THE STORY of LUTUNG KASARUNG

Prabu Tapa Agung was an old king. He had two daughters, Purbararang and Purbasari.

Prabu Tapa Agung planned to retire as a king. Prabu Tapa Agung appoint Purbasari, her
youngest daughter to replace him as a the leader of the kingdom.

"I'm too old, it's time I stepped off the throne," said Prabu Tapa.

Purbasari has a sister named Purbararang. Hearing this, Purbararang was angry. He does not
agree his sister was appointed to replace their father.

"You cannot ask her to be the queen, Father. I'm older than she is. It's supposed to be
me, not her!" said Purbararang.

But the king still chose Purbasari to be the next queen. Purbararang then set a bad plan with
her fiance, Indrajaya. Together they went to a witch and asked her to put a spell on Purbasari.
Later, suddenly Purbasari had bad skin. There were black dots all over her body. Purbararang
make it an excuse to expel her sister.

"People who cursed like her does not deserve to be a Queen!" said Purbararang to her
father.

And then Purbararang go to meet her sister.

"You are not as beautiful as I am. You cannot be the queen. Instead, you have to leave
this palace and stay in a jungle," said Purbararang.

Then she sent a Patih (Governor) to alienate Purbasari into the forest. Purbasari was very sad.

Arriving at the jungle, Patih (The Governor) is still kind enough to make a hut for Princess
Purbasari. He also advised Purbasari, "Be brave Princess. The affliction will surely end,
the Almighty will always be with Princess".

"Thank you uncle," said Purbasari.

Now she had to stay in the jungle. Over in the jungle he has many friends of animals that are
always good to her. Everyday she spent her time playing with some animals. Among these
animals there was a mysterious black hairy monkey that always tried to cheer her up. It was
not just an ordinary monkey, he had magical power. And he also could talk with humans. The
monkey's name was Lutung Kasarung. The monkey is the most attention to Purbasari.
Lutung Kasarung is always make Princess Purbasari happy to get the beautiful flowers and
fruits with their friends.
At the time of full moon night, Lutung Kasarung acting strange. He walked to a quiet place
and meditate. He is obtaining something to the Gods. This proves that the Lutung Kasarung
no ordinary creature. Not long later, near the monkey broke ground and created a small lake,
the water was clear as a bell. The water contains a ingredient that is very fragrant.

The next day Lutung Kasarung meet Purbasari and asked her to bathe in the lake.

"What's in it for me?" thought Purbasari.

But she was willing to oblige. Shortly after he plunged himself into the river. Something
happened to her skin. Her bad skin is cured and she becomes beautiful again. Purbasari very
surprised and very happy when she looked in the mirror in the lake.

After that, she asked Lutung Kasarung to accompany her to go back to the palace.
Purbararang was very shocked, she not believe to see her sister get the beauty skin again. She
knew she had to come up with another bad idea.

"Who is the longest hair she was the one who wins and will be the queen!"  said
Purbararang.

Originally Purbasari not want to, but because Purbararang urged continued to serve her.  The
king then measured his daughters hair.  Apparently Purbasari hair is longer.

"Purbasari had longest hair," said the king.

But Purbararang did not give up.

"Well I lose,, but now let us compete, who have the handsomest fiance,, This is my
fiance," said Purbararang while approached Indrajaya.

Purbasari was sad. She knew Purbararang's fiance was handsome. And she did not have a
fiance yet. Purbasari became restless and confused. Finally, he glanced at his hand and pulled
Lutung Kasarung. Lutung Kasarung bounced as if to calm Purbasari.

Purbararang laughed out loud, "So the monkey is your fiance?"

At that time also Lutung Kasarung immediately meditated. Suddenly there was a miracle.
Lutung Kasarung turn into a handsome young man looking very handsome,  and he was even
more handsome than Indrajaya. All surprised to see the incident as she cheered.
Purbararang finally admitted defeat and guilt over this. He apologized to his brother and
begged not to be punished. She forgave Purbararang and her fiance and let them stay in the
palace.
At last, Purbasari become a queen, accompanied by a young man in her dreams. The young
man who turns out has always been with him in the forest in the shape of a monkey.
THE STORY of TIMUN MAS (Golden Cucumber)

Once upon a time, not far from a jungle, lived husband and a wife. The were farmers. The
were diligent farmers and always worked hard on the paddy fields. They had been married for
mny years and still not have a child yet. Everyday they prayed and prayed for a child.

