Nyai Loro Kidul (also spelled Nyi Roro Kidul; she also has many other names) is thought to be a legendary Javanese goddess. Her identity is of a complex goddess named goddess or queen of the Southern Sea of Java (Indian Ocean or Samudra Kidul) in Javanese and Sundanese mythology.

Nyai Loro Kidul has many different names, which reflect the diverse stories of her origin in a lot of sagas, legends, myths and traditional folklore. Other names include Ratu Laut Selatan ("Queen of the South Sea," meaning the Indian Ocean) and Gusti Kangjeng Ratu Kidul. Many Javanese believe it is important to use various honorifics when referring to her, such as Nyai, Kangjeng, and Gusti. People who invoke her also call her Eyang (grandmother). In mermaid form she is referred to as Nyai Blorong.

The Javanese word loro literally means two - 2 and merged into the name of the myth about the Spirit-Queen born as a beautiful girl/maiden, in Old Javanese rara, written as rårå, (also used as roro). Old-Javanese rara evolved into the New Javanese lara, written as lårå, (means ill, also grief like heartache, heart-break). Dutch orthography changed lara into loro (used here in Nyai Loro Kidul) so the word play moved the beautiful girl to a sick one - Old Javanese Nyi Rara and the New Javanese Nyai Lara.

Description

Nyai Loro Kidul is often illustrated as a mermaid with a tail as well the lower part of the body of a snake. The mythical creatures are claimed to take the soul of any who are wished for.

Sometimes Nyai Loro Kidul literally can be spoken of as a "naga", a mythical snake. This idea may have been derived from some myths concerning a princess of Pajajaran who suffered from leprosy. The skin disease mentioned in most of the myths about Nyai Loro Kidul might possibly refer to the shedding of a snake's skin.

The role of Nyai Loro Kidul as a Javanese Spirit-Queen became a popular motif in traditional Javanese folklore and palace mythologies, as well as being tied in with the beauty of Sundanese and Javanese princesses. Another aspect of her mythology was her ability to change shape several times a day.

Nyai Loro Kidul in a significant amount of the folklore that surrounds her - is in control of the violent waves of the Indian Ocean from her dwelling place in the heart of the ocean. Sometimes she is referred as one of the spiritual queens or wives of the Susuhunan of Solo/Surakarta and the Sultan of Yogyakarta. Her literal positioning is considered as corresponding to the Merapi-Kraton-South Sea axis in Solo Sultanate and Yogyakarta Sultanate.

Another pervasive part of folklore surrounding her is the colour of green, gadhung m'lathi in Javanese, is referred to her, which is forbidden to wear along the south-coast of Java.

Origin and history

Panembahan Senopati (1586-1601 AD), founder of the Mataram Sultanate, and his grandson Sultan Agung (1613-1645 AD) who named the Kanjeng Ratu Kidul as their bride, is claimed in the Babad Tanah Jawi.

One Sundanese folktale is about Dewi Kadita of the Pajajaran Kingdom, in West Java, who desperately sought the Southern Sea after black magic had hit her. She jumped into the violent waves of the Ocean where the spirits and demons crowned the girl to the legendary Spirit-queen of the South Sea.

Another Sundanese folktale shows Banyoe Bening (meaning clear water) becomes Queen of the Djojo Koelon Kingdom and, suffering from leprosy, travels to the South where she is taken up by a huge wave to disappear into the Ocean.

Another West Java folktale is about the Ajar Cemara Tunggal (Adjar Tjemara Toenggal) on the mountain of Kombang in the Pajajaran Kingdom. He is a male seer who actually was the beautiful great aunt of Raden Joko Susuruh. She told him to go to the east of Java to found a kingdom on the place where a maja-tree just had one fruit; the fruit was bitter, pait in Javanese, and the kingdom got the name of Majapahit. The seer Cemara Tunggal would marry the founder of Majapahit and any descendant in first line, to help in all kind of matters. Though after he (the seer) would have transmigrated into the "spirit-queen of the south" who shall reign over the spirits, demons and all dark creatures.

