Narrative Text “The Legend of Magelang “

  Once upon a time, there was a kingdom named Pajang which was led by Sultan Hadiwijaya (Joko Tingkir).  Whereas Jipang’s area was led by Adipati Arya Penangsang . He was known because of his power that made him became an arrogant man. Both of Arya and Sultan Hadiwijaya were hostile. Their hostility caused a war that made many people from both of kingdom died.

  Sultan Hadiwijaya gave his trusty to Danang Sutawijaya as commander of the war. Danang Sutawijaya was his adopted son. Danang was accompanied by Ki Gede Pemanahan in the war. They brought a weapon named Kyai Pleret Lance. They and their troops were prohibited to cross the river because it would make them lose. In the war Danang killed Arya Penangsang. They come back to Pajang and told the king that they won the war. As the recompensation, Sultan Hadiwijaya gave Danang  Sutawijaya and Ki Ageng Pemanahan the land in the Mentoak area.

  Since that time, they build a kingdom named Mataram  in Mentoak area. Danang became the king of Mataram Kingdom. Under his control, Mataram became the famous kingdom. Danang wanted to extent his kingdom’s area so he asked Ki Gede Pemanahan’s advice. Ki Ageng Pemanahan suggested him to strengthen his troops. At first, Danang Sutawijaya wanted to break the Kedu Forest. As the story went, Kedu Forest was scary because that forest was the kingdom of genies and genie’s king named Sepanjang. So Danang asked Prince Purbaya and his troops to open area in Kedu Forest. They opened that forest and Sepanjang got angry. Sepanjang asked his troops to attack Purbaya and then Purbaya beat down Sepanjang and his troops.

 Kedu  Forest was in Mataram’s authority and became a beautiful village. In that village there lived a farmer named Kyai Keramat and his wife named Kyai Bogem. They had a beautiful daughter whose name was Rara Rambat. One day, she and his servant looked for the leaves and the flower in the forest. Suddenly, she met a handsome man who was Mataram’s troops. He left behind when he attacked genie’s kingdom.

“Who are you?” asked a handsome man

“I am Rara Rambat  and I was living in this jungle. Who are you?”, answered Rara Rambat

“ I am Raden Kuning and I am Mataram’s troops.” answered Raden Kuning.

Since that conversation, Raden Kuning fell in love with Rara Rambat and he revealed his feeling to her. She was embarrassed and run to his home. Raden Kuning followed her. In the house, Rara Rambat told her parents about Raden Kuning’s feeling. They were happy. Raden Kuning proposed Rara Rambat and then they married.

Sepanjang who was genie’s king wanted to revenge Mataram Kingdom. He turned into human whose name was Sonta. He worked in Kyai Keramat’s house. After that, he continued his revenge. He spread plague to the citizen. Many of citizens died because of that plague. That plague was known by Prince Purbaya and then he told Danang Sutawijaya. Danang Sutawijaya went to his asceticism for asking help to Nyai Roro Kidul. She told him that the plague was spread by Sepanjang who turned into human. Soon after that, he told Prince Purbaya about it.

 Prince Purbaya and his troops went into Kyai Keramat’s house and told that his servant named Sonta was the person who spread the plague. Sonta escaped from Kyai Keramat’s house after he heard Prince Purbaya’s conversation.  Kyai Keramat chased Sonta then they were fighting. Sonta killed Kyai Keramat. Knowing that her husband died, Kyai Bogem fought Sonta and finally she died. Prince Purbaya got angry and asked his troops to surround Sonta. He and Sonta were fighting. Sonta was killed by Prince Purbaya. The place where they were fighting called Magelang because Prince Purbaya’s troops surrounded Sonta. Their surrounding was very close like “tepung gelang”. It meant close upon like bracelet.

The moral value:

All kind of quarrellings bring suffering even death. Revenge is not a better way to overcome a problem. Do not be an arrogant person.