The Legend of Gunung Wayang II

Shortly before the wedding day, the bridegroom set off for Gunung Wayang with his train, taking with him a great amount of presents for the bride. Arriving at a certain place at the foot of Gunung Wayang, they stopped to set up their tents and wait for the wedding day to come. It happened that they had choosen a resting place in the neighbourhood of a brook with clear water. This brook looked very innocent; no body expected it to conceal danger for future royal couple. It was the dwelling-place of a beautiful fairy, called Puteri Segara, who was as wicked and cruel as she was beautiful, which was proved soon.

One most unlucky day when Raden Begawan, for such was his name, was taking a bath an the river, he had not the least idea ha was being watched by a pair of strange eyes. It was Puteri Segara herself who was looking at him and was resolved to take him as her husband. to secure her goal she contrived a most evil plan. The next day when he was meditating under a tree and thinking about his bride, Teja Nirmala, he suddenly heard a cry for help. He at once stopped meditating, hurried in the direction of the cry and found a beautiful young lady, covered with blood, lying on the ground. In all probability she had fallen and sharp thorns had wounded her hands and feet. without any delay Raden Begawan took her up in his arms and carried her to a safe place. Puteri Segara -she it was- was in fact only shamming, as with this trick she could make use of her magic power to let him fall in love with her. Forgotten was Princess Nirmala! Forgotten the wedding day, which was at hand! Then Raden Begawan lost consciousness, fell into the water and was dragged away by the current of the river.

In the meantime at Sang Prabu's palace the arrangements were finished and the feasting was started. Guests were already assembled and the sound of music was heard. Princess Teja Nirmala herself had awoken before dawn with a beating heart and heavenly feelings. That was the day she had waited for, the day when she would be united with the man she so dearly loved for her whole life! Her chamber maids had dressed her very beautifully and she looked as bright as the sun outside the palace. Then she proceeded to the hall to take her place, as the wedding ceremony was near. Alas! the bridegroom did not appear. No one could understand it.

"Where is he?" everybody wondered.
"What can have happened to him?" The more they waited, the more worried they grew.

When there was still no sign of Raden Begawan and the guests were leaving, the princess burst out in tears and made for her room. None understood Raden Begawan behaving in that way but Sang Prabu was resolved to search for him. He commanded his soldiers to accompany him, and they roved the forest, leaving no corner unsearched. At last, as he was on the verge of dispair, while walking under the trees, he heard a soft voice whispering in his ears: "Are you looking for Raden Begawan? Stop searching, as he is mine. If you don't listen, he will die!" Although softly spoken, nevertheless the voice sounded cruel and mocking.

Sang Prabu did not take heed of this; he proceeded with the search, again and again, till, every corner was inspected. Alas! No trace of Raden Begawan! On the point of becoming desperate, he reached a spot on the bank of the river and there at the foot of Gunung Wayang he saw two figures sitting side by side. Coming closer, he recognized them as Raden Begawan and Puteri Segara. Sang Prabu fell into a rage, awore to teach Raden Begawan a lesson and therefore challenged him to a fight. Seeing Sang Prabu, Raden Begawan realized that he had been enchanted by the wicked fairy and attempted to flee by crossing the stream. But the fairy didi not let her victim escape; she sent after to rise and drag Raden Begawan away in the strong current.

All this occured under Sang Prabu's very eyes. Panis-stricken he shut them and when he opened them again he noticed that through the magic powers of the fairy the strom had abated after a short while, only to show him that on the surface of the water the dead body of Raden Begawan was floating, Although broken with grief, Sang Prabu still had the strength to carry the dead body home. On arriving there he found the palace wrapped in silence. He tried to shout, yet he did not get any answer. He heard only a very faint voice and looking up into the sky he saw his daughter floating on white clouds accompanied by angels on their way to Swargaloka. Waving with her hands to her father, she vanished in the air.

Petrified, Sang Prabu stood there with the dead body in his arms. Then out of love for the Prince he kept the body in a cave in the forest at the top of Gunung Wayang. The story goes that on certain moonlit nights, man can hear the sound of music in the air above from the tip of the mountain, which indicates that father and daughter have met each other in the vicinity of Raden Begawan's grave, till dawn when it is time to part and to meet again on another moonlit night.

The Legend of Gunung Wayang I

Long, long ago, wgen the gods and the goddeses used to mingle in the affairs of mortals, there was a small kingdom on the slope of gunung wayang in West Java. The king, named Sang Prabu, was a wise man and much beloved by his subjects. He had an only daughter, called Puteri Teja Nirmala, who was famous for her beauty. Unfortunately her mother, the queen, had died in childbirth and since then father and daughter had been alone. The king did not take another queen out of love for his wife and therefore loved his daughter more dearly, as she was the only living person he possessed on earth.

When the princess was fourteen years of age, her beauty was so great that the fame of it spread across the land. Many princes came to her father's palace to ask for her hand in marriage. But to all of them she said no and her father did not press his wish on her as he feares enmity which could arise if he chose a certain prince and rejected another. Finally the king made up his mind to settle the matter by a show of strength; the one who proved to be strongest in fighting, horse-riding and handling certain weapons could marry the princess.

The king had decided the feast was to last for a week. The news about the royal competition had also reached the kingdom of Blambangan in East Java. The king of Blambangan too had an only child, a son, also well known because of his good looks. Furthermore, he was courageous in battle and had a good understanding of state matters. Having heard about Princess Nirmala's beauty and desiring her as his wife, he left for Gunung Wayang to try his luck. And luck was with him, as the competition brought victory to him, as the competition brought victory to him. Princess Nirmala, who secretly admired him, was very happy on hearing that he had won the combat. Immadiately after the competition the Prince returned to Blambangan to wait. In the meantime a decicision was made to have the wedding by full moon the next month. Everybody was busy making preparations for the feast. Invitations were sent all through the kingdom and the neighbouring kingdoms as well.

to be continued