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