Novice Translator : The (Real) Legend Of Ken Arok

The Legend Of Ken Arok

 Original Folklore   :  East Java

Adapted by : The Real Of Legend Ken Arok

Translator   :   Angela Hanum

By Yongky.Y.

From many Java legends and history, I really like to translate this legend. This is honor for me to translate this legend and presenting this legend to the world.  I need two days to googling on Google and reading many books to make sure what I will writing is the real legend and not only tales.

After 10 books and 1 day and half for googling, I find and I feel this is the real of the legend, because I read this and I feel I was living in this legend and not merely mellow story which composed and made up.

So, let we starting this amazing legend in Java Island..........

In 1118, Tumapel

There was lived Raden Kertajaya.  He enthroned replacing The Queen Srengga and holds a Sri Maharaja Kertajaya had a nickname Dandang Gendhis.  Raden Kertajaya had four Duke at that time. They are Mpu Tanakung as spiritual advisor for Kertajaya's Kingdom, Mahisa Walungan as his right hand as well as his real brother, Gubar Baleman and Arya Pulung which had a nickname Tunggul Ametung.

During the reign of Raden Kertajaya, in Tumapel, often occurred riots. That's why Raden Kertajaya assigned Arya Pulung a.k.a Tunggul Ametung to hold and pacified areas which often occurred riots in Tumapel. After Tunggul Ametung succeed pacified those riot areas, Raden Kertajaya crowned be Grand Duke.  

After all, Grand Duke Tunggul Ametung set back Tumapel from the beginning. He even created many reforms in all fields and Tumapel became thrive such like legalized of gambling and created Tumapel's colonial territories, Kutaraja, as trading centre. Tumapel being famous and revered by the colonies. To strengthen the defense of Tumapel Kingdom, Tunggul Ametung recruited many dashing and tough youths from Tumapel being Kingdom's soldiers.

Tunggul Ametung also build up a castle for himself called Pakuwon which furnished the fort and beautiful garden surrounding it. He build up Pakuwon resembled Raden Kertajaya's palace.

And was not up, Tunggul Ametung recruited many knights from Tumapel's colonial territories to worked for kingdom. Those knights ordered by Tunggul Ametung to created great weapons for kingdom's soldiers and royal troops. One of the knights is Mpu Gandring. Mpu Gandring is the famous knight from Lulumbang, one of Tumapel's colonial territories.  Mpu Gandring also became one of trouble roots between Raden Kertajaya and Tunggul Ametung in the future because Raden Kertajaya felt Tunggul Ametung intended to competing his power.

So, Raden Kertajaya felt necessary to overthrow Tunggul Ametung from his power.

Meanwhile in somewhere of Tumapel, there was lived pretty gorgeous woman called Ken Endok. Her real name is Astia who well known very pretty and gorgeous so people called her flower of her own village. She was married with Grand Rishis named Rishis Agung Sri Yogiswara Girinata. Her husband is a founder of Padepokan Giriloyo which very famous at that time. They were married for ten years and never have sex even for once. This thing forced Ken Endok to fell in love with a young man whom helped her when she got a bit accident in the jungle. The young man is Gajah Para.

One day, Ken Endok known to pregnant. Gajah Para being a suspect because he always spent his time with Ken Endok.  But Gajah Para, who felt never done bad thing with Ken Endok, refused to responsibility of Ken Endok's pregnancy.  According to Ki J. Padmasasmita, Ken Endok hypnotized by filthy Rishis in the jungle. That filthy Rishis intercourse her so she got pregnant.  Then, Ken Endok met Gajah Para as her helper.  Ken Endok was so ashamed of her pregnancy and forced her to ran away and left Padepokan Giriloyo.

After some time, she arrived in one village. In that village, Ken Endok confessed her unborn child is a child of God Vishnu.  People in the village thought Ken Endok insane so she was expelled. Ken Endok ran away again and arrived in cemetery. Felt it was time to give birth, Ken Endok gave birth her baby and left the baby in the cemetery.

Meanwhile, there was a thief being pursued by masses. The thief is Lembong.  When Lembong saw the baby, he took the baby ran away with him too.  Lembong given the baby named Temon. Temon is Java language which means finding. Because Temon was found by Lembong in the cemetery.  Lembong very loved this baby. Day by day, Temon grew up as tough and smart boy.

Lembong caught a lot of troubles and debt due to his error upbringing to Temon.  Finally, Temon was expelled by his foster father, Lembong, because Lembong can't paid Temon's debt due to Temon's penchant of gambling.  After he was expelled, Temon wander aimlessly.  Then, he arrived in Kauman.

