A long time ago, a great hermit named Jaratkaru lived. He did lot of goodness. He was a good hermit since he never forgot about his responsibility as a hermit. Alas, he was too firm of his conviction that he would not marry any women.

When he graduated from ascetic academy he became the best hermit. What he did everyday in his simple life was praying and japa (belt out a religious song) and doing some other religious activities. He understood clearly all the function of mantra. Those things engrossed him. As a consequence, he had no desire to have a woman beside him.

His great attention in asceticism led him to get more and more abilities. One day, he could reach the junction between hell and heaven. At there, he saw decrepit man hung on brittle bamboo which was being bitten by the rats. If the bamboo was not strong anymore then apparently the man would fall down; to the hell. The man looked very hurt and tired. Jaratkaru was very sad and thought that the man must be has many sins to be paid.

Then he offered to give him half of his merit he got from his good deed in the earth in order to pay a half sin of that man. Unpredictably that man refused it. The man asked Jaratkaru to tell his son which was still alive to get marry since all the man’s agonies occurred because his son did not want to marry. Jaratkaru promised help him and forward a question about his son’s name. Jaratkaru was very surprised when he knew that the man’s son was Jaratkaru himself.

(more…)

Once upon a time, there was a region named Daha. When Daha was ruled by King Sri Aji Airlangga the region was remained safe and the people were prosperous. On his power, none of thieves had enough bravery to practice their occupation in Daha. And people lived peacefuly. Unlike Girah, one of villages in Daha, was remained unorganized. This was because a widow named Rangdeng Girah, Rangda (the word “rangda” means “widow” in Bali this word is associated with witch and evil) from Girah village, lived there. She had a daughter; named Diah Ratna Manggali who rumored of having a beauty of an angel.

Rangdeng Girah wished her lovely daughter to get marriage soon. But no one have enough guts to marry Diah because Rangdeng Girah was known as a witch who had a great power to harm everyone. Therefore Rangdeng was very angry. One night, she went to graveyard named Gandamayu, followed by her adherents, Ni Larung, Ni Guyang, Ni Lenda, Ni Lendi, Ni Weksirsa, and Ni Mahisawedana. In the midnight, she tranced and asked her adherents to dance. On that moment she put a curse to every one in Girah Village .

(more…)

Once upon a time, there was a priest who passed a dry river. He found a thin crab in the one side of the river. Because of the condition of the crab, the priest felt pity and took it. He put the poor crab into other river near his house. By the time, the poor crab grew healthier and healthier.

One night, when the priest was sleeping inside his house, came a snake and a large-billed crow. They aimed to kill the priest. But, fortunately, the crab which is saved by the priest heard their plan. The crab pretended to be their friends and assured them that it had the same aim, killing the priest.

“What are you doing here? Did you hear what we talk about just a moment?” asked the snake to the crab with its angry face.

“Yes Of course, you speak enough loudly to be heard. But don’t worry, I’m on your side. I also want to kill the priest. I think we can make a friend,” said the crab to the snake.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

There are two old manuscripts of Calon Arang folktale. The first one is from Bali and the other is from Java and had been translated into Dutch by R. Ng. Purbatjaraka in Bijdr. K. I deel 82 page 110-180, and then it was sung in traditional symptom by Raden Wiradat and published by Balai Pustaka in 1931 (book series no. 942). Pramoedya Ananta Toer rewrote this folk tale in Javanese version which was written in 1462 of Caka Lunar Calendar and some other folk tales in order to save the existence of the folk tale itself which begins to disappear.

Calon Arang performance on The Annual Bali Arts Festival 2006

In the book of Pramoedya entitle ‘Cerita Calon Arang’ – the Story of Calon Arang, mentioned that Mpu Baradah, a great priest who defeated Calon Arang has a daughter named ‘Wedawati’, Weda is the Hindu’s Bible and Wati is an address for a girl or woman. So, ‘Wedawati’ is the girl who learns Weda. In his writing on Calon Arang he made some characters have same proportion; it seems that there are many central characters inside. They are: Calon Arang, King Airlangga, Mpu Baradah, and Wedawati. In the Balinese version Wedawati is not mentioned but Ratna Manggali, the daughter of Calon Arang is told more.

(more…)

Once upon a time there was a man named I Tundung. Because he was very poor, he had no place to live. He wandered from one place to another. As for food, he depended upon the mercy of the people in the neighborhood.

One day after having walked for some time he arrived at a village called Tenganan. He was starving since he had not eaten anything from early morning. He walked slowly until he arrived at a house. The house belonged to the village’s chief, Jero Pasek Tenganan. He then asked: Who are you and where do you come from?” I Tundung answered: “My name is I Tundung, I have no place to live. I move from one place to another and get my food from the people.”

Jero Pasek Tenganan was moved by what the man said. He then provided him with some food and drink after having eaten the food I Tundung then said: “Jero Pasek, if you do not mind starting from now on I would like to serve you.” Without giving much thought Jero Pasek accepted the offer. “All right Tundung, you can stay in my house.” From then on I Tundung served Jero Pasek. He was very diligent and honest. This pleased Jero Pasek so much.

One day, Jero Pasek summoned I Tundung. “Tundung, I am very pleased with what you have shown. You are very diligent. I want you to farm the land at the East Hill. Now the land is neglected. Nobody is there to farm it.” I Tundung listened attentively to what Jero Pasek said. As he wanted to have work to do, he then said: “All right, Jero Pasek, I will do my best.”

Soon I Tundung moved to the land at East Hill. There he built himself a hut. He toiled the land for the crops. In the end his hard work was fruitful. The crops were abundant. Jero Pasek was munch impressed by I Tundung’s effort. But, alas, a disaster then crept. The yields of the crops were stolen. This had made Jero Pasek disappointed. “Tundung, there have been thefts lately. You might have become frustated because of these.” I Tundung responded: “Please forgive me, Jero Pasek. I do not want to leave the job you have trusted to me just because of the thefts.” I Tundung kept watch day and and night, but he could not stop the thefts. Jero Pasek was in despair and I Tundung knew about it. He felt ashamed of himself.

(more…)