SANGKURIANG THE
LEGEND OF MOUNT TANGKUBAN PERAHU
Sangkuriang is a legend among Sundanese
people, Indonesia. The legend tells about the
creation of lake Bandung, Mount Tangkuban Parahu, Mount Burangrang and Mount Bukit
Tunggul.
From the legend, we can determine how long the Sundanese have been living in Java island. From the legend supported by
geological fact, it is predicted that the Sundanese have been living in Java
island since thousand years BC.
The legend of Sangkuriang was almost certainly a story of
oral tradition before being written down. The first written reference to
Sangkuriang legend appeared in the Bujangga Manik manuscript written on
palm leaves at the end of the 15th century or the early 16th century AD. Prince
Jaya Pakuan, alias Prince Bujangga Manik or prince Ameng
Layaran, visited all of the sacred Hindu sites in Java island and Bali island at the end of the 15th century AD. Using palm
leaves, he described his travels in archaic Sundanese.
His palm manuscript was taken to England by an Englishmen and put at the
Bodleian library, Oxford, in 1627.
After a long journey, Bujangga Manik arrived in the current Bandung city area. He is the first
eyewitness reported the area. Here is his report:
Leumpang
aing ka baratkeun (I
walked forward to the west)
datang
ka Bukit Patenggeng (arriving
at Mount Patenggeng)
Sakakala
Sang Kuriang (where
the legend of Sang Kuriang is)
Masa
dek nyitu Ci tarum (in
which he would dam Citarum river)
Burung
tembey kasiangan (he
failed because a new day came)
According to the legend, Sangkuriang had been separated from
his mother, Dayang Sumbi, as a child. Yet he was destined to meet his mother
again. On his way home, he stopped at a small village and met and felt in love
with a beautiful girl. He didn’t realise that the village was his homeland and
the beautiful girl was his own mother. They fell in love and made plans to
marry.
Sangkuriang
and his dog named Si Tumang
One day before the planned wedding, Dayang Sumbi saw and
recognized a scar on Sangkuriang’s head. She suddenly realized that she had
fallen in love with her own son who had left her twenty years previously. She
was horrified and realized she could not marry her own son. She revealed the
whole truth to Sangkuriang and asked him to call off the wedding. But
Sangkuriang didn’t believe her and insisted on going through with the wedding.
Dayang Sumbi then told Sangkuriang that she would only marry him if he could
build her a great lake by filling the whole valley with water. She said he must
also build a boat for them to sail in, and both of these tasks must be
completed in one night. Sangkuriang accepted the challenge. With the help of
some guriangs (heavenly spirits / god in ancient Sundanese belief), he dammed
the Citarum river with landslides. The river’s water rose and filled the plain,
transforming it into a lake. Then Sangkuriang cut down a massive tree to make a
boat.
Dayang Sumbi
When dawn was about to break, the boat was almost complete.
Dayang Sumbi realized that Sangkuriang would fulfill the conditions she had
required of him. So she prayed to God to help her prevent the disgrace of a
marriage between a mother and her son. With a wave of her magic shawl, Dayang
Sumbi lit up the eastern horizon with flashes of light. Deceived by what looked
like dawn, cocks crowed and farmers rose for a new day.
Sangkuriang thought that he had failed. In his anger, he
kicked the boat that he had built and it fell, turning upside down, transformed
into Mount Tangkuban Parahu (in Sundanese, “tangkuban” means “upturned” or
“upside down”, and “parahu” means “boat.”) The wood left over from the boat
became Mt. Burangrang and the rest of the huge tree became Mount Bukit Tunggul.
The lake became Lake Bandung (lit. “dam.”)
Mount Tangkuban Parahu: Sangkuriang Legend
Centuries later, the inhabitants of Bandung city knew from
traditional lore of the existence of a former Lake Bandung and the creation of
Mount Tangkuban Parahu. Without a knowledge of geology, but living under the
taboos of spirits, ghosts and gods, geologic facts were woven together into a
tale which was understandable according to their beliefs.
Relevance
with geological fact
Recent
geological investigations indicate that the oldest lake deposits has been radiometrically
dated as old as 125 thousand years. The lake ceased to exist at 16000 Before
present (BP).
There had been two Plinian type of eruptions of ancient Mount Sunda dated respectively at 105000
and 55000-50000 BP. The second plinian eruption has caused ancient Gunung
Sunda’s caldera to collapse and create mount Tangkuban Parahu, Mount Burangrang
(Mount Sunda), and Mount Bukit Tunggul.
It is more likely that the ancient Sundanese have lived in
the Bandung area long before 16,000 years BP and witnessed the second Plinian
eruption which wiped out settlements west of the Cikapundung river (north and
northwest of Bandung) during the 55000-50000 eruption period when Mount
Tangkuban Parahu was created from the remnants of ancient Mount Sunda. This era
was the era of homo sapiens; they have been identified in South Australia as
old as 62000 BP, while on Java the Wajak man has been dated about 50000 BP.
Ancient lake of Bandung
Sundanese
philosophy of Sangkuriang
The legend of Sangkuriang contains a philosophy enlightening
(Sungging Perbangkara or sun) for anyone (plant Cariang) who is still doubt of
his existence and wants to search his humanity identity / spirit (Wayungyang).
