Lembu Suro Legend of Mount Kelud | Folklore | Archipelago Story

Summary

In ancient East Java, King Prabu Brawijaya of Majapahit seeks a suitable husband for his beautiful but reluctant daughter, Diyah Ayu Pusparini. A contest involving powerful heirlooms, Kyai Garudayaksa's bow and Kyai Sekardelima's gong, is set to determine the winner. Despite many attempts, no one succeeds until a mysterious ox-headed man, Lembu Suro, triumphs. The princess, devastated by her fate, requests that Lembu Suro dig a well on Mount Kelud in one night. However, her father's refusal to let him complete it leads to Lembu Suro's curse, and Mount Kelud's eruptions become a symbol of his vengeful oath against the people of Kediri.

Takeaways

• 😀 A king named Prabu Brawijaya ruled Majapahit and had a beautiful daughter, Diyah Ayu Pusparini, who refused to marry any suitor.
• 😀 The king, worried about his daughter's future, decided to hold a contest where the winner could marry the princess.
• 😀 The contest required suitors to stretch Kyai Garudayaksa's powerful bow and lift Kyai Sekardelima's heavy gong.
• 😀 Many men attempted the contest but failed, with some even suffering injuries from the challenges.
• 😀 A mysterious man with an ox's head, Lembu Suro, entered the contest and succeeded in both tasks, winning the right to marry the princess.
• 😀 Despite Lembu Suro's victory, the princess was heartbroken and reluctant to marry him, feeling ashamed of his appearance.
• 😀 The princess, desperate to avoid the marriage, requested that Lembu Suro complete a seemingly impossible task: digging a well on Mount Kelud overnight.
• 😀 Lembu Suro successfully dug the well, but the princess's father, Prabu Brawijaya, ordered the guards to fill it with stones, trapping Lembu Suro in the process.
• 😀 Before his death, Lembu Suro cursed the people of Kediri, prophesying that Kediri would become a river, Blitar would become land, and Tulungagung would become a deep water area.
• 😀 Fearing the curse, the people of Kediri built Mount Pegat as a safety embankment, but the eruptions of Mount Kelud were believed to be Lembu Suro's revenge for the betrayal.

Q & A

Why did Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini refuse to marry despite having many suitors?

Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini refused to marry because she longed for a husband who was both strong and noble, one who was exceptional in every way, including being 'sakti mandraguna' (powerful and magical) and handsome.

What contest did King Prabu Brawijaya organize for the princess's suitors?

King Prabu Brawijaya organized a contest where any suitor who could stretch the Kyai Garudayaksa bow and lift the Kyai Sekardelima gong would be granted the right to marry Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini.

What happened to the suitors who tried the contest before Lembu Suro?

The suitors who attempted the contest were unsuccessful, with some suffering injuries such as broken arms from trying to stretch the bow or strained backs from attempting to lift the heavy gong.

How did Lembu Suro manage to succeed in the contest?

Lembu Suro, with his supernatural strength, easily stretched the Kyai Garudayaksa bow and lifted the Kyai Sekardelima gong, impressing the audience and winning the contest despite his ox-headed appearance.

How did Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini react when Lembu Suro won the contest?

Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini was heartbroken and could not accept marrying Lembu Suro due to his ox-headed appearance. She withdrew from the contest in tears.

What condition did Princess Diyah Ayu Pusparini set for Lembu Suro to fulfill before their marriage?

The princess demanded that Lembu Suro dig a well at the top of Mount Kelud in one night, believing it would be an impossible task.

What happened when Lembu Suro began digging the well?

Lembu Suro dug the well rapidly with his horns, making significant progress despite the princess's growing panic as dawn approached.

How did King Prabu Brawijaya respond when the well was nearly finished?

King Prabu Brawijaya, fearing his daughter would be further disappointed, ordered the guards to fill the well with stones and soil, trapping Lembu Suro inside and preventing him from completing the task.

What was Lembu Suro’s curse upon the people of Kediri?

As he was buried alive, Lembu Suro cursed the land, predicting that Kediri would turn into a river, Blitar would become land, and Tulungagung would be submerged under water as retribution for his unjust treatment.

How did the people of Majapahit attempt to protect themselves from Lembu Suro’s curse?

In an effort to ward off Lembu Suro’s curse, Prabu Brawijaya ordered the creation of a large embankment, known as Mount Pegat, and held offerings in the crater of Mount Kelud to appease the wrath of the spirit.