.jpg "Seven-Headed Snake Legend Bengkulu Folktale for Kids")
Chapter 1: The Royal Wedding
Once upon a time, long, long ago, in the land of Bengkulu, there stood a kingdom called Kutei Rukam. A kind and wise king named King Bikau Bermano ruled over it, and he had eight sons.
King Bikau Bermano: "My dear people, today is a very happy day! Let us prepare the grandest wedding this kingdom has ever seen!"
So the palace of Kutei Rukam bustled with excitement. Cooks baked sweet cakes, musicians practised their songs, and colourful flags fluttered in the wind. Everyone worked hard to make the wedding as beautiful as it could be.
Chapter 2: The Vanishing Couple
At last, the wedding day arrived. The ceremony was lovely, and everyone smiled and clapped.
Then came the bathing ceremony, an old and special tradition. Prince Gajah Meram and Princess Jinggai walked together to the Aket bathing place on the shores of Lake Tes. The water sparkled like silver in the sunshine.
But then, something strange happened. The prince and princess vanished. They did not come back, and nobody knew where they had gone!
The king and queen became very worried.
King Bikau Bermano: "Commanders, go at once! Search every corner of the lake. Bring my son and his bride home safely!"Commanders: "Yes, Your Majesty! We will not rest until we find them."
The commanders searched the lake and looked behind every tree and under every rock. But they found no sign of the prince or the princess. With heavy hearts, they returned to the palace.
First Commander: "Forgive us, Your Majesty. We could not find the prince or Princess Jinggai anywhere around Lake Tes."King Bikau Bermano: "What? You did not find them?"Second Commander: "It is true, Your Majesty. We searched all around the lake, but they are gone."
The king gathered everyone who lived in the palace, from the oldest servant to the youngest page.
King Bikau Bermano: "Listen, everyone. Does anyone know where my son and my new daughter-in-law have gone? Please, tell me if you do."
Chapter 3: The Secret of Lake Tes
The great hall fell silent. Nobody dared to speak. Then, slowly, an old man stepped forward. He was a relative of Princess Jinggai, and he had come all the way from Negeri Negeri.
Old Man: "Forgive me, Your Majesty. May I say something?"King Bikau Bermano: "Of course, wise elder. Please speak."Old Man: "I believe the prince and princess were taken by the Snake King who lives deep beneath Lake Tes. He has seven heads, and he is very strong and very cunning. He is also cruel, and he loves to trouble people who bathe in his lake."
The king gasped.
King Bikau Bermano: "Then we must save them right away! We must find a way to defeat this Seven-Headed Snake."
Everyone looked worried. Who could possibly be brave enough? Then a small voice spoke up. It was Gajah Merik, the youngest prince.
Gajah Merik: "Father, please let me go. I will bring my brother and his bride home."
The whole hall gasped. Gajah Merik was only thirteen years old!
King Bikau Bermano: "Oh, my son, you are far too young. I cannot lose another son."Gajah Merik: "Father, please believe me. Since I was ten years old, a kind grandfather has visited me in my dreams almost every night. He has taught me magic. I am ready."
The king looked into his youngest son's brave eyes. He sighed softly and nodded.
King Bikau Bermano: "Very well, my dear Gajah Merik. Tomorrow you may go to Lake Tes. But first, you must meditate at the Topes hermitage and ask for a sacred heirloom to protect you."Gajah Merik: "Thank you, Father. I will do my best."
Chapter 4: The Magic Gifts
The next morning, Gajah Merik set off for the Topes hermitage. It was a quiet place between the capital of Negeri Negeri and a small new village.
There, the little prince sat very still. For seven days and seven nights, he did not eat or drink. He closed his eyes and focused with all his heart.
On the last night, a soft glow filled the air. Two wonderful gifts appeared before him: a magical dagger and a magical shawl.
The dagger could open a path through water, so he could walk through it without getting wet or diving! And the shawl could turn into a shining sword whenever he needed it.
Gajah Merik: "Thank you, thank you! Now I am ready to save my brother."
Carrying his two treasures, the prince began his journey back toward the palace. When he reached Telang Macang village, he saw royal soldiers guarding the border between Kutei Rukam and the Kingdom of Suka Negeri.
"If the soldiers see me, they will stop me," thought Gajah Merik. "I must hurry!"
So he quietly slipped into the Air Ketahun River, holding the magic dagger tightly. To his surprise, the water parted around him like a curtain. He did not feel a single drop!
Chapter 5: Into the Deep Lake
The river carried the prince all the way to Lake Tes. He had planned to go home first, but as he passed the lake, he changed his mind.
Gajah Merik: "Why wait? My brother and his bride need me now. I will find the Snake King today!"
Down, down, down he went, to the very bottom of the lake. Soon he found a great gate in front of a huge cave. Just as he was about to step inside, two enormous snakes slid out and blocked his way.
