Story Telling : Ciung Wanara
Ciung Wanara
Long time ago in west Java there was a kingdom called
Galuh Kingdom, ruled by King Barma Wijaya Kusuma. He had two wives, Pohaci Naganingrum and Dewi
Pangreyep. At that time both of them
were pregnant. The king was very happy
when Dewi Pangreyep gave birth to a baby boy.
The king named him Hariang Banga. Several months later Pohaci
Naganingrum also gave birth. But, Dewi
Pangreyep had an evil plan. She had prepared
a baby dog and gave it to Pohaci. Then
she put the baby in a box and had it thrown to a river. Lengser, the man who received the order to
throw the baby in a river, put him in a safe box and gave an egg.
“Oh, Your
Majesty, Pohaci is an evil woman. Last night he gave birth but her baby is a
dog! They are sinners. God had punished them. This a shame for Your majesty the King and
the whole kingdom” said Dewi Pangreyep.
“There is no place
here for sinners. They must go to hell”
shouted the king. He ordered his soldier to kill Pohaci and the baby. “Lengser
! Bring them to the wood and kill them!”
“Yes, Your
Majesty” replied Lengser.
Lengser, who had to carry out the order, did not dare to
do it. He saved Pohaci instead. Then
Pohaci lived in a remote village.
Meanwhile in a village next by the river, lived a couple
of husband and wife. Aki Balangantran
and his wife Nini Balangantran. They
didn’t have any children. Day and night
they prayed to god to ask for children.
One night Nini was dreaming that she saw a full moon.
“My lovely wife, I
think we will receive provision from God.” Said Aki.
The next morning Aki went to a river with his net to
fish. Suddenly something caught his
attention. In the middle of the river
there was a wooden box floating on the water.
Then he grabbed it.
“What! A baby?
Nini, God answer our pray! Look, it’s a cute baby.” Shouted Aki.
“Oh My God. Thank
you veru much. We must give him a name. Oh! Ciung Wanara. Yeah, it’s a good
name.” Said Nini happily.
Several years later Ciung Wanara grew up to be a handsome
and smart boy. The egg had become a
cock. Ciung loved cock fighting. He went everywhere to play cock fighting
game. His cock was so quick and strong
that it won all of its fights. Soon he
and his cock became famous in Galuh Kingdom.
Then the king of Galuh who had many cocks and also loved
cock fighting heard the news. So he
ordered Lengser to find the boy. As
Lengser got to Ciung’s house he was surprised to see the box. He realized that it was the box he threw into
the river some years earlier. When he
asked Ciung’s father he was sure that Ciung was the king’s son from Pohaci
Naganingrum. That time he wanted to do
a good deed for Ciung.
“Ciung, The King invite you to his palace for a cook
fight. If you win the competiton, you can ask everything to The King.” Told
Lengser.
“Okay, I agree for
that. So, let’s go to the palace.” Said Ciung Wanara.
Later in the palace of Galuh Kingdom, Ciung told the king that he had a condition
for the cock fight.
“My Honor, if my
cock wins, I want you to give me your kingdom.
If my cock loose, then I will
give my head. Do you agree, my honor?
The king agreed because he was sure that his cock would
win. Then in a fierce fight Ciung’s cock
won the fight. Everybody was
surprised. The king had no choice. He had to keep his words and give his kingdom
to ciung Wanara. Then Lengser told the
king that ciung was actually his own son from Pohaci naganingrum. He revealed Dewi Pangreyep’s evil action.
The king was shocked and very angry. He ordered his soldiers to arrest and punish
Dewi Pangreyep. This event made Prince
Hariang Banga got very angry. He quickly
attacked Ciung Wanara.
“Stop it! For
peace, I will divide my kingdom into two parts. The west of the Cipamali river
for Hariang Banga while the eastern part for Ciung Wanara.” Said the King.
Finally, Ciung Wanara met his mother, Pohaci Naganingrum
and lived happily in his kingdom.