Indonesian Folktales Series: Lutung Kasarung

The story begins in Tatar Pasundan, more precisely in the Pasir Batang kingdom led by Prabu Tapa Agung. His people knew him as a wise and prudent leader. However, the king was getting old. Therefore, Prabu Tapa Agung wanted to crown one of his seven daughters as his successor. Yes, he did not have a single crown prince.

Five of his seven descendants had married the crown prince of another kingdom. They were Purbadewata, Purbaendah, Purbakancana, Purbamanik and Purbaleuih. So Prabu Tapa Agung had to choose one of his two daughters who still lived in the Pasir Batang kingdom. They were the eldest daughter, Purbararang, and the youngest daughter, Purbasari Ayuwangi.

Among her seven daughters, Purbasari is the youngest who is the kindest, and least arrogant. She was very different from her older sister, Purbararang, who was beautiful but envious, arrogant, and cruel.

As he approached old age, Prabu Tapa Agung, after careful consideration, finally decided to hand over his throne to Purbasari, his daughter, who was considered the most suitable to succeed him. He felt that Purbasari was the right person to replace him because of her noble character. She was also soft-hearted, kind, and helpful. Meanwhile, Purbararang's character was completely opposite to Purbasari's. She was spiteful, arrogant, and rude to everyone around her.

The king's decision to give the throne to Purbasari was considered wise by the people of the Pasir Batang kingdom. Immediately, Prabu Tapa Agung crowned Purbasari as queen in the presence of the court advisors and his six daughters, before she began a new life as a hermit.

This decision made Purbararang very angry and jealous. She felt that he should be the queen. As expected, Purbararang was angry and could not accept his father's decision. According to her, as the firstborn, she was the rightful heir to the throne. In addition, her future husband, Raden Indrajaya, also cursed Prabu Tapa Agung's decision.

Raden Indrajaya longed for a life of power and wealth. He thought it was within his grasp, but it could easily be taken away.

Purbararang conspired with his betrothed to seize the throne of Purbasari. Filled with malice, Purbararang enlisted the help of a witch to harm Purbasari. They met a powerful witch named Ni Ronde and asked her to harm her sister. Ni Ronde gave them a bag of boreh, a black substance made from plants. Ni Ronde told Purbararang to spray boreh all over Purbasari's body if he wanted to get rid of her.

Purbararang rushed to Purbasari to carry out Ni Ronde's order and breathed the drill into Purbasari's body. Immediately, black spots appeared all over Purbasari's body, causing blisters and festering.

Purbasari's whole body and face were suddenly covered with black spots and smelled bad. Purbararang's face gradually changed. She smiled bitterly because she had just had a brilliant idea.

Together with Raden Indrajaya, she went to Prabu Tapa Agung and the queen. Purbararang then used this opportunity to tell his father to banish Purbasari to the forest because she was considered cursed and could transmit diseases. She told his parents that Purbasari was cursed with an infectious disease. She then asked them if they were not concerned about the safety of the people of Pasir Batang if Purbasari continued to act as queen.

Prabu Tapa Agung, who never gave up, mobilized all his power and sent palace soldiers to summon healers to the palace. But no one could cure Purbasari.

Concerned, Prabu Tapa Agung finally agreed to Purbararang's request. Finally, with a heavy heart, Prabu Tapa Agung banished Purbasari to the forest. Purbasari was pensive in grief as her father was successfully instigated by Purbararang and Raden Indrajaya.

Accompanied by the faithful Uwak Batara Lengser, Purbasari was banished to the wilderness. Arriving at a safe place to take shelter, Uwak Batara Lengser left Purbasari.

Although sad and suffering from her situation, Purbasari tried to sincerely accept his fate. She lives in a simple hut and is friends with the animals in the forest.

At the same time, there was an uproar in Kayangan. A god named Sanghyang Guruminda refused the request of his mother, Sunan Ambu, to marry an angel from Kayangan. He was only willing to marry a woman as beautiful as his mother.

Sunan Ambu said that her son would not be able to find a woman as beautiful as her in Kayangan. The mother told him to go down to Buana Panca Tengah (the name for the earth) if he wanted to find her.

Sanghyang Guruminda disguised himself as a langur at the command of Sunan Ambu before going down to earth. This disguise was so that he could find true love, not just because of his good looks and courage. He landed right in the forest where Purbasari was staying.

Several months had passed since Purbasari was banished from the Pasir Batang Kingdom by Purbararang. Although she felt lonely at first, Purbasari tried to distract herself by playing with the surrounding animals. She was always known as an animal lover.

One day, Purbasari met a mysterious black-furred langur. Of the many animals she chatted with, one was a mysterious black-furred monkey. While the other animals live together in groups, the monkey comes alone.

This langur is very friendly and always helps Purbasari. He gave her delicious fruits and entertained her. Purbasari named the langur Lutung Kasarung, which means lost langur. Lutung Kasarung is no ordinary langur. He is the incarnation of Sanghyang Guruminda, a handsome prince from heaven who was punished for his mistakes and banished to earth in the form of a langur.

The friendship between Purbasari and Lutung Kasarung grew stronger over time. However, she did not know that Lutung Kasarung was the incarnation of Sanghyang Guruminda. And because of his magic, Lutung Kasarung was appointed king of the forest by the other animals.

Seeing Purbasari's sincerity and suffering, Lutung Kasarung felt compassion. On a full moon night, Lutung Kasarung meditated and prayed to Sunan Ambu to heal Purbasari. The mother granted the request by presenting a lake in the middle of the forest. Immediately, a small lake with clear and fragrant water appeared near Purbasari's hut.