Specialities

Sarang Burung are Javanese bird's nests, and some of the finest in the world. The edible bird's nests Bird's nest soup or sarang burung, which find a ready market in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore are dedicated to Nyai Loro Kidul, mentioned by Sultan Agung in reports.

There are three harvests which are known as the Unduan-Kesongo, Unduan-Telor and Unduan-Kepat, taken place in April, the latter part of August (the largest), and December. The places of Rongkob and Karang Bolong along the South-coast of Central Java are famous for the edible bird's nests, made by the little sea swallows named Salanganen or Collocalia fuciphaga; famous because of the wayang performances which are held, and the Javanese ritual dances which are performed during gamelan music at the traditional ceremony.

This happens in a cave (Karang Bolong) and when these are ended specially prepared offers are made in a shed in what is known as the "State Bed of Nyai Loro Kidul". This relic is hung with beautiful silk batik kains, and a toilet mirror is placed against the green-coloured pillows of the bed ...

Nyai Loro Kidul is the patron goddess of the bird's-nest gatherers of South Java, who pursue what must be one of the world's most hair-raising professions. The gatherers descend the sheer cliff-face on coconut-fibre ropes to an overhang some thirty feet above the water where a rickery bamboo platform has been built. From here they must await their wave, drop into it, and be swept beneath the overhang into the cave. Here they grope around in total darkness filling their bags with bird's nests. Going back needs very precise timing for not misjudging the tides, and fallen into the violent waves.

The Dutch and their Javanese legacy

The term wali which is applied to all of the Islam teachers is Arabic (meaning "saint"), but the title "sunan" which they all carry, too, is Javanese. Sunan Kalijaga used to be one of the most "popular" Wali Sanga, and he got deeply involved with Nyai Loro Kidul because of the water aspect (at the beach of Pemancingan of northern Java, kali means river). Panembahan Senopati Ingalaga (1584-1601) , founder of Mataram's imperial expansion, sought the support of the goddess of the Southern Ocean (Kangjeng Ratu Kidul or Nyai Loro Kidul) at Pemancinang of southern Java.

She was to become the special protectress of the House of Mataram. Senopati's reliance upon both Sunan Kalijaga and Nyai Loro Kidul in the chronicles accounts nicely reflects the Mataram Dynasty's ambivalence towards Islam and indigenous Javanese beliefs.

Sightings

Pelabuhan Ratu

Pelabuhan Ratu, a small fishermen city in West Java, celebrates an annual holiday in her honor on April 6th. A memorial day for the locals, offering a lot of ceremonial "presents". Nyai Loro Kidul is also associated with Parangtritis, Pangandaran, Karang Bolong, Ngliyep, Puger, Banyuwangi, and places all along the south coast of Java. There is a local belief that wearing a green garment in these areas will anger her and will bring misfortune on the wearer, as green is her sacred colour.

Samudra Beach Hotel

The Samudra Beach Hotel, Pelabuhan Ratu, West-Java, keeps room 308 furnished with green colours & reserved for Nyai Loro Kidul.[17] The first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, was involved with the exact location and the idea for the Samudra Beach Hotel. In front of the room 308 there is the Ketapang tree where Sukarno got his spiritual inspiration.

Central-Java

Legends recount her love for Senopati and the famous Sultan Agung of Mataram, which continues to be recounted in the ritualized Bedhaya dance by the royal line of Surakarta, and she is honored by the susuhunans of Solo/Surakarta and the sultans of Yogyakarta, Central-Java. When Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX died on October 3, 1988, the Tempo newsmagazine reported her sighting by palace servants, who were sure she was paying her final tribute to the dead ruler.
Read More..

The Ratu Adil, literally means Just King, is a messianic figure in Javanese folklore. The Ratu Adil will establish universal peace and justice in the manner of similar figures, such as King Arthur in European folklore. The Ratu Adil is first mentioned in the Pralembang Joyoboyo, the pseudonymous prophecies ascribed to King Joyoboyo of Kediri.

The prophecy predicts that the Ratu Adil will be poor and at first unknown. This was highly advantageous to most early nationalist leaders. The prophecy also talks about the decline of the nobility as real rulers. The mantle of Ratu Adil has been claimed by a number of leaders in recent Indonesian history, including Diponegoro, Hamengkubuwono IX, Sukarno and Megawati.
Read More..

