It is said that King Airlangga was overwhelmed by Calonarang, who was very sadistic about the people of Kediri. Calonarang is believed to be a figure who actually existed (a fact) at that time. The lontar manuscript containing the Calonarang story is written in ancient Balinese script, but in Kawi or Old Javanese language (the original manuscript is stored in the Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal - Land - en Volkenkunde van Ned. Indies Library Library in Leiden, the Netherlands).
These manuscripts have different year numbers, the oldest manuscript dated to 1462 Saka (1540 AD). Prof. Poerbatjaraka had published a manuscript of Calonarang in Dutch, namely De Calon Arang. The Dutch manuscript was translated by Dr. Soewito Santoso in 1975 with the title Calon Arang, The Widow from Girah. Here is the story!
In an area that is now called Hamlet of Need, Sukorejo Village, Kediri Regency, there lived a powerful woman who possessed the science of leak (black magic). The woman is Calonarang. She has a black magic school and only has female students. There are four senior female students in the Calonarang black magic school, namely Nyi Larung, Nyi Lenda, Nyi Lendi, and Nyi Sedaksa.
Calonarang is a widow who is famous for being cruel and evil. She has a beautiful daughter. Her daughter is Diah Ratna Mengali. The child was never married by a man. This is because the mother can leak, of course her daughter can also have leak knowledge. The youths of her time did not dare to propose to Diah Ratna Mengali, they were afraid of the black magic possessed by Calonarang and her daughter. The news finally reached to Calonarang. The news was conveyed by her subordinate named Nyi Larung, so Calonarang became furious and did not accept that Diah Ratna Mengali would eventually become an old maid.
The news, of course, came from the people of Kediri. Calonarang did not accept the accusation that her daughter could leak. Calonarang was actually an ordinary human who wanted her daughter to marry and give her grandchildren. However, the onslaught of slander received caused Calonarang to be angry and wanted to retaliate against the people of Kediri.
“My students, the onslaught of slander I received has made me angry. I will give a lesson in the form of punishment for the people of Kediri!” said Calonarang.
"What are we going to do to help you, Mother?" asked one of the Calonarang students.
"On a night that I will determine, namely the night of Kajeng Kliwon, you must prepare in the coastal villages of Kediri. You have to turn yourself into a leak, to destroy the people of Kediri!” said Calonarang ordered with wide eyes and scary.
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"We are ready, we will attack all the people of Kediri who insulted Calonarang's mother!" said the Calonarang students in unison.
Calonarang smiled with satisfaction, she couldn't wait to take revenge against the people of Kediri who had tarnished her name. Calonarang began to prepare herself to conjure up the people of Kediri with all her strength.
The day before the Calonarang attack, the Kediri area still seemed safe, calm, and peaceful. The residents are still active as usual. They make a living by farming, fishing and trading. The children still look cheerful playing in their yard. The mothers are cool looking for lice in their hair and occasionally chatting with their group. In their spare time, the men stroke the fighting cock and feed the rooster.
When night falls, the atmosphere becomes different. The night is called Kajeng Kliwon. Trusted by locals, it is forbidden for people to go home in the middle of the night. That night was a sacred night with a tense atmosphere. At that time, Calonarang and her students had turned into leaks, ready to attack the people of Kediri.
Due to the black magic aura that had invaded and reached the villages, the nighttime weather instantly became hot and stifling. They sleep restlessly. Children and babies also experience the same thing. The babies in the village began to cry uncomfortably. The animals also signaled the emergence of something unusual. The geckos shouted, the crows began to sound, many frogs jumped and made noises even though it was not the rainy season. Sensing the oddity, people began to fear. Most of them did not dare to look outside the house. If they looked outside the house, a terrible sight would appear outside. The sky seemed to be turning red, there were hurricanes, hot weather, and noisy animals. This fear makes those who dare to peek outside experience extreme pain or fear.
The next day, many residents were in an uproar with the sudden death. Before they die suddenly, they experience vomiting and diarrhea for no known reason. Many bodies were buried in the setra (cemetery). However, the people who participated in burying the bodies eventually became sick and died. The burying of corpses has happened in the coastal village of Kediri, as if the plague of death was close to them. Among the residents also complained to balian (shaman) to expel black magic. However, the balian who participated in expelling the black magic could not do much. After they performed the ritual of exorcism of black magic, the balian experienced diarrhea and died. This situation has made the community restless and finally the news reached King Airlangga.
