Indonesian Folklore "Jaka Tarub"

 

Jaka Tarub

 

Once upon a time, in a village, there lived a widow named Mbok Randa. She lives alone because her husband has long passed away. One day, he raised a boy to be his son. His adopted son was named Jaka Tarub. Jaka Tarub also grew up.

Jaka Tarub became a very handsome, dashing, and kind-hearted young man. He also has magic. Every day, he always helps his mother in the fields. Because he has a very handsome face, many beautiful girls want to be his wife. However, he doesn't want to get married yet.

Every day his mother told Jaka Tarub to get married. However, he again refused his mother's request. One day Mbok Randa fell ill and breathed his last. Jaka Tarub was very sad.

Since the death of Mbok Randha, Jaka Tarub often daydreams. Now the fields are abandoned.

Examples of Legendary Folklore from Central Java The Story of Jaka Tarub

"I work in vain. Who is the result for?” so muttered Jaka Tarub.

One night, Jaka Tarub dreamed of eating deer meat. When he woke up from his sleep, he immediately went to the forest. From morning until noon he walked. However, he did not find the deer. Let alone deer, mouse deer are not there.

One time, he passed the lake and accidentally he saw the angels were bathing there. In the lake, seven beautiful women were seen playing in the water, joking, having fun. Jaka Tarub was very surprised to see their beauty.

Because Jaka Tarub felt captivated by the seven nymphs, he finally took one of his shawls. After that the angels finished bathing, they also dressed up and got ready to return to heaven.

They returned to their respective shawls. But one of the nymphs did not find her scarf. His six older brothers helped to find him, but until dusk, they were nowhere to be found. Because it was getting late, Nawangwulan was left alone. His brothers returned to Khayangan. He felt very sad.

Not long after, Jaka Tarub came over and pretended to help the Angel. He invited the angel who turned out to be named Nawang Wulan to return to his house. The presence of Nawang Wulan made Jaka Tarub excited again.

Long story short, they finally got married. Both live happily. they also have a beautiful daughter named Nawangsih. Before they got married, Nawang Wulan reminded Jaka Tarub not to ask about his habits after he became a wife.

Nawang Wulan's secret is that he always cooks rice using one grain of rice, with that grain of rice he can produce a lot of rice. After they got married Jaka Tarub was very curious. However, he did not ask Nawang Wulan directly, but instead, he immediately opened it and saw the pot that his wife likes to make rice. He saw a sprig of rice still lying in it, he immediately closed it again. Due to Jaka Tarub's curiosity. Nawang Wulan lost her strength. From then on, Nawang Wulan had to pound and winnow rice to cook, like women in general.

Because the pile of rice continues to decrease, one time, Nawangwulan accidentally found her angel's scarf tucked between the piles of rice. it turned out that the shawl was in the grain barn which was hidden by her husband.

Nawang Wulan also felt very angry when it was her husband who stole her scarf. Finally, he decided to go to heaven. Jaka Tarub also apologized and begged his wife not to go to heaven again, but Nawangwulan was determined until finally, he went to heaven. But she still occasionally comes down to earth to breastfeed her baby. However, on one condition, Jaka Tarub cannot be with Nawangsih when Nawang Wulan meets him. Leave him alone near the lake.

Jaka Tarub held back his sadness very much. He wanted to look tough. After Jaka Tarub declared his ability not to meet Nawangwulan again, the angel flew away from him and Nawangsih. Jaka Tarub could only stare at Nawangwulan's departure while holding Nawangsih. It's an unforgivable mistake. There is nothing else he can do at this time other than taking good care of Nawangsih.

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