Monday 20 July 2020

The Origin of Girilawungan

In the Majalengka area, West Java Province, once stood a kingdom called Girilawungan. The name Girilawungan itself comes from the Sundanese language 'Ngalawung' which means 'face to face'. It is said that in that place the Majapahit forces had once carried out a 'ngalawung' action waiting for Giri Larang's daughter to come out of her hiding place, because they felt ashamed if they had to return to the Majapahit kingdom without success. Here is the full story.
The Origin of Girilawungan


Raja Giri Layang and Princess Giri Larang

Once upon a time, Raja Giri Layang was assisted by his younger sister Putri Giri Larang, leading a kingdom called the Kingdom of Giri in Majalengka, West Java in a wise manner. They both are still descendants of the kingdom of Pajajaran. His Majesty prioritizes the interests of the kingdom and his people. The king's main concern in the welfare of his people is to develop agriculture. For that matter, the King appointed a patih as his right hand, Patih Endang Capang.

Patih Endang Capang has a routine schedule traveling around the country to provide information on how to farm properly, checking the processing of smallholder agriculture, ranging from fertilizing, irrigating or clearing forests to plant palawija. So do not be surprised if the food is very abundant.

In trading transactions, people usually use a barter system or exchange goods. The measurements used to measure items exchanged are coconut shells or bamboo segments. The number of residents at that time was not too much so that the distance between the houses was quite far apart. Nevertheless the inhabitants of the kingdom did not feel afraid. For lighting in each house, a lamp is used with oil which is processed from the seeds which are squeezed such as walnut, keliki, or jatropha seeds. Every evening, from every house residents are always busy to hear the sounds of musical instruments such as the xylophone and the flute.

Putri Giri Forbids Going Away

Once when Princess Giri Larang faced His Majesty the King. "Big brother, Adinda has long helped you to take care of the kingdom. Sorry, brother, Adinda still lacks knowledge. Adinda wants to go overseas to seek additional magic knowledge. "

Raja Giri Layang was silent for a moment then sighed. "Adinda, brother loves you very much. You are very afraid if something bad happens to Adinda when you leave. But okay, you don't want to disappoint you. Go search for knowledge so that Adinda is happy. Brother ordered, take Sudajaya well water and go east but don't cross the royal border because your magic will disappear. "

"Thanks bro. Adinda will carry out Abang's message. " said Putri Giri Layang.

After saying goodbye, Princess Giri Larang left alone. Nyi Putri Giri Larang continued walking east up the mountain and down the mountain, out of the forest into the forest, deep valleys and steep cliffs through. Despite the long and tiring journey, Princess Giri was happy.

After months of walking, finally Nyi Putri Giri Larang came to a wilderness that had not been touched by humans. Lots of wild animals buzzing sounds like monkeys, monkeys, birds and other wild animals. Putri Giri Larang does not care about these wild animals. He continued to walk under large trees that were hundreds of years old. Finally the princess arrived at a lake surrounded by very beautiful gardens.

Putri Giri Larang was astonished and at the same time wondered who was the one who built a beautiful garden in the middle of a dense forest. The princess finally decided to unwind and cleanse the body in the beautiful lake.

Without realizing the princess, someone watched from the bushes. That person is the Patih of the Mahapahit kingdom who is tasked with caring for the lake. Apparently the lake was made on the orders of the king of Majapahit as a place to isolate himself, calm down, and the resting place of the king while hunting in the forest. The Patih was amazed to see the beauty of the princess who was cleaning the body.

"Raja Majapahit does not have a wife. That woman is so beautiful, deserves to be the empress of the Mahapahit kingdom. I have to take him to the Majapahit kingdom. Let me just take the shawl. " The Patih then deliberately took the Princess Giri Larang shawl.

Putri Giri Larang is of course surprised to see someone suddenly appear to steal her shawl. "Hi who are you? Why stole my shawl? Give it back! "

"O beautiful beautiful princess. Sorry, it is not the intention of Servants to be disrespectful, but our king the king of Majapahit does not yet have a wife. The princess should be willing to become the wife of King Mahapahit. If the princess wants this scarf, chase me. ” said Patih Mahapahit.

"Hey thief! Don't be cheeky! Hurry up and return my shawl! " shouted Putri Giri Larang.

The Patih paid no heed to the Princess's cry. He deliberately ran towards the kingdom of Majapahit with the aim that the Princess would follow him towards the kingdom. Putri Giri Larang is of course very angry with the Patih. He immediately chased the thief's shawl. But it seems that the patih has supernatural powers because the princess is difficult to pursue. Until finally the two of them crossed the border of the Majapahit kingdom. He remembered his brother's message not to go too far across the border, but now it was too late, the princess's body became weak because of her lost power.

Putri Giri Married to King Majapahit

Finally they arrived at the Majapahit kingdom. The Patih then explained to King Majapahit that he brought a beautiful beautiful woman to be his wife. King Majapahit was very fascinated by the beauty of Princess Giri Larang and directly practiced love. The king asked him that he would be his wife. "O beautiful beautiful princess, do not worry, I will return your scarf, even if necessary I replace the dozens with better ones. Now introduce yourself? "

"Hey thief king, be careful talking, my name is Putri Giri Larang, a descendant of Pajajaran, the biological younger brother of King Giri Layang from the kingdom of Giri. Now return my shawl. " Putri Giri shouted angrily.