First Snake: "Hey, you! Who are you? How dare you come in here!"Gajah Merik: "My name is Gajah Merik. I have come to rescue my brother, Gajah Meram."Second Snake: "You cannot come in! Go away!"
But Gajah Merik was not scared. He kept walking forward. The two snakes attacked, and a fierce fight began! The little prince was quick and clever, and at last he defeated them both.
Gajah Merik walked deeper into the cave. At every gate, two giant snakes stood guard. And at every gate, Gajah Merik won the battle.
Chapter 6: The Snake King's Challenge
When Gajah Merik reached the seventh gate, he heard a loud, booming laugh echoing through the cave.
Gajah Merik: "Hey, Snake King! Come out and face me, if you dare! I am Gajah Merik, son of King Bikau Bermano of Kutei Rukam. Let my brother and his bride go, or I will destroy your palace!"
The Snake King felt very angry. He hissed, and a cloud of smoke puffed out of his mouth. The smoke swirled and twisted, and then it turned into a gigantic snake with seven heads!
Snake King: "Ha! You are only a little boy. I will let your brother go, but only if you can do two things. First, you must bring my guard snakes back to life. Second, you must defeat me!"Gajah Merik: "I accept!"
The brave prince remembered the magic his dream grandfather had taught him. One by one, he gently touched the eyes of the fallen snakes and whispered a magic spell. In an instant, all of the snakes opened their eyes and came back to life!
The Snake King's eyes grew wide.
Snake King: "What? How can a little boy have such magic? Very well, now show me your strength. Fight me, if you dare!"Gajah Merik: "I am ready!"
Chapter 7: The Great Battle
Swish! The Snake King swung his powerful tail. But Gajah Merik jumped aside just in time. He was quick, light and clever.
They fought for one day, then two days, then three. Sometimes the Snake King attacked. Sometimes Gajah Merik attacked. Neither of them was winning.
A fourth day passed, then a fifth. Still the battle went on!
On the sixth day, the Snake King began to feel very tired. His heads drooped, and his tail moved slowly.
Snake King: "Huff... puff... Why is this boy still so strong?"
Gajah Merik saw his chance. He pulled out his magic shawl, and with a flash of light, it turned into a shining sword. With all his courage, he pressed forward until the Snake King could not move.
Snake King: "Ouch! That hurts!"
Gajah Merik stepped back carefully, in case the snake tried a trick. But the Snake King lowered all seven heads.
Snake King: "You are truly great, little prince. I give up. You have won."
Gajah Merik smiled. He hurried to a locked room in the palace and opened the door. There sat his brother Gajah Meram and Princess Jinggai, safe and sound!
Gajah Meram: "Gajah Merik! Is it really you?"Princess Jinggai: "Thank you, brave prince! We were so afraid!"Gajah Merik: "You are safe now. Let us go home."
Chapter 8: The Happy Return
Back at the palace, King Bikau Bermano was very worried. Two whole weeks had passed, and Gajah Merik had not come home from the hermitage.
King Bikau Bermano: "Commanders, please go to Topes at once and look for my youngest son."
But before the commanders could leave, a guard from Lake Tes came running into the hall, out of breath.
Guard: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Wonderful news! The prince has returned!"King Bikau Bermano: "Which prince? Tell me quickly!"Guard: "All of them, Your Majesty! Prince Gajah Merik, Prince Gajah Meram, and Princess Jinggai! They rose up from the lake together. Prince Gajah Merik meditated for seven days and nights, then went straight to the Snake King's palace and set them free!"
The king's eyes filled with happy tears. Soon the three of them arrived at the palace, escorted by the lake guards. The king and queen hugged them tightly, and the whole palace cheered.
News of Gajah Merik's courage spread across the land. To celebrate, the king held a grand feast that lasted seven days and seven nights!
Chapter 9: A New King
After the feast, King Bikau Bermano decided it was time to pass on his throne. He offered it to Gajah Meram, his eldest son.
Gajah Meram: "Father, thank you, but I cannot accept. Gajah Merik is the one who saved us. He should be our king."King Bikau Bermano: "What do you say, Gajah Merik?"Gajah Merik: "I will accept, Father, but on one condition. The Snake King and his followers must be allowed to live in peace, and the Snake King must become a leader in our kingdom."
The king thought about this and smiled.
King Bikau Bermano: "That is a very wise and kind wish. I agree."
And so Gajah Merik became the new king of Kutei Rukam, and the Snake King, who had learned his lesson, became a respected head of the kingdom.
About This Legend
The Legend of the Seven-Headed Snake is a folktale from Bengkulu, in the Lebong region. It tells how Gajah Merik, the youngest son of King Bikau Bermano, defeated the Seven-Headed Snake who guards Lake Tes.
The people of Lebong believe that the snake still watches over the lake. His nest is said to lie in Teluk Lem, below Pondok Lucuk. That is why, even today, people who cross Lake Tes by boat are careful to speak politely and never carelessly.
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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