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

Sources:

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.

Continue reading....

The Curse of Bandung Bandawasa

Do you believe that this statue of Durga was not made by any human beings? Was it really Rara Jonggrang who turned to stone?

Javanese people really believe in mystical legend that have been told by generations over generations for century. In this case, the legend about The Temple of Thousands (Sewu temple, or Prambanan temple), in which connected with the curse upon Rara Jonggrang. I'm not telling you the story here, because you may find the whole legend of Rara Jonggrang in wikipedia, here.

Rara Jonggrang AI version

I do believe. It was really Rara Jonggrang who was cursed in turning to stone by the mighty Prince Bandung Bandawasa, a Prince who has powerful supernatural power. You should try to see and touch the statue for yourself! I have already done it, and I believed it.

The Sewu temple, also known as Prambanan temple, or Rara Jonggrang temple is located in the village of Prambanan, which its territory is divided between the district of Sleman and Klaten. I used to make fun of this two districts by saying them with an english spelling, the district of Slaymen and Clayton.

Km.16 Yogya-Solo St., Prambanan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Just remember one thing! Do not ever visit the Prambanan temple with your love-mate! Even if you have already engaged with your partner, the another curse of Bandung Bandawasa may affect on you and your partner. Your engagement will be broken shortly after you leave the temple. If you eventually manage to get married, your marriage will not last long.

You must be a marriage couple or alone to be able to see the statue without having a curse spells on you! You may have believed it or not, it's all yours to decide. Because Prince Bandung Bandawasa also cursed all girls who lived around Prambanan, that they would not be married with a man who also lived around Prambanan.

The girls will be getting marry with a man who born and lived outside Prambanan. If a couple, both from Prambanan were managed to get married, their marriage will not last long. There will be a divorced, or creating an unhappy living family. Such a horrible curse for the girls who helped Rara Jonggrang, cheated on her impossible requests to Prince Bandung Bandawasa's proposal. A curse which should be carried by generations over generations.

*This post is dedicated to Prambanan's Kartini.

Happy Kartini's Day!!

Update: July 23, 2024

When Jaka Tarub Met Nawang Wulan

Lake Sarangan
Image is courtesy of Bintang Bintung

Back in 2004, when I went to Beny's home town, Magetan, East Java, for the 1st time. After spent a night at Beny's parent house, in the morning, we both went to Lake Sarangan on motor-bike. Lake Sarangan is one of famous tourism in Magetan. Before we reached Lake Sarangan, we passed by Lake Urung, a lake below Lake Sarangan. From that moment I felt something weird, for me, Lake Urung seems to be superstitious.

Some folks myth said that if a young couple that is going to get married, is passing by Lake Urung, their marriage will be cancelled. Because Urung in Javanese language means not yet, or cancel. Anyway, Lake Urung and Lake Sarangan are in the valley of sacred Mt. Lawu, another famous tourism for mount climbing in Magetan.

Mt. Lawu
Image from wikimedia

After we arrived at Lake Sarangan, my first sight is pointed me to the small island in the middle of Lake Sarangan. I sensed a lot of electromagnetic energies laid there. Beny told me that in some night, there were paranormal activities occured in that island, as also on Mt. Lawu National Park, especially on Saka's New Year eve. Many mount climbers are often get lost when climbed to Mt. Lawu for some unexplain reason without an expert guide.

After that, me and Beny took the ride to Cemoro Sewu, the entrance to Mt. Lawu from East Java side. It was a hard ride with motor-bike. I often jump off Beny's bike, due to the road is to high to climb. After arrived at Cemoro Sewu, we both took a coffee break at a small shop.

I don't have guts to enter Mt. Lawu, due to the high of electromagnetic energy I have sensed. Mt. Lawu was believed to be the center of paranormal activities in Java Island, since the Javanese ancestor, especially for His Majesty Sultans of Solo and Jogjakarta.

I don't know exactly why have I started to remember the story about Goddess Nawang Wulan, when I arrived with Beny at Cemoro Sewu. Perhaps due to lots of sacred watershed pool or small lake at Mt. Lawu, 'Sendang Panguripan' or 'Lake of Life' for instance. Couple days ago, I saw a FTV movie adapted from the legend, which was combined with modern culture. It makes me eager to write about the legend.

The Legend of Jaka Tarub & Nawang Wulan

Painting of Jaka Tarub with 7 Goddess
Image from wikimedia

Jaka Tarub is a handsome young man who has supernatural powers. He often went out into the woods to hunt and gain knowledge. When a full moon day in the evening, he entered a forest, from a distance he heard the faint sound of women who were joking.

Curious, Jaka Tarub goes looking for direction toward the voices. Finally he found a beautiful lake in the middle of the woods, along with 7 beautiful naked women were taking a bath and teased each other. While he was hiding, he found those women's scarfs were lying scattered. Then, he stole one of them and hide it.

A moment later, they seem were about to finnish their bathe. 6 of them were wearing their long scarfs, then flew up into the night sky. Jaka Tarub later noticed that these women were the Goddess from Nirvana. But a Goddess was left alone in the lake. Since she has lost her scarfs, she couldn't return to the sky, and then she burst into tears.

