The Curse of Mpu Gandring

The Permission

After hearing Dang Hyang Lohgawe explaination, Ken Angrok then asked his father, Father Dang Hyang, I will kill the akuwu and claimed his wife. The akuwu will surely die by my hand if Father permits me.

Dang Hyang Lohgawe answered, Yes, Tunggul Ametung will surely die by your hand, my son. But, I am not appropriate on giving you the permission. Because it is not a brahmanian's act. The limit is your own will.

If so Father, may I have your permission to leave?, said Ken Angrok. The brahmanian answered, Where will you go, my son?

Ken Angrok answered, I will go to Karuman. There is a gambler named Bango Samparan who claimed me as his son. He really loved me. I will ask his consideration. Perhaps, he would agree. Dang Hyang Lohgawe then permitted Ken Angrok went to meet with his father.

In Karuman, Bango Samparan embraced Ken Angrok, because Ken Angrok never visited him for years. Ken Angrok told Bango Samparan about the nareswari of Ken Dedes, and his wish to marry Ken Dedes, after assassinating her husband, the akuwu of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung.

The Kris of Mpu Gandring

Hearing the wish of his beloved son, Bango Samparan then said to Ken Angrok, I give you my permission, my son. But Angrok, the akuwu has a supernatural power. He would not get injured if you stab him with a normal kris.

I have a friend in Lulumbang, a famous blacksmith. His name is Mpu Gandring. His hand made kris is superb. There are no people with supernatural power who doubt the kris of Mpu Gandring.

I should go to Lulumbang then. Bless me Father!, said Ken Angrok.

In Lulumbang, Ken Angrok found Mpu Gandring was working in his smithy. He asked Mpu Gandring to make him a kris, in which should be finished within five months. Generally, to make a perfect kris, Mpu Gandring needed at least a year to finish it.

Because of Ken Angrok hesitation, Mpu Gandring finally agreed to finish it within five months.

The Curse of Mpu Gandring

Ken Angrok went home to Tumapel and met Dang Hyang Lohgawe. What took you so long in Karuman?, said Dang Hyang Lohgawe. I was stopping by to Lulumbang, Father, answered Ken Angrok.

Five months have passed, Ken Angrok remembered the deal he made with Mpu Gandring. He then went to Lulumbang to meet Mpu Gandring. Ken Angrok saw Mpu Gandring was still working with the kris that he was ordered.

Knowing that his kris was still being sharpened by Mpu Gandring, Ken Angrok became mad, grabbed the kris and suddenly stabbed Mpu Gandring. Ken Angrok put the kris on the stone basket, then the basket cracked into two pieces. He put the kris on the metal table, the table cracked into two pieces.

In dying, Mpu Gandring cast a spell on Ken Angrok, Hei Angrok! Soon, you will also die by the kris. Your son and grandson will also die by the kris. Seven kings will die by the kris. Ken Angrok felt sad after killing Mpu Gandring. If I become a king, may my glory also be the glory for all blacksmith's descendants in Lulumbang, prayed Ken Angrok in front of Mpu Gandring's dead body.

The Assassination of Tunggul Ametung

Arriving to Tumapel, Ken Angrok met with Kebo Ijo, another Tunggul Ametung's trusted servant. Ken Angrok and Kebo Ijo are a close friend. Kebo Ijo saw Ken Angrok carried an unfinished kris. He then asked Ken Angrok to lend him his new blunt kris.

Ken Angrok gave the kris to Kebo Ijo. The kris was always used by Kebo Ijo, because he loved to wear it on his waist. No one in Tumapel never saw Kebo Ijo left home without his new kris.

That night, Ken Angrok stole the kris from Kebo Ijo. By the will of the gods, Ken Angrok easily sneaked into the akuwu's bedroom and managed to assassinate Tunggul Ametung. Ken Angrok stabbed Tunggul Ametung and left the akuwu's dead body with the kris on his heart.

