.jpg "Princess Gading Cempaka A Bengkulu Folktale from Indonesia")
Princess Gading Cempaka was the youngest daughter of the great King Ratu Agung, who came from the Majapahit Kingdom. According to the legend, she became the grandmother of the kings who later ruled the Kingdom of the Lemau River in North Bengkulu.
Chapter 1: The Kingdom of the Serut River
Once upon a time, long, long ago, in the land that is now called Bengkulu, there stood a beautiful kingdom named the Kingdom of the Serut River.
Its first king was Ratu Agung, a prince from the mighty Majapahit Kingdom. People whispered that he was really a god from Humpback Mountain, sent down to earth to look after all living things.
King Ratu Agung ruled wisely and kindly. His people, the tall and strong Rejang Sawah folk, loved him dearly.
The king had six sons and one daughter. His sons were Kelamba Api (also called Raden Cili), Manuk Mincur, Lemang Batu, Tajuk Rompong, Rindang Papan, and Anak Dalam. His youngest child, his only daughter, was Princess Gading Cempaka.
The princess was as lovely as an angel. When she was still a young girl, news of her beauty had already traveled to faraway lands. Many princes came to ask for her hand in marriage.
King Ratu Agung: "I am sorry, noble prince. My daughter is still too young to marry."
And so, one by one, the princes sailed home again.
Chapter 2: The King's Two Wishes
The years passed. Princess Gading Cempaka grew into a graceful young woman, and King Ratu Agung grew old and weak.
One day the king fell very ill. He felt that his time on earth was almost over, so he called all seven of his children to his bedside.
King Ratu Agung: "My dear children, I do not think I will be with you much longer. Before I go, I must ask you to keep two wishes."
The children's faces filled with sorrow. Princess Gading Cempaka burst into tears and hugged her father tightly.
Princess Gading Cempaka: "Please don't say that, Father! We don't want to lose you!"King Ratu Agung: "Hush, my sweet daughter. Every one of us belongs to God Almighty. When our time comes, no one can hold it back."
He gently stroked her hair, and then he spoke to all of them.
King Ratu Agung: "My first wish is this. To keep our land fair, peaceful, and full of harmony, I give the throne to my son Anak Dalam. Please stay united, in good times and in bad times."King Ratu Agung: "My second wish is this. If a terrible disaster ever strikes our kingdom, you must go to Humpback Mountain. There, a king will one day arrive who is meant to marry my beloved daughter, Gading Cempaka."
The six older brothers were not jealous at all. They happily agreed that Anak Dalam should be king.
A few days later, King Ratu Agung closed his eyes for the last time. The whole kingdom wept. Princess Gading Cempaka was heartbroken, but she folded her hands and prayed that her father would rest in peace.
Chapter 3: The Prince from Aceh
Anak Dalam was crowned the new king. Just like his father, he was wise and fair, and he and his brothers and sister lived together in peace. Soon the kingdom was famous in many lands, and so was the beauty of Princess Gading Cempaka. Many nobles and princes came with their proposals, but King Anak Dalam refused them all.
Then one day a great sailing ship arrived at the port of Bangkahulu. On board was the Crown Prince of Aceh, Pangeran Raja Muda Aceh, with his soldiers. He, too, had come to ask for the princess's hand.
The prince stayed on his ship and sent his messengers to the palace.
Messenger: "Forgive us, Your Majesty. We are envoys of the Crown Prince of Aceh. He is waiting on his ship by the dock."King Anak Dalam: "Welcome. What can I do for your prince?"Messenger: "He has sent us to ask for the hand of Princess Gading Cempaka."
King Anak Dalam did not want to decide alone. He asked the messengers to wait, and then he gathered his brothers and sister to talk it over. After some time, he came back with their answer.
King Anak Dalam: "Please forgive us, honored messengers. We have decided that we cannot accept the Crown Prince's proposal."
The messengers were very surprised and disappointed. They hurried back to the ship and told the prince everything.
Crown Prince of Aceh: "What?! They dare to refuse me?!"
Chapter 4: The Great Battle
The Crown Prince of Aceh was furious. He sent a challenge to King Anak Dalam, and soon a great battle began between the Kingdom of Aceh and the Kingdom of the Serut River.
The fighting went on for many days, and many brave soldiers on both sides were lost. The battlefield became so dreadful that no one could bear to stay there. Folks say this was how the name Bengkulu began.
At last, King Anak Dalam remembered his father's words.
King Anak Dalam: "My dear brothers and sister, our father told us that if our kingdom is no longer safe, we must go to Humpback Mountain. It is time to follow his wish."
So the king and his brothers and sister left the palace and traveled to the mountain. The Crown Prince of Aceh, seeing that the war had gained him nothing, sailed back home to the Land of Rencong with his remaining soldiers.
Chapter 5: A New King Arrives
With the royal family gone, the Kingdom of the Serut River became restless and confused. Four nobles from Lebong Balik Bukit came, each hoping to become king. But once they arrived, they began to quarrel over the land.
Just then, a traveler from the Pagaruyung Kingdom came to the land. He was Maharaja Sakti, a messenger of the Sultan of Pagaruyung, Seri Maharaja Diraja. He spoke calmly and wisely, and he helped the four nobles make peace.
The four nobles were so impressed that they traveled to Pagaruyung and made a request.
Four Nobles: "Great Sultan, please let Maharaja Sakti be our king. He is wise and fair, and he has brought peace to our quarrels."
The Sultan agreed. Maharaja Sakti was crowned in the great hall of Pagaruyung, and the kingdom took a new name: the Kingdom of Bangkahulu.
Chapter 6: The Dream of the Dancing Angel
With hundreds of guards, and with the four nobles by his side, Maharaja Sakti set out for Bangkahulu. A grand coronation was prepared for him there.
But just as the ceremony was about to begin, the sky turned dark. Heavy rain poured down, and strong winds howled. Everyone agreed to wait until the weather cleared. Yet the storm lasted all day and into the evening.
That night, Maharaja Sakti had a strange and wonderful dream. He saw an angel dancing in the middle of the storm. Not a single raindrop touched her! Then the angel floated away toward Humpback Mountain.
The next morning, he told the four nobles about his dream. They called for a wise fortune teller to explain it.
Fortune Teller: "Forgive me, Your Majesty. The angel in your dream was Princess Gading Cempaka, the daughter of the king who ruled this land long ago. She now lives on Humpback Mountain with her brothers."Fortune Teller: "If you bring her back here, your kingdom will grow strong again. I also see that she will one day bring a great change to this land."
Maharaja Sakti's heart was full of hope.
Maharaja Sakti: "Then I shall ask for her hand in marriage. Please go to the mountain and bring her to me."
Chapter 7: The Wedding at the Lemau River
The four nobles and the royal guards climbed Humpback Mountain. There they met King Anak Dalam.
Noble: "Forgive us, Your Majesty. We are messengers of Maharaja Sakti, ruler of Bangkahulu, which was once the Kingdom of the Serut River. He wishes to make Princess Gading Cempaka his queen."
King Anak Dalam remembered his father's wish, and his heart was glad.
King Anak Dalam: "Our father foretold this day. We accept the proposal with joy."
Soon, a grand wedding was held in Bangkahulu. There was music, dancing, and feasting, and it was also the day that Maharaja Sakti was crowned king of the land.
After the wedding, a magnificent new palace was built at Kuala Sungai Lemau, the place where the Lemau River meets the sea. So the kingdom was given a new name: the Kingdom of the Lemau River.
Maharaja Sakti ruled with wisdom and kindness, and Queen Gading Cempaka stood proudly beside him. And they lived happily ever after.
Step into the legend of Princess Gading Cempaka! Journey from the Serut River Kingdom, help the brave soldiers defend their land from the Aceh invasion, and discover the angel in Maharaja Sakti's dream. Play with voice narration in Indonesian or English!
References:
- Prahana, Naim Emel. 1988. Cerita Rakyat Dari Bengkulu 2. Jakarta: Grasindo.
- Agni, Danu. 2013. Cerita Anak Seribu Pulau. Yogyakarta: Buku Pintar.
- Komandoko, Gamal. 2013. Koleksi Terbaik 100 plus Dongeng Rakyat Nusantara. Jakarta: PT Buku Seru.
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