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 Sundanese have been living in Java island. From the legend supported by geological fact, it is predicted that Sundanese have been living in Java island since thousand years B.C.
The legend of Sangkuriang was almost certainly a story of oral tradition before being written. The first written reference to Sangkuriang legend appeared in in Bujangga Manik manuscript written in palm leaves coming from the last of the 15th century or the early of the sixteenth century AD. Prince Jaya Pakuan alias Prince Bujangga Manik or prince Ameng Layaran visited all of the holly Hindu sites in Java island and Bali island at the last of the 15th century AD. Using palm leaves, he described his travel in archaic Sundanese. His palm manuscript was taken to England by an Englishmen and put at the Bodleian library, Oxford, in 1627.[1]
After a long journey, Bujangga Manik arrived at 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)
Based on the legend, Sangkuriang had been separated by his mother, Dayang Sumbi, since his childhood. 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 loved each other and discussed their wedding plan.
One day before the planned wedding, as Dayang Sumbi suddenly saw the scar on the head of Sangkuriang. She realized she had been in love with her own son who had left her twenty years ago. Horror stuck her, how could she marry her own son. She revealed the whole truth and persuade Sangkuriang to forget the marriage. But Sangkuring didn’t believe the truth and insisted at implementing the planned wedding. Dayang Sumbi set the impossible conditions that she would marry Sangkuriang if he provide her with a great lake by filling the whole valley by water and build a boat for them to sail in, all in one night. Sangkuriang accepted the condition. With the help of some guriangs (heavenly spirit / god in ancient Sundanese belief), he dammed Citarum river with landslides. The water of the river rose and filled the plain changing it into a lake. A big tree was cut to make a boat.
When the dawn was just to come, the boat was almost complete. Dayang Sumbi realized that Sangkuriang would fulfill the condition she had set. Then she prayed to the mighty God to help her preventing the disgrace of a marriage between a mother and a son. With a wave of her supernatural shawl, she lit up the eastern horizon with flashes of light. Deceived by false dawn, cocks crowed and farmers rose for the new day.
Sangkuring thought that his endeavour failed. With all his anger, he kicked the boat he was making. The boat felt over and upside down, and it become mount Tangkuban Parahu (in Sundanese, tangkuban means upturned or upside down, and parahu means boat). The file of leftover woods for the boat became Mt. Burangrang and the rest of the big tree became Mount Bukit Tunggul. Meanwhile the lake became lake Bandung (lit. dam).
Centuries later the inhabitants of Bandung city knew by tradition of the existence of a former lake Bandung and the establishment of Mount Tangkuban Parahu. Not knowing anything of geology, but living under the taboos of spirits, ghosts, and gods, geologic facts were put together in a tale which was understandable, according to popular beliefs.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar