips, “Oh my God, show your power and justice.” Her tears had not been drying when the sky suddenly turned dark and thunder stroke repeatedly. After that, a sudden storm smashed and heavy rain fell dementedly. Suddenly Andung Kuswara‘s body slowly turned into stone.

Since the time, the locals called the mountain as Gunung Batu Bangkai (mountain of decease stone), because the stone that lays on it resembles human body. The mountain located in the sub district of Loksado, South Kalimantan .

Cerita Rakyat The Origin Of Pond Sampuraga

Cerita rakyat from North Sumatra

The Origin of Pond Sampuraga

In the area Sumatra, lived a widow with her son named Sampuraga. They lived in a small hut in the forest. Everyday they worked hard as employees in a farm owned by a rich man. One day, Sampuraga and his boss took a rest, leaning on a tree after working all day. While enjoying their lunch, the boss asked, “Sampuraga, you’re still young. Why don’t you move to a prosperous land and find a better job?” Sampuraga was an honest and diligent young man. That why his boss cared for him and wanted a better life for him. ”Actually I`ve been dreaming to move to search for a better life. I want to make my mother happier. But where to?” asked Sampuraga. “You should go to Mandailing. One of my friend live there. Most of the inhabitants have farms and fields. They also seek for living by panning for gold in the river since it has high level of gold content,” explained the boss. The conversation made Sampuraga decided to follow the boss’s advised.

Back in his hut, Sampuraga told his mother about his decision. “Mother, I want to move to look for a better life. In this place, I’ll always be employee and work for other people. I want to go someplace else and try out my luck,” Sampuraga said to his mother. “Where will you go, son?” his mother asked. “I was thinking about Mandailing. The boss told me that the people in Mandailing live in prosperity because of its fertile soil,” Sampuraga said. His mother knew that Sampuraga had made up his mind and nothing can change his decision. “Though I`m afraid of being separated with you, as I get older, but I have no reason to forbid you. I`m sorry I never make you happy,” his mother said. “Thank you, Mother! I promise I`ll be back soon if I were success. Pray for me Mom,” Sampuraga asking for his Mother’s blessing.

Sampuraga depart on his journey to Mandailing the following day. He left his mother alone. Days passed, he walked throughout a forest passing by villages. One day, he reached a city in Pidoli Kingdom, in Mandailing. In that place, he tried to apply for job. A rich merchant accepted his application. The merchant took a great trust in him as he was diligent and honest young man. After a year, the boss gave him some financial capitals so that he could run his own business. His business grew up rapidly in a short time. Some of his profits were kept to increase his capital in order to make his business bigger. Finally, he was known a rich young business man.

The merchant was so proud with Sampuraga. One day, he asked Sampuraga if he is interested to marry his daughter. “Sampuraga, you are honest and diligent man. Do you want to marry my daughter?” asked the merchant. “Of course, Sir,“ Sampuraga answered. The merchant’s daughter was known as the most beautiful girl in the Pidoli Kingdom.

They got married in a luxurious wedding party. All preparations had been started months before the wedding day. Ten buffalos and goats were provided in the party. Everybody knew about the big wedding including Sampuraga’s mother. She heard the news from a passing merchant from Mandailing. “Is it true? Maybe it’s just the same name,” she was at doubt. How could it possible for her son to marry a beautiful girl from a wealthy family, whereas he’s just a son of poor widow. But, Sampuraga’s mother still wanted to make sure, so she went to Mandailing to watch the wedding. When she arrived in Pidoli Kingdom, the wedding party already started. It was so crowded and noisy. She tried to get closer in the crowd. She was shocked when she saw the man who was sitting next to a beautiful girl. It was her son, Sampuraga. “Raga…! Sampuraga, my son,” she shouted, trying to get Sampuraga’s attention.

Sampuraga was shocked to hear that familiar voice. “Oh…It`s not possible,” he thought while looking for the source of the voice among the crowded. But then he saw an old woman ran to him. “Sampuraga, my son! I’m your mother!” said the old woman while she tried to embrace Sampuraga. But Sampuraga was so embarrassed to see his own mother. His face turned red. “Hey, old woman! Don`t pretend to be my mother! I have no mother like you! Go away from here now! Don’t disturb my party!” he shouted with angry tone. His mother was startled to see Sampuraga’s reaction. “Raga… Sampuraga. I’m your mother. How could you forget your own mother?” she started to cry.

“No!! You`re not my Mother! She’s already dead! Guard, take this old woman out of here!” Sampuraga ordered his guard. His heart had totally hardened until he denied and chased away his own mother. All of the guests only kept on silence, no one dared to mediate them. The old woman then was dragged by two guards out of the party. While still crying, she prayed, “Dear God…If he were truly my son, Sampuraga, please give him a punishment for disavowing me.”