Early in the morning, the akuwu's guard found his master died with the kris stabbed on his heart. They looked at the kris and knew that it was Kebo Ijo's new kris. Kebo Ijo was then captured and stabbed also with the kris of Mpu Gandring by the guard. Kebo Ijo died.

The Singasari

The gods had already wished that Ken Angrok will become Ken Dedes soul mate. Infact both of them were felt in love to each other for so long. Everybody in Tumapel had no dare to talk about the affair between Ken Angrok and Ken Dedes.

Finally Ken Angrok married Ken Dedes, after the birth of Tunggul Ametung's son named Anusapati. From the marriage with Ken Angrok, Ken Dedes had given him four children. Three sons, Mahisa Wongateleng, Panji Saprang, and Agnibaya. The last child, a daughter named Dewi Rimba.

Ken Angrok was also had another wife named Ken Umang who had given him also four children. Three sons, Panji Tohjaya, Panji Sudatu, and Twan Wregola. The last child was also a daughter named Dewi Rambi.

Ken Angrok was no longer became the akuwu of Tumapel anymore since the county had rebelled to the kingdom of Daha. The people of Tumapel had risen Ken Angrok as the new King, in which the new kingdom's name of Tumapel was changed into Singasari

Ken Angrok became the first king of Singasari with the title of Sri Rajasa Batara Sang Amurwabumi. Ken Angrok finally defeated the kingdom of Daha and became the king of all the land in Java in 1144 Saka (1222 AD).

The Death of Ken Angrok

After Anusapati, Ken Angrok step-son, was grown up, he realized that he had many differences with his father. Anusapati asked to his mother, Ken Dedes, about it. Ken Dedes then explained all to Anusapati, including the death of his real father, Tunggul Ametung, by the kris of Mpu Gandring.

Anusapati asked his mother permission to give him the kris of Mpu Gandring. Ken Dedes then handed over the kris to Anusapati. In his room, Anusapati planned the assassination of the Amurwabumi with his loyal servant, a man from Batil. Anusapati gave his servant the kris of Mpu Gandring to assassinate the Amurwabumi.

In the palace, Ken Angrok, the Amurwabumi, was having a dinner when the man from Batil arrived, and stabbed him with the kris of Mpu Gandring. The man was managed to escape to see his master, Anusapati with the news of successful assassination.

The man from Batil handed the bloody kris of Mpu Gandring to Anusapati. Without any hesitation, Anusapati then killed his servant with the bloody kris.

Ken Angrok, the Sri Rajasa Batara Sang Amurwabumi died in 1168 Saka (1247 AD). The people of Singasari built a temple in Kagenengan to honour Ken Angrok.

The Ended of Mpu Gandring's Curse

The last used of the kris of Mpu Gandring was for the assassination of Anusapati by his step-brother Panji Tohjaya after becoming the second king of Singasari. Anusapati crowned as the king of Singasari in 1170 Saka (1249 AD). Anusapati died in Panji Tohjaya's hand, also stabbed using the kris of Mpu Gandring in 1171 Saka (1250 AD). It was the last seen and written about the use of the kris of Mpu Gandring.

The curse of Mpu Gandring on Ken Angrok's descendants ended after the assassination of Anusapati by his step-brother Panji Tohjaya. Because Panji Tohjaya died by a spear in the anarchy in Lumbangkatang in 1172 Saka (1251 AD).

So, the kris of Mpu Gandring only killed Mpu Gandring himself, Tunggul Ametung, Kebo Ijo, Ken Angrok, Anusapati's servant (a man from Batil), and Anusapati himself.

The Legend of Ken Angrok Chapter 2

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The Legend of Ken Angrok

The Unwanted Son

Brahmā, the Hindu god of creation, was looking for the one who deserved to be his maid. He saw a new married couple, Gajahpara and his wife Ken Endok. Both of them worked as farmer for living.