In Kauman, Temon met Bango Samparan, a well known bookies.  Bango Samparan invited Temon to stay in his own place. A friendship between Bango and Temon based on revelation where Bango received at Rabut Jalu Jungle when he did long meditation due to trapped in gambling debt. 

On revelation he's got said, if Bango Samparan want to rid of shackle gamble debts,  he should to meet a man who have chakras in his palms and the light came out of his mouth and Bango asked to changed this man's name with Ken Arok.

Bango said about his desire to adopted Temon as his son.  Temon agreed with Bango's idea. Temon being Bango's son now but he did not stay for long due to envied by Bango's real children. Temon decided to put out his step from Bango's place and back to wander aimlessly. Temon continued his wander to Kapundungan.

When Temon arrived in Kapundungan, Temon met someone named Tita.  Temon was very close with Tita. Tita is a son of Sagenggeng's Headman. Because of Temon's friendly attitude as long as he lived in Tita's place, Ki Sahaja, the name of Tita's father as well as The Headman of Sagenggeng sent him to Tantripala.  Tantripala is a professor of Hindu Literature. Ki Sahaja knew that Temon has potentially to be a great man. That's why he sent Temon to studied with Tantripala.

When Temon studied with Tantripala, he met with Ken Umang for the first time then being his wife.  After, Temon finishing his studied with Tantripala, he went off with Ken Umang and became a couple of robber. Even, they became a fearful robber throughout Tumapel.  They were succeed to gather a lot of follower from many robber groups which they were defeated.

That was moment, Temon changed his name being Ken Arok, finally. And created a robber group called, Arok.  At the end of his odyssey, Ken Arok met Mpu Palot, The Principal of Tantripala's school.  From Mpu Palot, Ken Arok introduced to Dan Hyang Lohgawe who came from Jambudwipa.

Dan Hyang Lohgawe very excited met Ken Arok. He told to Mpu Palot and Ken Arok, he was getting revelation and told him to met Ken Arok, someone who becomes the leader of Brahmins because he will be the winner against Raden Kertajaya who harassing The Brahmins with ordered to worship him.

Based on Dan Hyang Lohgawe's words, Ken Arok willing to be royal troops under the leadership of Tunggul Ametung.  Dan Hyang Lohgawe is the famous Rishi from abroad. Dan Hyang Lohgawe who gave the advice to Tunggul Ametung for married Ken Dedes, a pretty daughter from Mpu Purwa which his proposal well received by Mpu Purwa for respecting Dan Hyang Lohgawe. Tunggul Ametung also appointed him as his personal spiritual advisor.

Besides, Dan Hyang Lohgawe said that Ken Arok, a famous fearful robber in Tumapel willing to be royal troops under of his leadership.  How so proud Tunggul Ametung when he thought that a famous fearful robber  subservient under his feet, finally.

When he joined as Tumapel Royal Troops, he met with Ken Dedes for the first time.  He fell in love in the first sight when he saw Ken Dedes down off her chariot.  Incidentally, the wind blew her skirt and Ken Arok saw her both thighs emit rays so shiny. The beautiful scenery from Ken Dedes, made Ken Arok can't closed his eyes to sleep in the night. He was thinking about Ken Dedes and her shiny thighs all night.

In the morning, arises intention to marry Ken Dedes in Ken Arok's heart even he knew Ken Dedes was pregnant with Tunggul Ametung's child.

" I should to get her be mine. Whatever it takes.... ! "  said Ken Arok to himself.

One day, unbeknownst to Tunggul  Ametung, apparently occurred betrayal of Kebo Ijo, as Tunggul Ametung's confidant and Raden Kertajaya.  Kebo Ijo discreetly report any development in Tumapel and Tunggul Ametung's  rebellion planning to Raden Kertajaya.  Raden Kertajaya who have intention to overthrow Tunggul Ametung from long time ago paid Kebo Ijo with the promise appointed him as a Duke if he success to kill Tunggul Ametung.

For supported Raden Kertajaya's intention to overthrow Tunggul Ametung, Kebo Ijo rushed to meet Mpu Gandring, well known as the famous knight who creator the most of powerful weapon.  Kebo Ijo reserved the most powerful *Keris to killed Tunggul Ametung. He knew Tunggul Ametung can not be killed by recklessly weapon.  Mpu Gandring also well known as unbeatable weapon maker at that time.  No one can alive from Mpu Gandring's weapon.

