Legend of Loro Jonggrang

A Folklore from Central Java, Indonesia

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom named Prambanan. The people lived peacefully.
However, soon their happy lives were disturbed by Pengging Kingdom. The king, Bandung
Bondowoso, wanted to occupy Prambanan. He was a mean king.

The war between Prambanan and Pengging could not be avoided. Prambanan lost the war and led
by the new king, Bandung Bondowoso. Pengging could win the war because Bandung Bondongwoso
had a supernatural power.

His soldiers were not only humans but also genies. Those creatures always obeyed Bandung
Bondowoso. They always did whatever Bandung Bondowoso asked them to do. The king of
Prambanan had a beautiful daughter. Her name was Loro Jonggrang (Rara Jonggrang). Bandung
Bondowoso fell in love with her and wanted to marry her.

"If you want to marry me, you have to build a thousand of temples in just one night," said Loro
Jonggrang.

She hated Bandung Bondowoso because he made the people of Prambanan suffered.

"What? Impossible! You just gave me an excuse for not marrying me!" said Bandung Bondowoso.
But he did not give up. He asked the genies to help him.

Then all those genies worked hard to build the 1.000 temples. Meanwhile, Loro Jonggrang heard
from the lady-inwaiting that the building of 1.000 temples was almost finished.

She was so scared; she did not want to marry Bandung Bondowoso. And then she had a great idea.
She asked all the ladies-inwaiting to help her.

"Please prepare a lot of straw and mortar. Come on! Hurry up!" said Loro Jonggrang.

All those ladies-in-waiting were confused. They did not know why Loro Jonggrang asked them to
prepare a lot of straw and mortars in the middle of the night.

"Listen, all those genies are building the temples, right? We have to stop them by burning the
straw and make some noise by pounding the mortar. The genies will think that sun is going to rise
and they will run away. Genies are afraid of sunlight."

It worked! All those genies thought that sun rose. They did not know the light was from the fire
that burning the straw. And the noise from pounding the mortar was like the start of a new day.

Bandung Bondowoso was angry. He knew Loro Jonggrang just tricked him.

"You cannot fool me, Loro Jonggrang. I already have 999 temples. I just need one more temple.
Now, I will make you the one-thousandth temple."
With his supernatural power, Bandung Bondowoso made Loro Jonggrang a temple. Until now, the
temple is still standing in Prambanan area, Central Java. And the temple is named Loro
Jonggrang temple.
Once, long ago there was a great kingdom named Prambanan . Tenteran and people live
peacefully . But , what happens then ? Prambanan kingdom was attacked and occupied by
foreign Pengging . Prambanan kingdom peace be disturbed . The soldiers are not able to deal
with attacks Pengging forces . Finally , Prambanan kingdom ruled by Pengging , and led by
Bondowoso .

Bondowoso a cruel bossy . " Anyone who does not do what I say , will be severely punished " ,
said Bondowoso on people. Bondowoso is a force that is powerful and has a genie . Not long in
power , Bondowoso like watching the movements of Loro Jonggrang , daughter of King
Prambanan beautiful girl . " Beautiful nian 's daughter . I want him to be Permaisuriku , " thought
Bondowoso .

The next day , Loro Jonggrang Bondowoso approach . "You're beautiful, will you be
Permaisuriku ? " , Tanya Bondowoso to Loro Jonggrang . Loro Jonggrang gasped , hearing Ask
this member a question . " This man once presumptuous , not to know me immediately wanted
me to be his queen ," said Loro Jongrang in the liver . " What should I do ? " . Loro Jonggrang
into confusion . Her mind was spinning . If he refuses , then it will Bondowoso furious and
endanger his family and the people of Prambanan . To say yes would be impossible , because
the Loro Jonggrang did not like the Bondowoso .

" How , Loro Jonggrang ? " Insisted Bondowoso . Loro Jonggrang finally get the idea . " I'm
willing to be your wife , but there are conditions , " he said . " What are the conditions ? Want an
abundant treasure ? Or a magnificent palace ? " . " No, my lord , said Loro Jonggrang . I asked
for the temple , the amount should be a thousand pieces . " A thousand pieces ? " Cried
Bondowoso . " Yes , and a temple was to be completed in a single night . " Loro Jonggrang
Bondowoso stare , his lips quivering anger. Since that time Bondowoso thinking how to make
1000 temples . Finally, he asked his adviser . " I believe my master able makes the temple with
the help of Jin ! " , Said counsel . " Yes , that's right you suggest , prepare the equipment I
needed ! "

Once the equipment at the ready . Bondowoso standing in front of the altar stone . Both arms
stretched out wide . " Forces jin , Help me ! " He shouted in a booming voice . Shortly thereafter
, the sky became dark . The wind howled . A moment later , the genie is already swarming
troops Bondowoso . " What should we do sir ? " , The leader asked the genie . " Help me build a
thousand temples , " pleaded Bondowoso . The genie immediately move to and fro , carrying
out each task . In a short time the temple has been composed almost reached a thousand
pieces .