One night, while they were praying, a giant passed their house. The giant heard they pray.
"Don't worry farmers. I can give you a child. But you have to give me that child when she is
17 years old," said the giant. The farmers were so happy. They did not think about the risk of
losing their child letter and agree to take the offer. Letter, the giant gave them a bunch of
cucumber seeds. The farmers planted them carefully. Then the seeds changed into plants.

Not longer after that, a big golden cucumber grew from plants. After it had ripe, the farmers
picked and cut it. They were very surprised to see beautiful girl inside the cucumber. They
named her Timun Mas or Golden Cucumber. Years passed by and Timun Mas has changed
into a beautiful girl. On her 17th birthday, Timun Mas was very happy. However, the parents
were very sad. They knew they had to keep their promise to the giant but they also did not
want to lose their beloved daughter.

"My
daughter, take this bag. It can save you from the giant," said the mother.

"What do you mean, Mom? I don't understand," said Timun Mas.

Right after that, the giant came into their house.

"Run Timun Mas. Save your life!" said the mother.

The giant was angry. He knew the farmers wanted to break their promise. He chased Timun
Mas away. The giant was getting closer and closer. Timun Maas then opened the bag and
threw a handful of salt. It became sea. The giant had to swim to cross the sea.

Later, Timun Mas threw some chilly. It became a jungle with trees. The trees had sharp
thorns so they hurt the giant. However, the giant was still able to chase Timun Mas.

Timun Mas took her third magic stuff. It was cucumber seeds. She threw them and became
cucumber field. But hte giant still could escape from the field.

Then it was the last magic stuff she had in the bag. It was a shrimp paste, terasi. She threw it
and became a big swamp. The giant was still trying to swim the swamp but he was very tired.
Then he was drowning and died.
Timun Mas then immediately went home. The farmers were so happy that they finally
together again.
The Legend of Nyi Banjarsari
A Folklore from Banten, Indonesia

Long time ago, there was a family, Pak Bong, his wife and his daughter named Nyi
Banjarsari. They were farmers. They lived in a village.

One day, It was a rainy season. The villagers were happy, most of them were farmers. Rain
would water their rice field and soon they would harvest their rice. Pak Bong was one of the
farmers. He was also very happy.

He wanted to buy some clothes for himself, his wife, and his beloved daughter, Nyi
Banjarsari. She was a very beautiful girl. Her parents loved her because she was very
obedient. One night, Pak Bong had a terrible dream. An old man came to him and said the
rain would never stop. There would be a great flood.

At first Pak Bong thought it was just a dream but he had the same dream in the following
nights. He decided to tell all the villagers about his dream and asked them to evacuate on a
hill not far from their village.
"Ha ha ha! You are joking, Pak Bong? How can we leave our rice field? We are going to
have great harvest, remember?" Everybody was laughing at Pak Bong.
Pak Bong did not give up. He kept on asking the villagers to evacuate to the hill. Finally
some villagers believed him. Together with his wife, and his daughter Nyi Banjarsari, Pak
Bong and his friends went to the hill.
In the meantime, heavy rain fell days and nights. It continued until water entered the houses.
The villagers were sorry they did not listen to Pak Bong and ignored his advice. Soon, the
village was drowned! Pak Bong and his friends could not do anything. They were sad
because their village was under water.
Then they prayed to God. They asked God how the water dried up from their village. The
answer came in Pak Bong's dream. In his dream, the same old man told him how to save their
village.
"If you want the water to dry up, you have to sacrifice your daughter. She has to jump into
the water!" said the old man.
Pak Bong was very sad. He then told his family about his dream. His wife did not agree at all.
She did not want to lose her lovely daughter.
"That's OK, Mother. If this is the only way to save our village, I would jump into the water,"
said Nyi Banjarsari.
Her parents could not say anything. They could not prevent their daughter from jumping into
the water. Slowly, water dried up. Pak Bong and his friends then returned to their village.
They built their houses and had their lives back. To show their thankfulness and gratefulness
to Nyi Banjarsari, the villagers named their village into Banjarsari.