Suddenly, the sky turned dark, covered by thick cloud. The rain fell down followed by thunderstorm. All of the guests tried to ran away, but they couldn’t escape the storm. Just in a short time, no one was safe, including Sampuraga and his wife.

On the next days, that place turned into a hot pond surrounded by limestone whose shape were the same as buffalos. There were also two heaps of sand and colorful mud that looked like the food offered on Sampuraga`s wedding party. People later call it “Kolam Sampuraga” or Pond Sampuraga.

Indonesian Legend "The Parakeet King"

Cerita rakyat from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

The Parakeet King

 

 

 Once upon a time, there was a group of parakeets in the forest. The parakeets group was led by a king. One day, their peaceful life was threatened by a hunter who planned to catch and sell them in the market. The hunter put some glues around the parakeet’s nests to trap them. Some parakeets and the parakeet king were trapped on the glues that the hunter set up before. They had tried to release themselves from the trap, but their efforts resulted nothing. All of them cried for help, except their king. “Relax my friends! This glue is put by the hunter. He wants to catch us alive. If we die, he will not bring us with him. I suggest we all pretend to be dead when he comes to take us tomorrow. When the hunter releases us from this trap, he will checks whether we still alive or not. If he thinks we are dead, he will leave us here. Please wait for my counting to one hundred, and then we will fly together,” the parakeet king said calmly. All parakeets agreed with the idea, “Good idea. Tomorrow we will pretend to be dead to free ourselves from the hunter.”

The hunter came in the next morning, and released those parakeets one by one from the trap. Finding all of them had not breathed, the hunter was very upset. The parakeets were left unattended in the ground, and the hunter walked home. But suddenly, the hunter slipped and felt down. Surprised by the accident, the pretending parakeets flied and scattered to all directions without waiting for the king‘s counting. The hunter realized that the parakeets had deceived him. But then he saw one bird was still on the ground. It was the parakeet king who was still pretending to be dead. "Gotcha!" he seized the parakeet king. “I’ll kill you,” said the hunter in his anger. “Forgive me, sir! Please do not kill me! Please release me,” the parakeet king asked for mercy. But the hunter replied angrily, “I will not release you. Your friends and you have fooled me. But I’ll not kill you if you promise to entertain me,” the hunter said. “Okay, sir. I’ll chirp for you everyday,” said the parakeet king agreed.

The hunter then brought the parakeet king to his home. He put the parakeet in a cage. The parakeet king chirped melodiously everyday to please the hunter. “Wonderful voice, luckily I didn’t kill him,” said the hunter. The news about the beautiful voice of the parakeet king was heard by the king of Aceh. The king decided to invite the hunter to come to his palace. The king intended to buy the parakeet.

At first, the hunter refused to sell the parakeet. “Oh my Majesty, I do not intend to go up against your wish to have this bird, but it is hard for me to hand over him to you,” said the hunter. “I would like to buy him with high price,” replied the king. After thought the price offered by the king for a while, the hunter finally said, “Oh my Majesty, if you really intend to have the bird, I would gladly sell it to you.” The king was delighted to hear the hunter‘s answer, and quickly paid him the amount of the promised money.

At the palace, the parakeet king was put in a golden cage. He was given so many delicious foods, but he still felt imprisoned. He wished that he could back home to the forest and could fly freely with his parakeet fellow. His sorrow made him sick. He stopped singing at all. “Why does my beloved bird stop chirping? Is he sick?” the king asked the guard. “My Majesty, I do not know exactly the causes. I have provided him with many delicious foods and taken care of him carefully, but he still keeps silent,” replied the guard. The king was so sad hearing the guard‘s explanation.

Meanwhile, in his golden cage, the parakeet king began to think a way to escape. He came up with an idea. “I will pretend to be dead as I had ever done before,” he said to himself. In the next morning he began to do his plan and imagined could fly freely. The palace guard who saw the condition of the parakeet king came to the king to tell the bad news. The king was very sad hearing the news, because the parakeet‘s beautiful twitter was no longer be heard. To express his love for the parakeet king, the king had his guards dug a cemetery for the dead parakeet.

The burial ceremony would be held with the kingdom tradition in the next morning. The parakeet was then taken out from the golden cage. Everybody thought that he had been dead. Suddenly, the parakeet king flied fast and high on the sky. All people were amazed seeing him, because they thought that he had died. The parakeet king got his freedom again, and flied directly to the forest.