Sri Tanjung, also known as the tale of Banyuwangi ( Javanese for "fragrant water"), is a Javanese folktale about a faithful wife who was wrongfully accused. The story has been popular since the era of the

Majapahit Majapahit (; (eastern and central dialect) or (western dialect)), also known as Wilwatikta (; ), was a Javanese people, Javanese Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia based on the island o ...

kingdom. The story is usually performed as ''

kidung Kidung is a form of Old Javanese poetry. They differ from kakawin in that they use Javanese poetry, Javanese meters instead of imported Sanskrit ones, and mostly appeared later. The subject matter is based on historical events. Like kakawin, they l ...

'', a poem sung or chanted in Javanese '' tembang''. The Kidung Sri Tanjung are performed in the traditional Javanese ', an exorcism ceremony. The name Sri Tanjung is linked to the Tanjung flower (''Mimusops elengi''), a flower with a sweet fragrance.

Origin

Like many other Indonesian folk stories, the author of this tale is unknown; however, it is suggested that the story originated from Banyuwangi,

East Java East Java (, , ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost third of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean border its northern ...

since it is connected to the legend about the origin of the name "Banyuwangi." The story originated from the early

period around the 13th century. The story of Sri Tanjung can be found on the bas-reliefs of the temples at Penataran, Bajang Ratu, Candi Surawana, and Jabung.

Summary

Once upon a time, there was a handsome and powerful

Kshatriya Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

(knight) named Raden Sidapaksa, a descendant of the

Pandava The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, aɳɖɐʋᵊ IAST: Pāṇḍava) is a group name referring to the five legendary brothers, Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who are central figures of the Hindu epic ''Mahabhara ...

s. The knight served under King Sulakrama, the ruler of Sindurejo kingdom. Sidapaksa was sent to search for medicine for the king's grandfather, the hermit Bhagawan Tamba Petra who lived secluded in his hermitage on the mountains. Here Sidapaksa met Sri Tanjung, a girl of extraordinary beauty. Sri Tanjung was not an ordinary girl, since her mother was a vidhyadari (

apsara Apsaras (, , Khmer language, Khmer: អប្សរា are a class of celestial beings in Hinduism, Hindu and Culture of Buddhism, Buddhist culture. They were originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, but, later play ...

) who descended to earth and married a mortal man. Raden Sidapaksa fell in love and asked Sri Tanjung for her hand in marriage. The happy couple went home, back to the kingdom of Sindurejo to settle down. King Sulakrama secretly fell in love, smitten and infatuated by the beauty of Sri Tanjung. The king desired Sri Tanjung for himself and set an evil plot to separate the newlywed couple. King Sulakrama ordered Sidapaksa to go to

Svarga Svarga (, ), also known as Swarga, Indraloka and Svargaloka, is the celestial abode of the devas in Hinduism. Svarga is one of the seven higher lokas ( esoteric planes) in Hindu cosmology. Svarga is often translated as heaven, though it is reg ...

loka to send a message to the gods. He is ordered to hand the gods a letter written: ''"The bearer of this letter will attack the Svargaloka"''. Sri Tanjung lent her magic sash to her husband, a family heirloom received from her father Raden Sudamala. The magic sash was an enchanted garment belonging to her mother, the apsara, enabling her to travel from earth to heaven. Sidapaksa arrived at Svargaloka, not knowing about the message in the unopened letter, and handed the letter to the gods. Of course, the gods were furious and attacked the unsuspecting Sidapaksa. Sidapaksa pleaded for an explanation and explained himself as a descendant of Pandava. The gods learned about the misunderstanding and freed Sidapaksa. As compensation for their mistake, the gods bestowed on Sidapaksa the blessing of a magic weapon. Meanwhile, on Earth after Sidapaksa left for heaven, King Sulakrama made an advance on Sri Tanjung and tried to seduce her. Sri Tanjung refused the king's advances and tried to escape. However, the king chased and forced Sri Tanjung, holding her against her will and trying to rape her. Sidapaksa came home in time to find his wife held in the king's arms. The evil king told a lie, accusing Sri Tanjung of being a lustful unfaithful woman who tried to seduce him. Sidapaksa fell for the king's lies and in jealousy tried to kill her. Sri Tanjung cried and swore her innocence, pleading for her husband to believe in her. In desperation she swore, with god as her witness, that if she was truly innocent, her body would not spill blood, but instead fragrant liquid. Blinded by anger and jealousy, Sidapaksa fiercely stabbed Sri Tanjung with a

kris The kris or is a Javanese culture, Javanese asymmetrical dagger with a distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron (''pamor''). The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although ma ...

. Sri Tanjung fell and died, but a miracle happened: just like her words, her spilled blood was a sweet fragrance

perfume Perfume (, ) is a mixture of fragrance, fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), Fixative (perfumery), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agre ...

, a testament to her innocence. Raden Sidapaksa realized his terrible mistake and fell into regret and despair. Meanwhile, the spirit of Sri Tanjung ascended to heaven and met the goddess

Durga Durga (, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic ...

. After learning about the injustice done to Sri Tanjung, the great goddess revived Sri Tanjung and reunited her with her husband. The gods ordered Sidapaksa to take revenge and punish the evil deed of King Sulakrama. Sidapaksa succeeded in defeating and killing King Sulakrama in a battle. It was said that the fragrant water, the perfumed blood of Sri Tanjung, became the origin of the name Banyuwangi or "fragrant water", the capital of the Blambangan kingdom.

References

;Sources * Prijono, 1938 ''Kidung Sri Tanjung''. ;Notes {{reflist Javanese folklore Majapahit Banyuwangi (town)

Origin

Summary

See also

References