"Oh, so the princess is from the kingdom of Giri and is still a descendant of Pajajaran? I'm so lucky. Will you be my wife? I happen to be looking for a consort. If the princess is willing, then I will return this scarf. But if I don't, I won't return this scarf. " said the King Mahapahit.

Putri Giri Larang was unable to refuse, because her body felt so weak. He finally accepted the offer of King Mahapahit by submitting a condition. "Alright, I want to be your wife. But with the condition that the King will never interfere in women's affairs. If it is violated, I will return to my brother's palace. "

Of course the king of Majapahit agreed to these conditions. They immediately entered into a magnificent wedding. The people of Majapahit rejoiced that their King had a beautiful wife. The king is very happy to have an empress. Not long after marriage, Putri Giri Larang was pregnant. The king was very happy to hear the news. The king feels his life has been perfect.

The Majapahit King Breaks His Promise

One day, Putri Giri Larang was cooking rice. Because at that time the air was very hot, after closing the cooking place he then went to take a shower. The King then passed the kitchen. Seeing his wife not in the king's kitchen then wants to know what his wife is cooking. He then opened the lid to cook the rice. How shocked the king was to learn that what his wife cooked was only a grain of rice.

After his wife finished bathing, the King also asked about the rice cooked by his wife. "O my wife, I checked your cooking place. I wonder how a grain of rice can meet our food needs? "

Hearing the King's question, Princess Giri Larang suddenly felt angry. "O my husband, didn't you at the beginning of your marriage have promised not to interfere in women's affairs? You have broken the agreement. Alright then, I will return to my brother's kingdom. "

"Oh yes, I forgot my own promise. Forgive me, my beloved wife. I promise I will not repeat it again. " said the king.

Putri Giri Forbids Returning to the Kingdom of Giri

Princess Giri Larang cannot forgive the King. He secretly left the royal palace of Majapahit. Upon arrival in the kingdom of his sister, Princess Giri Larang was unable to hold back tears. "Forgive Adinda for breaking the message Kakanda. This is the result. "

"Never mind my sister. Rice has become porridge. Rest because now you are pregnant. " Raja Giri Layang certainly forgives the sister he loved so much. He was very happy because his sister had returned.

Raja Giri Layang then took care of his younger brother who was pregnant with patience.

Some time later, Putri Giri Larang gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He named him Duke of Jatiserang. During his stay in the kingdom of Giri, Princess Giri Layang always felt uneasy, he was very worried that one day, King Majapahit, namely Jatiserang's father would come and take his son. He expressed his concern to his brother Raja Giri Layang.

After listening to his sister's worries, Raja Giri Layang felt able to rival the royal troops as big as Majapahit. But he did not want to drag his people into war. He then negotiated with his patih, namely Patih Endang Capang along with the ministers. After a discussion, they finally agreed to hide in a crater or a large underground pit. Raja Giri Layang ordered to make four large holes selike a hiding place for the royal family. The king and his younger brother and the entire royal family then entered the big hole to hide.

Majapahit Forces to Forced Princess Giri and Her Son

Not long after, troops from the other kingdom came, led by two patihs, namely Patih Mangkunagara and Patih Surapati. They intend to forcibly fetch Putri Giri Larang and Duke Jatiserang. They entered the royal palace of Giri and were met by Patih Endang Capang. "We are looking for Princess Giri Larang. She is the empress of the Majapahit kingdom. King Majapahit asked her to go home." the two patih said to Patih Endang Capang.

"Sorry sir, Princess Giri Larang and King Girl Layang have died. Meanwhile, Giri Larang's son, Adipati Jatiserang is studying overseas."

"Don't lie. We don't believe it!" they exclaimed.

"If you don't believe, let me take you to the tomb of Raja Giri Layang and Princess Giri Larang." said Patih Endang Capang.

Then, Patih Endang Capang brought Majapahit troops to the location of the King's hideout and the royal family. Majapahit Forces saw four mounds of earth that resembled a tomb. But because they still did not believe, the two governors ordered his troops to dig the tomb. However, when they wanted to dig suddenly all Majapahit troops felt weak and fell. Apparently the power of the Majapahit army was absorbed by the power of Princess Giri Larang and Raja Giri Layang who were hiding underground.

"Just stop the digging of the hole. I'm sure they hid in the hole. But their power seems too high for us. " the second Patih ordered to stop the efforts of his troops in digging graves.

Majapahit Ngalawung troops

"If we go back to the Majapahit kingdom, of course the King will be very angry and may the King will punish us. It's better we don't have to go back to Majapahit. It's better to stay here to wait for them to come out of the hole. " said the Mangkunagara governor.

In language, ngalawung means sitting face to face. Majapahit troops who felt they had failed to carry out their duties now only sat ngalawung in that place. Since then the kingdom of Giri is often also called by the name of the kingdom of Girilawung. While the village where the Majapahit governor and his troops were known are known as the Babakan Jawa.

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