The lake was made of pure gold, with walls and floor of alabaster. The flowing water was accompanied by the prayers of the gods and goddesses of Kayangan. The lake was named Jamban Salaka.

The next day, Lutung Kasarung invited Purbasari to bathe in the lake. As soon as Purbasari washed her body with the water of the lake, a miracle happened. The black spots on her skin immediately disappeared, and her skin became clean, smooth, and beautiful again. Purbasari was very happy and thankful.

Lutung Kasarung was stunned to see Purbasari's beauty covered by Ni Ronde's magic.

He did not expect Purbasari's beauty to surpass that of her mother, Sunan Ambu. Slowly, the two fall in love, get engaged, and live happily in the forest, side by side with other animals.

In the kingdom of Pasir Batang, Prabu Tapa Agung ordered the ladies of the court to check on Purbasari, who had been absent from the palace for months. Arriving in the middle of the forest, the maids were surprised to see that Purbasari had returned to her normal condition. The news reached the ears of Prabu Tapa Agung and the Empress, who immediately ordered the messengers to bring Purbasari back to the palace.

The news of Purbasari's recovery and return to beauty reached the ears of Purbararang. Purbararang panicked, feeling that his position was threatened. Prabu Tapa Agung ordered that Purbasari be restored to her throne, as there was no longer any illness to prevent her from becoming a leader.

Purbararang refused the order and proposed a condition to Prabu Tapa Agung to choose a leader fairly. She wanted to challenge Purbasari to a duel for the throne. Prabu Tapa Agung finally agreed to Purbararang's terms.

Purbararang then invited Raden Indrajaya to visit the forest where Purbasari lived. Upon arriving at the forest, Purbararang immediately challenged Purbasari to a duel with Prabu Tapa Agung as his witness.

She then challenged Purbasari to a hair-length duel. Purbararang believed that her hair was longer and more beautiful. Purbararang challenged that if her hair was longer than Purbasari's, Purbasari's neck would be cut off by the royal executioner.

At the count of three, Purbasari and Purbararang untied their braids. Purbararang's hair was calf-length, while Purbasari's hair hung down to her heels.

Not only that, but Purbasari's hair is shinier and more beautiful than Purbararang's. Actually, Purbasari's hair is not longer than Purbararang's hair. Nevertheless, Lutung Kasarung prayed to Sunan Ambu for help. Sure enough, fairies and angels gathered to help Purbasari by connecting each strand of her hair until it was heel-length.

Not wanting to admit defeat, Purbararang proposed a new challenge to Purbasari. This time, the challenge was a beauty contest between Purbararang's betrothed, Raden Indrajaya, and Purbasari's betrothed, Lutung Kasarung.

Purbararang confidently carried his handsome fiancé, Raden Indrajaya. Meanwhile, Purbasari was accompanied only by Lutung Kasarung. Purbararang mocked Purbasari for having only a langur as a potential husband.

She asked Prabu Tapa Agung and the surrounding community to judge. If Purbasari's fiancé was more handsome than Raden Indrajaya, then she would give Purbasari the throne of the Pasir Batang kingdom. If not, then Purbasari must be ready to have her throat cut by the royal executioner.

Purbararang was confident that she would win. How could her beautiful fiancée lose to a langur? Purbasari knew she would not win this duel. Nevertheless, she showed her resilience.

Purbasari then whispered to Lutung Kasarung, assuring him that she would still love him and want him to be her husband no matter what. Hearing this, Lutung Kasarung was touched and wiped away Purbasari's tears. In his heart, he again begged Sunan Ambu for a way out.

The duel began. Raden Indrajaya and Lutung Kasarung stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the crowd. For the first few moments, the audience and Purbararang laughed mischievously because Raden Indrajaya, a human, was clearly more handsome than a langur.

At that moment, Lutung Kasarung smiled. Then he meditated for a moment, and immediately his body was enveloped in bright light.

The laughter subsided, however, as thick white smoke rose from Lutung Kasarung's body. Within seconds, he disappeared and returned in a different form.

Slowly, the form of the langur changed into a very handsome and powerful young man, much more handsome than Raden Indrajaya. Yes, Lutung Kasarung returned as the dashing and handsome Sanghyang Guruminda.

All those present were shocked and amazed to see the change in the form of Lutung Kasarung, who turned out to be Sanghyang Guruminda.

Raden Indrajaya, who was standing next to Sanghyang Guruminda, also became less handsome. It was as if he was nothing compared to the majesty of Sanghyang Guruminda. The audience, Purbararang, Purbasari and Prabu Tapa Agung were also surprised.

The situation turned 180 degrees. Now Praburarang and Raden Indrajaya were contemplating their fate.

With the revelation of Lutung Kasarung's identity and the return of Purbasari's beauty, Purbararang finally admits his defeat. Purbararang immediately asked for forgiveness and prostrated herself before Purbasari. She apologized for her selfishness and arrogance. Because of her ambition to hold the throne of the Pasir Batang Kingdom, she made Purbasari suffer.

Affectionately, Purbasari replied that she had forgiven Purbararang without any need to apologize. Ignoring Purbararang's threat of beheading, she invited him to return to the palace and live together.

The two siblings embraced and wept with emotion. Prabu Tapa Agung was very happy and handed over his throne to Purbasari. Purbasari became a fair and wise queen. Not long after, Purbasari married Sanghyang Guruminda and lived happily ever after. Purbararang was also forgiven and accepted into the palace.