Meanwhile , Loro Jonggrang quietly observe from a distance . He was anxious , knowing
Bondowoso genie aided by troops . " Well , what about this ? " Said Loro Jonggrang in the liver .
He was looking for sense . The royal ladies got together and sent them in charge of collecting
the straw . " Quickly burn all the hay ! " Command Loro Jonggrang . Most of the other ladies he
sent mashing dimples . Dung ... dung ... dung ! Radiating red tinge to the sky with the sound of
bustle, so much like the dawn is breaking.

Forces thought genie is already breaking dawn . " Well , the sun will rise ! " Said the genie . "
We should get going before the sun burned our bodies , " said another genie . The genie is
scattered left the place . Bondowoso was astonished to see army panic genie .
The next , Loro Jonggrang Bondowoso invite to the temple . " The temple which you requested
has been standing " . Loro Jonggrang immediately calculate the number of the temple . It turned
out that there were only 999 pieces ! . " The amount is less than one ! " Said Loro Jonggrang .
"Then the master has failed to meet the requirements that I asked " . Bondowoso surprised to
learn that deficiency . He became very angry . " No way ... " , said Bondowoso glowering at Loro
Jonggrang . "Then you are complete ! " He said while pointing his finger at Loro Jonggrang .
Miraculous ! Loro Jonggrang instantly turned into a stone statue . Until now, these temples are
still there and called Loro Jonggrang . Because it is located in the Prambanan area , Central
Java , known as the Loro Jonggrang Prambanan
In the old days of Java Island, in a region called Prambanan, lies two kingdom. Kingdom of
Pengging and Kraton Boko. Pengging kingdom is gifted with a fertile and get prosperous. The
kingdom is lead by a wise king named Prabu Damar Moyo and has a male son named Raden
Bandung Bondowoso while Kraton Boko is a kingdom that obey under the rules of Pengging.
The Boko king is very cruel, he is strong and tall, like a giant. The people of Boko always afraid
of the kings anger. Although the king were not handsome, he has a very beautiful daughter called
Princess Roro Jongrang.
One day, the king of Boko wants to rebels against the Pengging. Lead by the Boko prime
minister, the giant race, Gopolo, the Boko army is prepared to announce the war between Boko
and Pengging. They even raid its own people’s properties to support the campaign

Fierce war happens in the borders of the Pengging teritorial mark. Many victims were falling on
both sides and people Pengging be suffering because of war, many people hunger and poverty.
Knowing his people suffer and have many victims soldiers who died in the borders, then Prabu
Damar Moyo sent his son Raden Bondowoso go to war against King Boko. The young
Bondowoso is able to defeat king Boko. Seeing the king died, then Prime minister Gupolo
escape. Raden Bondowoso pursue Patih Gupolo to Kraton Boko.
After reaching Kraton Boko, Patih Gupolo reported on Princess Roro Jonggrang that his father
had been lost in the battlefield, by a knight named Raden Bandung Pengging Bondowoso.
Princess Loro Jonggrang wept, saddened his heart because his father had been killed on the
battlefield. Raden at Kraton Boko Bondowoso arrived, soom he troubled to see Puteri Raden
Bondowoso Loro Jonggrang beautiful, so he wanted to marry Princess Loro Jonggrang as his
wife.
As the Boko kingdom is lost in the rebels, and o save her fathers kingdom, the Loro Puteri Raden
Jonggrang accept the princes, with some request. She did not want to marry Bondowoso because
he had killed his father. To reject the proposal Raden Bondowoso, then Princess Loro Jonggrang
have a strategy. The first request, Princess Loro Jonggrang asked for Jalatunda wells (very deep
well) while the second request, asked for him to make 1000 temples in one night.

Raden Bandung Bondowoso agreed. Raden Bondowoso Immediately make Jalatunda wells and
after so he called Princess Roro Jonggrang to see the well. She trick the prince and send him
down. She ask Boko’s prime minister to close the well with heavy rocks so that the prince could
not reach the top of the well. Raden Bondowoso is a tough man, he is also smart. Its not a
longtime before he was able to come out from the wells. He was very angry to the princess, but
soon after meet the princess, he falls again with the beauty of the princess

She ask Raden Bondowoso the second request, to make 1000 temples in 1 night. Bondowoso
then command his workers from genie tribe to help him build the 1000 temple. The 1000 temples
are building up, one by one with the help of the genie tribes. The princess wants to sabotage the
building of the temples. She asks her servants to pound the rice pounding tools and also burns
lots of paddy’s straw .
Because of it, the roosters crowed. The genie take a lookto the sky and its brighter in the east.
The leader of the genie reported to Bondowoso that they have stopped to make the temple
because the morning has arrived. Princess Roro Jonggrang told to count the temples and its only
999 temples, not 1000.

So, Bondowoso won’t be able to marry the princess because he failed to complete the request.
Being deceived and tricked, Raden Bondowoso angry and curse Princess Roro Jonggrang. “It’s
missing one, and you that should fit the numbers”. The princess is soon turned into a stone
statue; it is exist in the heart of the Prambanan temples until now.