The village officers or village administrators and the penglisir or traditional elders went to King Airlangga about the disease or gerubuk disaster that hit most of the coastal communities of Kediri. Finally, King Airlangga ordered his troops to attack Calonarang. The army sent by King Airlangga was too easy for Calonarang. Calonarang was able to defeat King Airlangga's army in a short time, and added to the anger of Calonarang herself.
Calonarang is a devotee of Durga and a follower of Bhairawa Pengiwa. She is able to perform rituals on Durga to cause a catastrophic plague that ends in death throughout the region.
King Airlangga was overwhelmed by the onslaught of Calonarang. He pondered for a moment to find a way out to face Calonarang. Finally, King Airlangga met his very powerful advisor, he was named Mpu Baradah.
"My advisor Mpu Baradah, I am very disturbed by the Calonarang attack. My people have become plagued with disease and death. What should I do?" asked King Airlangga with a sad face.
"Your Majesty King Airlangga, Calonarang is a woman who is cunning and cruel. If Your Majesty muster strength by sending all the troops, it will not be able to defeat Calonarang. The power of Calonarang's black magic is at a high level. If I wish, I would suggest a political marriage between someone in the Kediri area and Calonarang's daughter, Diah Ratna Mengali.
"What's your plan, Mpu Baradah?" asked King Airlangga again.
The intelligent Mpu Baradah replied with a smile to King Airlangga "I will marry my student, namely Mpu Bahula, to marry her daughter Calonarang. This marriage aims to undermine the weakness of Calonarang itself. Mpu Baradah will learn about her mother-in-law's weakness from her own child."
"If it can help, I agree with your suggestion Mpu Baradah," explained Raja Airlangga.
Finally, Mpu Bahula's entourage arrived in front of Calonarang. The candidate accepted the application. She was quite happy because her daughter had been proposed by a man. Mpu bahula finally married Ratna Mengali and lived in Calonarang's house.
After some time, Mpu Bahula stayed at Calonarang's place. He received information that Calonarang reads a book every day and performs haunted rituals. Mpu Bahula secretly stole a book that was read by his mother-in-law. The book was brought by Mpu Bahula to his teacher, Mpu Baradah. Incidentally, Mpu Baradah had been in Girah to heal people affected by witchcraft. Mpu Baradah carefully examined the book. After reaching the conclusion, Mpu Baradah ordered Mpu Bahula to immediately return the book to its original place, so that Calonarang would not realize that her book had been stolen.
Mpu Baradah was finally able to come face to face with Calonarang. With his diplomatic skills, Mpu Baradah reminded Calonarang to stop her magic against the people of Kediri. With the diplomatic power of Mpu Baradah, Calonarang had realized her mistake.
"Mpu Baradah, I want to be ruwatan (treated) to forgive my sins. If you can take care to erase my sins, I will fulfill your wish, which is to stop the magic that I do," explained Calonarang.
"Calonarang, I'm sorry I can't take care of you. This is caused by your many sins,” explained Mpu Baradah.
After hearing Mpu Baradah's explanation, Calonarang became angry. The battle finally took place between Mpu Baradah and Calonarang. Calonarang finally spit fire out of her eyes to kill Mpu Baradah. However, Mpu Baradah is more powerful than Calonarang. The fierce battle was finally able to kill Calonarang standing up.
Given that Calonarang had repented and wanted to do ruwatan (tretaed to forgive her sins), Mpu Baradah was finally able to revive Calonarang. After learning the teachings of the truth to achieve moksha, Calonarang finally died forever.
Calonarang is a very legendary story for the people of Bali and the Kediri area. Calonarang is a powerful woman who has the science of leak (black magic). The woman is thought to have lived during the time of King Airlangga (1006-1042). Airlangga himself is a king who has a father named Udayana and a mother who comes from Bali (Princess Mahendradata) and reigns in the Daha Kingdom, Kediri.
Such is the story of Calonarang, a folk tale from Bali. Hopefully this story can be learned from. Folklore is not a historical event that we 100% fully believe in. Folklore only gives us good messages to be learned from. Thank you for visiting !
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