A Balinese Folktale: Yellow Moon
There was once a widow named Men Bekung (Mrs. Childless). She lived at the edge of a huge jungle. She collected firewood in the jungle. It was said that she found a little child. As the child’s skin was fair and the face was round, she was given a name Bulan Kuning (Yellow Moon).
One day Bulan Kuning was taken to the jungle by her adopted mother to accompany her collecting fire wood. In the jungle Bulan Kuning was, unknowingly, separated from her mother. She was very confused and frightened. All of a sudden, she was caught by a female giant, sang Raksasi. Bulan Kuning trembled in fear, luckily, though the catcher was a giantess, Bulan Kuning was very much loved by her.
It was told that the giantess was invincible since she owned three kinds of amulets which dealt respectively with fire, water, and wind. As she loved Bulan Kuning very much, she was told the efficacy of the amulets. When Sang Raksasi was away, all the amulets were takn by Bulan Kuning, but alas the giantess appeared from nowhere and chased Bulan Kuning. She was almost caught by Sang Raksasi when she threw the amulets at her and the giantess soon died. Bulan Kuning was amazed when she heard a voice she heard from the sky that she redeemed Sang Raksasi’s sins.
It was told that Sang Raksasi returned back to heaven and became a goddess. Bulan Kuning was then granted knowledge for healing so that she could help anyone taken ill. Afterwards, Bulan Kuningreturned to her mother, Men Bekung and help people around her, soon many people from various places came and asked her assistance to help cure the illness.