If anyone finds my scarf, if a man, I'll make him to be my husband, and if a woman, I'll make her to be my sister, vowed the Goddess. Jaka Tarub then revealed himself and entertained the Goddess. He gave her a piece of cloth to wear, but he still hid her scarf, so that she couldn't fly.

The Goddess then fulfill her vow and is married to Jaka Tarub. Nawang Wulan is the Goddess name. Since married her, Jaka Tarub were wealthy. Large amount of harvest and his granaries are always filled with rice without ever lack. Nawang Wulan's scarf was hidden by Jaka Tarub, in a barn that is always full. They were blessed with a child and live happily.

But after a long married life, Jaka Tarub was curious. Every day, his family always eat rice, but the barn was never reduced as there is no rice that used to eat them. One day, Nawang Wulan went out. She advised her husband to keep the fire stove in the kitchen, but forbade him to unscrew the pot. Nawang Wulan also prohibit Jaka Tarub to go into the kitchen, while she was cooking. Jaka Tarub was doing what his wife told him to do, but his curiosity made him disobeyed his wife orders. He opened the lid on the pot and it turned out there was only one grain of rice.

Apparently, Nawang Wulan requires only a grain of rice to meet the rice needs of the family in a day. When Nawang Wulan went home and opened the lid of a pot, there was only a grain of rice in it. Nawang Wulan angry because her husband had disobeyed her orders.

Nawang Wulan became sad, because since then she had to cook the rice as a human being. Consequently it was used continuously. Slowly but surely, their rice was depleted, while the harvest season was still not yet arrived. When one day, Nawang Wulan was going to take the grain, she saw a piece of scarf sticking out behind a pile of rice. When drawn and cared for, Nawang Wulan remembered if it was her Goddess scarf.

Apparently all this time you are the one who hid my scarf. And because of the barn's contents continued to decrease, in the end I could find it again. It would have to be the will of the Above, she said to Jaka Tarub. Nawang Wulan then said goodbye and asked him to care for their children well.

Jaka Tarub asked her not to leave, but Nawang Wulan has already wore her scarf. Remember me when you saw a full moon. I'll comfort you from up there, said Nawang Wulan. She was later flown to the sky towards Nirvana, leaving Jaka Tarub who cried in remorse.

Such an ending! The ending that I saw on FTV movie is a happy ending.

The Legend of Aji Saka

In the Island of Majeti life of a handsome knight named Aji Saka. Aji Saka has a powerful magic power, handsome and also knowledgeable. He has two servant, Dora and Sembada. Both servant was very loyal to Aji Saka, They had never been to ignore His orders.

One day, Aji Saka left Majeti Island to have a journey. His departure was accompanied by Dora, while Sembada stayed, and ordered to keep the heirloom (Keris). Aji Saka told Sembada that heirloom should not be handed to anyone except to Aji Saka himself.

In the land of Java, there was a famous, prosperous, orderly, safe and peaceful country, which was named Medhang Kamulan. The King was named Dewata Cengkar, a noble and wise King. One day, the royal Chef have an accident. He accidently cut his finger. He did not realize that the pieces of his fingers plunged into a dish that will be presented to the King.

The King seemed very good to eat the meat, so He sent the Duke to ask the Chef. After knowing that he had eaten the flesh of Chef's finger, the King then ordered the Duke to deliver His people to be the King's meal every day.

Since then King Dewata Cengkar turned into a cruel King. Medhang Kamulan becomed haunted and lonely, because of the people one by one eaten by the King, the rest fleeing for their life. The Duke was confused thinking about the situation, because there was no more people who could be delivered to His King. At that moment Aji Saka and Dora, arrived in Medhang Kamulan.

Aji Saka amazed to see quiet and creepy state, so He then tried to find out the cause. After received information from the Duke about what was happening in Medhang Kamulan, then He volunteered to become King Dewata Cengkar's meal.

The King could not understand, why Aji Saka was willing to give up his life for him. Aji Saka said to the King that he was willing to be sacrifice for the King's meal, if the King rewarded Him with a land area as wide as Aji Saka headband that He was wearing.

But, the King himself should be the one who measured the land that will be awarded. The King agreed to Aji Saka's request. Aji Saka then asked the King to pull His headband. Miraculously, the headband seemed endless.

Dewata Cengkar forced to retreat further and further back, so that He finally arrived on the edge of The Southern Ocean. Headband was then flicked by Aji Saka, that catapulted the King fell into the sea. Instantly, Dewata Cengkar form turned into a White Crocodile.

Aji Saka later became King in Medhang Kamulan. After being crowned as King of Medhang Kamulan, Aji Saka sent Dora to go back to Majeti Island to take His heirloom that is guarded by Sembada.

Arrived at Majeti Island, Dora met Sembada and explained that he was ordered by Aji Saka to take His heirloom.

Sembada did't want to give the heirloom because he was holding Aji Saka command, that the heirloom should not be handed to anyone except to Aji Saka himself. In the other hand, Dora which also carried out Ajisaka command to deliver the heirloom.

Eventually both of them were fought. They were equally powerful. Attacked and be attacked each other.

Until finally they both died.

News about the death of Dora and Sembada was heard by Aji Saka. He was very sad to hear. He remembered the loyalty of both His servant. It was His command that made both of them were fought until death. His grief led him to create a script to capture the memories of them to honour their loyalty.

Source : Web Archive. Image from Wikimedia.