Legend of Roro Jonggrang

image: yogyes

A long time ago there was a big kingdom in Java Island named Prambanan. The people lived in peace and prosperous. However it didn’t last longer after Prambanan was invaded by Pengging Kingdom ruled by Bandung Bondowoso. He was so mean and evil. The king also had magical power so he could control genie.

“Anyone who disapproves me will be punished!” he said always. People were living in fear. After capturing Prambanan Kingdom, Bandung Bondowoso was in love with beautiful Roro Jonggrang, the princess of Prambanan Kingdom.

“Would you, the most beautiful princess Roro Jonggrang, be my queen?” he proposed Roro Jonggrang to be his wife, the queen of Pengging Kingdom. The princess was very angry, “How come he who captured our kingdom propose me to be his queen,” she thought. But if she refused, then Bandung Bondowoso will be very mad and endanger her family and the Prambanan people as well. However, it was impossible to accept him since the deep hatred in her heart.

"So, what do you think Roro Jonggrang?" urged Bandung Bondowoso. Suddenly Roro Jonggrang got an idea. “In fact, I am prepared to be the queen and my honored to be proposed by you Your Highness,” she said politely,”…but on one condition…”

“Tell me princess, what’s the condition?" Bandung Bondowoso asked in curiosity, “The abundant wealth? or a grand palace?” "Not that, Your Highness,” said Roro Jonggrang, “Just make one thousand temples for me”.

"One thousand temples?" shouted Bondowoso. "Yes, and those temples must be finished in one night." After that Bandung Bondowoso kept thinking how he can make 1,000 temples in one night. Giving up on thinking of the way to make his dream comes true, he finally asked his kingdom counselor about his problem.

"I believe that Your Highness can make those temples by the help of genies!" said the counselor. Bandung Bondowoso gladly agreed and ordered him to set up everything he needed to build the temples.

After all had been set up, Bandung Bondowoso stood in front of an altar. “To all my genies, help me build one thousand temples in one night!" He shouted with his rumbled voice. Suddenly, sky turned into dark. The wind and thunder were roaring and howling. In a short time the genies had built hundreds of temples and almost reached one thousand in few hours

In the meantime, silently Roro Jonggrang observed them from the distance. She was worried, realizing that Bandung Bondowoso was helped by the genies, “What can I do?” she asked to her servants. One of them told her to burn straws so the fire set the sky to flame in the Prambanan Kingdom sky. It will make the genies think that the night has turn to dawn.

"Quick, burn all the straws!" Roro Jonggrang ordered. While some servants quickly gathered and burn straws, others pounded mortars and pestles to make sound that people of the kingdom had started their morning activities.

Seeing the eastern sky flared with red color and the pounded sound made the genies thought that morning had broken. "We must immediately leave before our bodies scorched by the sun," the genies yelled to each other. All the genies jumped out of the unfinished temples.

Later in the morning, Bandung Bondowoso visited the princess room and told Roro Jonggrang that the one thousand temples had been built completely. Roro Jonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso then counted the temples together. Unfortunately, the temples were only 999!

"It means that you have failed to fulfill the requirement to marry me", Roro Jonggrang said. "It’s impossible!!" yelled Bandung Bondowoso angrily. He pointed at Roro Jonggrang and cursed her, “…then you must be the one to complete the one thousand temples!”

Magically, Roro Jonggrang at once turned into the stone statue. At present, these temples are still existing and located in the Prambanan Temple complex, at Kalasan, Sleman, Jogja . Today, the stone statue of Roro Jonggrang is known as Roro Jonggrang Temple.

(Javanese Folk Tale)

* Actually Roro Jonggrang statue is the description of Durga, the wife of Shiva. This statue located in the same complex with Shiva, Agastya, a risi, and Ganesha, his son