Ciung Wanara is a legend among Sundanese people, Indonesia. The legend is hisory record of Sunda Galuh kingdom. The legend describe the culture tie between Sundanese and Javanese living in western part of Central Java province.

This story originates from a Sundanese oral tradition called Pantun Sunda, which then transferred into books written by some Sundanese writers, both in Sundanese and Indonesian.

Summary

There was once a kingdom in West Java, called Galuh, which was ruled by King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah. After having reigned for a long time the King decided to become an ascetic and he therefore summoned his minister Aria Kebonan to the palace. Apart from this Aria Kebonan had also to come to the king to bring report about the kingdom. While he was waiting in the front-gallery, he saw servants busy walking to and fro, arranging everything for the king. The minister thought how nice it would be to be a king. Every command was obeyed, every wish fulfilled. He therefore wanted to be a king also.

As he was daydreaming there, the king called him.

"Well, Aria Kebonan, is it true that you wish to be a king?" The king knew it because he was endowed with supernatural power.

"No, Your Highness, I shall not be able to."

"Do not lie, Aria Kebonan, I know it."

"Excuse me, Your Highness, I have just thought of it." "Well, I shall make you king. As long as I am away to meditate, you shall be king and rule in a proper way. Then you shall not treat my two wives, Dewi Pangrenyep and Dewi Naganingrum as your wife."

"All right, Your Highness."

"I shall change your appearance into a handsome man. Your name will be Prabu Barma Wijaya. Tell the people that the king has become young and I myself shall go to a secret place. Thus be a kings!"

In a moment Aria Kebonan's appearance resembled Prabu Permana di Kusumah's, but looked ten years younger. People believed his announcement that he was King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah who had become ten years younger and changed his name into Prabu Barma Wijaya. Only one man did not believe his stoiy. It was Uwa Batara Lengser who knew the agreement between the king and the minister. Prabu Barma Wijaya became proud and humiliated Uwa Batara Lengser who could do nothing. He was also rude towards the two queens. Both avoided him, except in public when they behaved as if they were Prabu Barma Wijaya's wives.

One night both queens dreamt that the moon feel upon them. They reported it to the king which gave him a fright, as such a dream was usually a warning to women who were going to be pregnant. This was impossible as he was not guilty of treating both queens as his wives. Uwa Batara Lengser appeared and proposed to invite a new ascetic, called Ajar Sukaresi - who was none else than King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah - to explain the strange dream. Prabu Barma Wijaya agreed. As soon as the ascetic arrived at the palace he was asked by the king about the meaning of the dream.

"Both of the queens are expecting a child, Your

Highness." Although startled by the answer, Prabu Barma Wijaya could still control himself. Eager to know how far the ascetic dared to lie to him, he put another question. "Will they be girls or boys?"

"Both are boys, Your Highness." At this the king could no longer restrain himself, took out his creese and stabbed Ajar Sukaresi to death. He failed. The creese was crooked. "Do you want me to be dead? In that case, I will I shall be dead." Then the ascetic fell down. The king kicked the dead body so violently that it was thrown into the forest where it changed into a big dragon, called Nagawiru. At court something strange happened. Both queens were indeed pregnant. After some time Dewi Pangrenyep gave birth to a son who was called Hariang Banga, while Dewi Naganingrum gave birth at a later date.

One day when Prabu Barma Wijaya was visiting Dewi Naganingrum, the unborn child spoke: "Barma Wijaya, you have already forgotten a lot of promises. The more you do cruel things, the shorter your power will last."

This made the King very angry and at the same time he was afraid of the threat by the baby. He wanted to get rid of it and soon he found the way to do that. He asked for Dewi Pangrenyep's help to be quit of Dewi Naganingrum's baby who would be born as a rascal according to his dream. He would not be suitable for the ruler of the country together with Dewi Pangrenyep's son Hariang Banga. The queen believed it and agreed, but what was to be done?