But Raden Kertajaya impatient to waiting longer for killed Tunggul Ametung. He planned rioting in all Tumapel's areas. But badly, he was failed. All rioting can be handled by Royal Troops under the leadership of Tunggul Ametung. All rebels killed by him.

" What I've been told you, Your Honor. We have to waiting the weapon of Mpu Gandring. Waiting for a bit longer is better than we lost like loser. "  said Kebo Ijo in Raden Kertajaya's private bedroom.

Raden Kertajaya was speechless and preferred to following what Kebo Ijo's says.

The murder planning did by Kebo Ijo, finally.  When Royal Troops held a party for their victory to handle all rebellion in Tumapel's area,  Kebo Ijo ran away from the party and met Mpu Gandring.  Mpu Gandring is someone who concerned with the quality of his own weapon certainly refused Kebo Ijo's requested. 

Kebo Ijo kept forced Mpu Gandring to given his weapon to him. But, Mpu Gandring also kept refused Kebo Ijo's requested. And the tragedy is come !

Mpu Gandring's Weapon

Kebo Ijo sudden seizing that half-finished weapon from Mpu Gandring and he stabbed the weapon to Mpu Gandring's stomach. Mpu Gandring collapsed with blood. Before he died, he pulled out a curse from his mouth,

" That *Keris gonna kill 7 kings at once after my death ! Raden Kertajaya is the first person who killed by this *Keris ! "  said Mpu Gandring haltingly then he passed away.

After killed Mpu Gandring, Kebo Ijo returned to the party place where Royal Troops overcrow.  Kebo Ijo tried getting closer to Tunggul Ametung. When he knew Tunggul Ametung was drunk, he didn't waste the time to immediately stabbed Tunggul Ametung until he died.  Ken Arok who was the witness of that tragedy grabbed the weapon from Kebo Ijo's right hand and stabbed him back until Kebo Ijo died.

Raden Kertajaya immediately appointed Ken Arok to replace Tunggul Ametung as Grand Duke.  After brief ceremonial for appointed Ken Arok as a new Grand Duke, Ken Arok with his own royal horse going to Dan Hyang Lohgawe to told him about his position now.  Ken Arok stayed one night in Lohgawe's place to planned how to overthrow Raden Kertajaya soon !

Shortly after assignment, Ken Arok deployed Royal Troops to attacked the heart of Kediri Kingdom in Kutaraja as the trading centre of colonial territory.  Ken Arok paralyzed all troops in Kutaraja and forced Raden Kertajaya to ran away.

After Raden Kertajaya renounced his throne, the throne was taken over by Ken Arok with a noble title Sri Rajasa Batara Sang Amurwabhumi.

He also married with Ken Dedes when he's got the throne as well as Ken Dedes gave birth to her son with Tunggul Ametung. The baby boy named Anusapati. He kept Ken Uman being his wife.  From Ken Umang, he has a baby boy named Tohjaya.

Ken Dedes Statuette

From Ken Dedes, Rajasa Dynasty began. Based on Lohgawe's words, if Ken Arok succeed to married Ken Dedes, his family generation with Ken Dedes will become the forerunner all kings in Java Island. And Lohgawe's words was fulfilled now. 

All kings in Java Island is descendant of Ken Dedes and Ken Arok. It was began from Narasinghamurti or the noble title is Ratu Agnibhaya who gave birth to her son with Wisnuwardhana, the son of Anusapati. Her son is Raden Kertanegara or the noble title is Raden Wijaya who was being founder of Majapahit Kingdom.
  
To fulfill the curse of Mpu Gandring, when Tohjaya and Anusapati grew up as well as ready to replace Ken Arok's  throne. Anusapati felt Ken Arok didn't like him so much and felt Ken Arok was not like a father for him.  After he forced his mother to explained hated attitude from his father, Anusapati knew he was not real son of Ken Arok.

Unacceptable that Tohjaya will replace Ken Arok's throne, therefore, Anusapati stolen the *Keris which been killed his real father, Tunggul Ametung.  When Ken Arok had lunch alone and take a nap in the afternoon, Anusapati came to Ken Arok's private bedroom and killed Ken Arok when he was sleep.

Tohjaya heard about the death of his father, Ken Arok. Shortly after taking office as the new king, Tohjaya asked to Ken Dedes to given the *Keris to him. Anusapati have killed by Tohjaya while he was pitted a cock as his favorite gambling.  Tohjaya was killed by Mahisa Campaka, the son of Ken Arok and Ken Dedes.

===============   The End ===============

 *Keris : The traditional weapon for Javanese people, Indonesia