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 Dragon 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.
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