Brahmā went down to meet Ken Endok and made a deal with her. From now on, you should not sleep with your husband anymore. If you do it, then your husband will die. And my son is mixed with him. What you should know, my son's name is Ken Angrok. Soon, he will become the ruler of the land of Java. Brahmā then disappeared after delivering the message.

Shortly after, Ken Endok asked Gajahpara to divorce her, because she was afraid of the Sang Hyang's message. Ken Endok went home to Pangkur in the North, after Gajahpara agreed to divorce her. A week later, Gajahpara died.

When the time came for the delivery, Ken Endok bore a baby boy, then put him in the children's cemetery.

The Gambler

A thief named Lembong saw a shiny thing in the children's cemetery. He also heard a baby's cry. After Lembong came closer, clear for him, the shiny thing was a baby who just cried. He took the baby and brought home. He claimed the baby as his own son.

Later Ken Endok knew that her baby was adopted by Lembong. Ken Endok told Lembong that the baby is her son, his name is Ken Angrok, son of the god Brahmā.

Young Ken Angrok became in love of gambling which made Ken Endok's and Lembong's treasures ran out.

Ken Angrok left Lembong's house to go for a journey. He met with Bango Samparan, a casino owner, who took Ken Angrok as his son. Bango Samparan was defeated in gambling by other casino owner in Karuman, and had many debts.

Before meeting with Ken Angrok, Bango Samparan heard a sound from the sky told him, that Ken Angrok was the one who will save him from all his debts. Bango Samparan then took Ken Angrok to play with the casino owner and brought winning to Bango Samparan.

The Rebel

He left Bango Samparan's house because of bad relationship he had with other Bango Samparan's children. He went to Kapundungan and met with Tita, son of the chief of Sagenggeng village. The meeting with Tita had made them became most wanted rebel in the land of Kadiri.

After Ken Angrok and Tita gained enough knowledges from a well known teacher in Kapundungan for few months, they started their journey together. They built small house in Sanja, in the East of Sagenggeng, and robbed every people who passed by.

The duet of Ken Angrok and Tita became a threat for the akuwu (Sherrif) of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung. The akuwu then gave the order to capture Ken Angrok dead or alive.

The Vishnu Incarnation

In his run, Ken Angrok was given a message by Brahmā to meet with a brahmanian named Dang Hyang Lohgawe who just came from Jambudwipa (India) in Taloka.

Mean while, Dang Hyang Lohgawe also received a message from Brahmā to look for a boy, Vishnu incarnate in Java. The boy's name is Ken Angrok, who had chakra in his right line palm and shankha in his left line palm.

In Taloka, Dang Hyang Lohgawe met with Ken Angrok in a casino. He embraced Ken Angrok and claimed him as a son. Dang Hyang Lohgawe then brought Ken Angrok to serve the akuwu of Tunggul Ametung in Tumapel.

The Nareswari of Ken Dedes

Ken Dedes, daughter of Mpu Purwa, a Buddhist priest of Panawijen. Ken Dedes was widely known as the most beautiful woman ever lived in the land of Java. Tunggul Ametung heard about it and wanted to make her to be his wife.

By the time Mpu Purwa left the house for private meditation, Tunggul Ametung kidnapped her beautiful daughter. Tunggul Ametung brought Ken Dedes to Tumapel to make her to be his wife.

When Ken Dedes was pregnant, she asked Tunggul Ametung to take her to Boboji park. Tunggul Ametung then took Ken Dedes to Boboji park accompanied by Ken Angrok as his guard.

Arriving at the park, Ken Dedes stepped down from the horse cart, revealing her calf, and moreover, showing her most secret which looked shiny to Ken Angrok.

Saw the most secret thing from a beautiful lady, in which it shone, had made Ken Angrok felt in love with Ken Dedes. Ken Angrok then told to Dang Hyang Lohgawe about what happened.

What you just saw is called nareswari. Ken Dedes is the nareswari, the main woman. Even for a sinner, if he able to make her to be his wife, he will become great king, said Dang Hyang Lohgawe.

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