[CERITA RAKYAT ACEH] "GAJAH PUTEH"

Summary

In this video, the story of 'Gajah Putih' from Aceh is told. It follows the tale of a young man named Senggeda, who is loved by the people and the son of Raja Linggi. His brother, Bener Meriah, escapes to the forest after being falsely accused of plotting against the king. There, he transforms into a white elephant, seeking acceptance. Senggeda, guided by a dream and his mentor's teachings, tames the white elephant and reveals its true identity. The story concludes with the white elephant being taken to Aceh, symbolizing honor and family loyalty, represented by the Rencong, worn at weddings in Aceh.

Takeaways

• 😀 A young, noble man named Senggeda, loved by the people, is the main character of the story from Aceh.
• 😀 Senggeda's older brother, Bener Meriah, was falsely accused of plotting against the king and fled to the forest.
• 😀 In the forest, Bener Meriah transformed into a White Elephant through intense meditation to regain his family's approval.
• 😀 Senggeda had a dream where a White Elephant rampaged through the kingdom, which he believed was his brother in elephant form.
• 😀 In the dream, Senggeda's teacher showed him how to tame the elephant without harming it, which would later guide him in real life.
• 😀 The White Elephant created chaos in the kingdom, and the king ordered warriors to bring in powerful sorcerers to tame it, but they failed.
• 😀 Senggeda, determined to help, asks his father for permission to tame the White Elephant, believing it to be his brother.
• 😀 He is allowed to proceed and, with the help of his teacher, uses music and rhythmic movements to calm the elephant.
• 😀 The White Elephant, following Senggeda's movements, eventually walks toward the palace, symbolizing reconciliation and family reunion.
• 😀 The White Elephant is eventually handed over to the Sultan of Aceh, representing a victory of honor, transformation, and unity.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story?

The main character in the story is a young man named Senggeda, who is the son of Raja Linggi.

What tragedy happened to Senggeda's older brother, Bener Meriah?

Bener Meriah was falsely accused of plotting against the king, which led him to flee into the forest and eventually transform into a white elephant.

Why did Bener Meriah turn into a white elephant?

Bener Meriah transformed into a white elephant as a way to seek acceptance back into his family after being wrongfully accused.

How did Senggeda discover that the white elephant was his brother?

Senggeda had a dream in which a white elephant wreaked havoc on the kingdom, and he met his teacher in the dream, who guided him on how to tame the elephant. He believed the elephant was his brother, Bener Meriah.

What role did Senggeda’s teacher play in the story?

Senggeda’s teacher taught him how to tame the white elephant without harming it, which involved a series of movements that resembled a dance.

What was the name of the dance that Senggeda performed to tame the elephant?

The dance performed by Senggeda to tame the elephant was called 'Tariguel.'

How did the people of the kingdom react to the white elephant's arrival?

The people of the kingdom threw stones and shouted at the white elephant, creating chaos as it entered the gates of the kingdom and moved toward the town square.

What did Senggeda do to calm the white elephant?

Senggeda, with his teacher's guidance, performed a dance and played music, urging the people to make rhythmic sounds with instruments like drums, rebana, and gong, which eventually calmed the white elephant.

What was the significance of the white elephant to the royal family?

The white elephant was revealed to be Bener Meriah, and its return to the royal family marked a poignant reunion. It symbolized redemption, and its powers became well-known, even reaching the Sultan of Aceh.

What does the rencong, worn by the groom during a wedding, symbolize in the story?

The rencong symbolizes the preservation of family honor and is a tribute to Bener Meriah's commitment to protecting his family’s dignity, as depicted in his story.