A Folktale from West Java

RADEN PRAWIRA AND RADEN ANGGADA

By Endang Firdaus


Long time ago in West Java, there was a kingdom named Sintala. The king had
two sons, Raden Prawira and Raden Anggada. King Sintala loved his older son,
Raden Prawira, very much. As the oldest son, Raden Prawira would replace his
father as the future king. This made Raden Anggada, his stepbrother, jealous of
him. He wanted to be the king of Sintala. One day, Raden Anggada asked a
quack to make a strong potion for his brother. As payment, Raden Anggada
gave him a thousand pieces of gold.
One day, Raden Prawira went hunting. After eating his lunch, he felt very ill.
He could not move or open his eyes. A woodcutter found him. He brought
Raden Prawira back to his house, deep in the forest, and took care of him.
Raden Prawira could not remember who he was.
Raden Prawira lived with the woodcutter and his wife. They treated him like
their own son, and he loved them very much.
King Sintala became very sad when Raden Prawira did not return. His soldiers
could not find his son. Finally he became very sick. Before he died, he gave his
kujang to Raden Anggada. But an odd thing happened. When Raden Anggada
held the kujang, it instantly flew out of his hand and fell to floor. The ministers
realized that Raden Anggada was not the legal heir of the kujang.
Not long after that, King Sintala passed away, and on that same day Raden
Anggada was crowned as the new king. The people of Sintala came to watch the
crowning. Raden Anggada was dressed in the formal outfit of a king. He sat on
his throne, accompanied by his ministers. A box with the kujang in it was put in
front of him.
Raden Anggada opened the box. But again, a strange thing happened! When the
box was opened, the kujang instantly flew out and danced through the crowd of
people. It landed on the feet of a young man. The young man took the kujang
and suddenly a bright light covered him.
I know who I am! the young man said happily.
Y-you! cried Raden Anggada. He recognized the young man. He was his
brother, Raden Prawira.
Why arent you dead? I poisoned you! said Raden Anggada. The people
became angry when they heard this.
Raden Anggada was ousted from the Kingdom of Sintala.
Raden Prawira became the king of Sintala. As reward for their kindness, he
invited the woodcutter and his wife to live at the palace with him. They all lived
happily ever after.

A Folktale from West Java
THE STORY OF SITU BAGENDIT


By Endang Firdaus


Once there was a very rich widow. Her name was Nyai Bagendit. Nyai
Bagendit had much wealth. She lived in a big and luxurious house. She had
many farmlands and servants. However, Nyai Bagendit never thanked to God
for her lucky. She was very proud of her wealth. She never did the good things
to others. She was also a very cruel usurer. She lent money to everyone and
plundered their things if they could not pay the debt.
One day, when Nyai Bagendit was sitting at the terrace of her house, an old
beggar came into the yard. She was very angry to see him. She shouted, Hi, old
beggar, who asked you to come here? Go away! Oh, my stomach will ache if I
see you for a long time!
Nyai, the beggar said, give me a little food. I havent eaten any food for two
days.
Huh! I dont like to give you! Go away or Ill ask my men to chase you! cried
Nyai Bagendit.
The beggar looked at Nyai Bagendit. Full of angry, he said, You are very
cruel! God will punish you!
The beggar went away.
Not long, after the beggar was not seen, the earth quaked. The earthquake then
happened. Rrrt, rrrt! The area where was Nyai Bagendit was split. The earth ate
Nyai Bagendit and her wealth.
Help!
Since then, the place where Nyai Bagendit had lived became a lake. People call
it Situ Bagendit (Lake Bagendit) to remember us not to be act like Nyai
Bagendit.