The result of this search will bear enlightened consciousness (nurani) as real
truth (Dayang Sumbi, Rarasati). But if the search was not accompanied by
carefulness and awareness (toropong or binocular), then he will be mastered by
continuing anxiety (mastered by Tumang) which will bear egos, that is, the soul
which has not been enlightened (Sangkuriang). When the conscience annoyed again
by the anxiety (Dayang Sumbi ate the heart of the Tumang) then the real
awareness will lose. The compunction of the conscience is wreaked by beating
arrogance of Ego Ratio (the head of Sangkuriang is beaten). The arrogance also
force the Ego Ratio to leave the conscience. And the arrogance of the Ego Ratio
which despairingly seeks for science (intellectual intelligence) during its
adventure in the world (eastward). At the end, the Ego Ratio returns westward
consciously or unconscious seek for the conscience (the meeting of Sangkuriang
and Dayang Sumbi).
Or else storys :
In the days of yore, in Tatar Parahyangan, established an empire
that Masyur.
There was a king who likes to sport hunting of animals, which
always accompanied by a faithful dog, named "Tumang".
At one point the King hunting deer, but had a
day the results are less encouraging. Animals hunted in the forests disappeared
as if swallowed by the earth. Amid the disappointment did not get a prey
animal, the King startled to turn a dog loyal "Tumang" who finds a
baby girl lying among the grass hedge. What a joy the King, when the discovery
of a baby girl who was flawless in image, considering that the King has long
craved a daughter, but has not been blessed with children. The baby girl was
named Princess Dayang sumbi.
Once daughter Dayngsumbi pretty handsome as an
adult spoken for a man, who later endowed a boy named Sangkuriang which also
will have a penchant for hunting as well as the King. But unfortunately my
husband did not live long Dayang sumbi.
One time, a very young
Sangkuriang young, entered the hunt accompanied the King's pet dog who is also
his mother's favorite, namely Tumang. But the day is not good cause does not
obtain the results of the hunting game. Because Sangkuriang has promised to
dedicate deer liver to his mother, while deer hunting does not gotten, then
kill the Tumang Sangkuriang risked his mother's favorite dog and also the King
to take his heart, which was dedicated to his mother.
When Dayangsumbi eventually learned that
reindeer liver presented no other is his son's heart "the Tumang" her
beloved dog, then became angry Dayangsumbi.Encouraged by anger, accidentally,
he beat his son's head with a scoop of rice that is being held, to cause wounds
that scar. Sangkuriang effort to encouraging mothers feel in vain, and felt his
actions were innocent. He thought no deer liver, dog liver also be, by not
thinking about the loyalty Tumang who has devoted his life to serve the
employer. Sangkuriang had run away leaving the kingdom, then disappeared
without a word.
After the incident Dayangsumbi feel very sorry,
every day he always prayed and pleaded with Hyang Tunggal, so he can be
reunited with his son. Later this petition Fulfilled, and the generosity of the
Hyang Tunggal step that the Dayangsumbi gifted youth. Syahdan Sangkuriang that
continues to wander, he grew into a burly young man, very powerful especially
after he had conquered the demon that magic again, that Guriang Seven.
In a time travels, Sangkuriang without
realizing he returned to the kingdom where it originated. And he brings alive
the story line with a daughter who was flawless in a charming beautiful nan,
who is the daughter Dayangsumbi no other. Sangkuriang fell in love with the
daughter, so too will be fascinated Dayangsumbi Sangkuriang gallantry and good
looks, then both are intertwined relationship. Sangkuriang or Dayangsumbi time
did not know that in fact both the mother and child. Sangkuriang Dayangsumbi
eventually apply to become his wife spoken. Yet again the story line alive
again opened the curtain closed, Dayangsumbi know that it is Sangkuriang young
son, when he saw the scar Sangkuriang pat on the head, when he corrected her
future husband's headband.
After feeling confident Sangkuriang bring his
son, Dayangsumbi trying to thwart the marriage with his son. To marry her,
Dayangsumbi proposed two conditions to be met by the deadline Sangkuriang
before dawn. The first condition, Sangkuriang should be able to make a big
boat. The second condition, Sangkuriang should be able to create a lake to be
used sailing boat. Sangkuriang undertakes these requirements, he worked
overtime assisted by stealth wadiabalad Guriang Seven leaders to realize the
request. Large wooden timber for boat and stem the Citarum river, he got from
the forest on a mountain which, according to legend later given the name Mount
Hill Tunggul. The twigs and leaves from trees that used the wood, he collected
on a hill called Mount Burangrang.
Meanwhile Dayangsumbi-Hyang Tunggal was begging her to help him,
frustrate the purpose Sangkuriang to marry him. Sang Hyang Tunggal Dayangsumbi
granted the request, before the job is complete Sangkuriang, ayamp crowing and
dawn ... ....Sangkuriang anger, knowing he failed to qualify, he kicked the
boat that is being made. The boat eventually fell facedown, and according to
legend will be Tangkuban Mt, while the flow of Citarum River is dammed to form
lakes gradually Bandung.
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