"We shall exchange the baby with a dog and throw the child into the Citanduy river." This they did after covering Dewi Naganingrum's eyes with some wax, pretending to help the poor woman. The baby was put into a basket and thrown into the Citanduy river after a baby dog was laid on the lap of the unlucky mother.

Soon the queen knew that she was holding a baby dog and was very sad. The two evil-doers tried to get rid of Dewi Naganingrum by telling lies to the people, but nobody believed them. Even Uwa Batara Lengser could do nothing as the king as well as Queen Dewi Pangrenyep, was very powerful. Barma Wijaya even sentenced Dewi Naganingrum to death because she had given birth to a dog, which was shameful for the country. Uwa Batara Lengser got the instruction to carry out the command. He took the unlucky woman to the wood, but he did not kill her, instead he built a good hut for her. To convince the king and Dewi Pangrenyep that he had carried out the order, he showed them Dewi Naganingrum's bloodstained clothes.

At the village Geger Sunter, by the Citanduy river, there lived an old couple who usually put their bow-net in the river. One morning they went to the river to fetch the bow-net, and were very surprised to find a casket in the net instead of a fish. Opening it, they found a lovely baby. They carried the baby home and took care of it and loved it as their own.

As time went by the baby grew to a fine young man who accompanied the old man hunting in the wood. One day they saw a bird and a monkey.

"What bird and monkey are they, Father?"

"The bird is called Ciung and the monkey Wanara, my son."

"In that case, then call me Ciung Wanara." The old man agreed as the meaning of both words suited to the character of the boy.

One day he asked the old man why he was different from the other boys of the village and why they honoured him much. Then the old man told him that he had been driven to the place in a box and was not a boy from the village.

"Your parents are surely noble people from Galuh."

"In that case, I have to go thither in search for my real parents, Father."

"That is right, but you should go with a friend. In the casket there is an egg. Take it, go to the wood and find a fowl to hatch it."

Ciung Wanara took the egg, made for the wood as told by the old man, but he could not find a fowl. Instead he found Nagawiru who was kind to him and who offered him to hatch the egg. He laid the egg under the dragon and shortly after it was hatched. The chicken grew up rapidly. Ciung Wanara put it in the basket, left the old man and his wife and made for Galuh.

On arriving there the hen had already grown into a big and strong game-cock. While Ciung Wanara was looking for the owner of the casket, he took part in cock-fighting. His cock never lost. The news about the young man whose cock always won at cock-fighting also reached Prabu Barma Wijaya who ordered Uwa Batara Lengser to find the young man. The old man immediately felt that he was Dewi Naganingrum's son, especially when Ciung Wanara showed him the casket in which he had been thrown into the river. Uwa Batara Lengser told Ciung Wanara that the king had ordered such besides accusing his mother of having given birth to a dog.

"If your cock wins in the fight against that of the king, just ask him half of the kingdom as a reward of your victory."

The next morning Ciung Wanara appeared in front of Prabu Barma Wijaya and told him what Lengser had proposed. The king agreed as he was sure of the victory of his cock, called si Jeling. It proved that the cock lost his life in the fight and the king was compelled to fulfill his promise to give Ciung Wanara half of his kingdom.

Ciung Wanara became king of half and had an iron prison built to keep bad people. One day Prabu Barma Jaya and Dewi Pangrenyep came to inspect the prison. As they were inside, Ciung Wanara shut the door and made it known to the people of the country. They cheered.

Hariang Banga, Dewi Pangrenyep's son, however, was sad and attacked Ciung Wanara and his followers. Nobody won. All of a sudden there appeared King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah accompanied by Dewi Naganingrum and Uwa Batara Lengser.

"Hariang Banga and Ciung Wanara!" the king said, "Stop fighting!. It is pamali - taboo- fighting against own brothers. You are brothers, both of you are my sons. Both of you will reign here, Ciung Wanara in Galuh and Hariang Banga in eastern of Pamali river or Brebes river, the new country. Let Dewi Pangrenyep and Barma Wijaya who was Aria Kebonan in prison as they are bad people."

Since then Galuh was prosperous again as in the days of Prabu Permana Di Kusumah.
Read More..