Tuesday 21 July 2020

The Origin of the Paddy

According to the folklore from West Java, the origin of the emergence of rice trees comes from the sacrifice of Dewi Sri Pohaci Long Kancana in carrying out the task of Sunan Ibu in Taman Sorga Loka, which is to bestow cihaya (a necessity for human life) to the country of Buana Panca Tengah. How is the full story? Read the following story:
The Origin of the Paddy


In ancient times someone lived named Sunan Ibu in a beautiful park called Taman Sorga Loka. At that time Sunan Ibu was waiting for the arrival of Dewi Sri Pohaci Long Kancana. After arriving, Dewi Sri Pohaci told Sunan Ibu that there was a place on earth that did not yet have light or something that needed human life. That place is called Buana Panca Tengah.

Dewi Sri Pohaci Went to the State of Buana Tengah Panca

After hearing Dewi Sri Pohaci's statement, Sunan Ibu then gave orders to Dewi Sri to go to the land of Buana Panca Tengah. Dewi Sri Pohaci undertook the assignment given by Sunan Ibu, but she requested that her departure be accompanied by Eyang Prabu Guruminda. Sunan Ibu granted Dewi Sri Pohaci's request. Sunan Ibu then called Eyang Prabu Guruminda and ordered her to accompany Dewi Sri Pohaci to the land of Buana Panca Tengah.

Before leaving the Taman Sorga Loka, Grandma King Guruminda asked for time to sit in meditation in order to ask for directions from Hiang Dewanata. In his seminary, Hiang Dewanata gave instructions to Grandma Guruminda to turn Dewi Pohaci into an egg. After getting a clue, Grandma Guruminda ended his meditation. Then with his magic, he changed Dewi Sri Pohaci into an egg.

After all the preparations have been completed, then Grandmother Guruminda departed to the land of Buana Panca Tengah to bring Dewi Sri in the form of an egg. Dewi Sri in the form of an egg, is kept well in a box called Cupu Gilang Kencana.

With his magic, Prabu Guruminda flew to every direction north-south-west-east looking for a country called Buana Panca Tengah. Unintentionally, Cupu Gilang Kencana opens and the eggs inside fall to earth. The egg fell in a place inhabited by Lord Anta. Lord Anta then took the egg and stored it carefully.

The Rebirth of Dewi Sri Pohaci

After some time, the egg hatched and a very beautiful princess was born who was none other than Dewi Sri. Of course, Dewa Anta was very pleased with the birth of a very beautiful baby girl. Dewa Anta took care of Dewi Sri to grow into a beautiful, beautiful adult girl.

Only in a short time the beauty of Dewi Sri spread throughout the country. Then the kings of various kingdoms came to meet Dewi Sri Pohaci with the aim of proposing her to become empress. But Dewi Sri refused the proposal of the kings because she remembered her unfinished task of giving light to the country of Buana Panca Tengah. If he accepts the proposal, it means he has ignored the assignment assigned to him.

To every king who was interested in asking for her hand, Dewi Sri explained that the purpose of her birth to the world was to carry out the task of Sunan Ibu in Taman Sorga Loka, which was to confer light on the land of Buana Panca Tengah. However, the kings don't care. Proposal after proposal continued to arrive, resulting in Dewi Sri falling ill. Continue to think about his work that has not been completed, the longer the pain suffered by Dewi Sri getting worse. Feeling his life will not be long, Dewi Sri finally delivered his last mandate.

The Weird plants in Dewi Sri Pohaci's tomb

"When the time comes, I will die and when I am buried someday, then don't be surprised if there are oddities in my heart." Not long after, with the Almighty's will, Dewi Sri Pohaci died.

The last mandate of Dewi Sri Pohaci was proven. At the center of his place was overgrown with plants that had never existed before. On the head of the coconut tree grows, on the hands grow fruit trees, on the legs grow sweet potatoes, while on the stomach grows palm trees. Also grows another plant that is very strange and has never existed so far.

The Origin of the Rice Tree

One day, there were grandparents who were looking for firewood in the forest. Accidentally grandfather and grandmother arrived at the tomb of Dewi Sri Pohaci which was overgrown by strange plants. The two of them had never seen such a plant. A nice leafy plant bearing fruit is still a nice fluffy green too. Grandfather and grandmother finally decided to routinely clean Dewi Sri Pohaci's tomb and take care of the strange plant.

Thus, day after day, week after week, grandparents patiently and diligently clean the tombs and care for these strange plants. Nearing momThe fifth lan, the green fruit was already full, so that the sprig of fruit drooped because of its weight.

Towards the 6th month, he looked back at the plant and it turned out that the fruit grains had turned yellow and looked very beautiful. The grandfather then tasted the fruit and tasted by it sweetness. Grandfather and grandmother prepared incense and the fire to burn incense to ask permission from Hiang Dewanata.

After the burning ceremony of incense, the strange plants were cut down and how shocked the grandfather and grandmother were because the cut stems had released clear and fragrant liquid. Then the intention arose to replant it. The fruit grains were replanted around Dewi Sri's grave. Until without feeling the strange plants grow very much and bear a lot of fruit too. The grandfather and grandmother felt confused because they did not know what plants they planted. They find it difficult to choose the right name for the new plant. Finally the name Pare was chosen. The reason, in Sundanese, a difficult attitude to make decisions is called "Paparelean". Until now, the new plant is known as Pare or Padi in Indonesian.

More folklore on West Java:

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