Asal Usul Kediri | Cerita Rakyat Jawa Timur | Kisah Nusantara

Summary

This ancient Javanese tale centers around the kingdom of Medang Kahuripan, ruled by Prabu Airlangga. When Prabu decides to retire and hand over the throne, his daughter, Putri Dyah Sanggramawijaya, refuses and chooses to become a hermit. As a result, the throne is offered to the sons of a concubine, Raden Jayengrana and Raden Jayawarsa. Prabu struggles to divide the kingdom fairly between them, until a wise sage, Mpu Bharada, magically creates the Brantas River to divide the land. The kingdom is split into two parts: Jenggala and Pandjalu, which later evolves into Kediri, while Prabu Airlangga peacefully retreats into seclusion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prabu Airlangga was a wise king who ruled over the large kingdom of Medang Kahuripan in East Java.
• 😀 Princess Dyah Sanggramawijaya, the only daughter of Prabu Airlangga, chose to live as a hermit rather than succeed her father to the throne.
• 😀 Despite his daughter’s refusal to take the throne, Prabu Airlangga respected her decision and supported her spiritual journey.
• 😀 The king’s challenge arose when he had to find a successor from his sons, Raden Jayengrana and Raden Jayawarsa, which could lead to conflict.
• 😀 Prabu Airlangga sought the help of Mpu Bharada, a renowned sage known for his wisdom and spiritual power, to solve the succession issue.
• 😀 Mpu Bharada traveled to Bali to check the status of the throne there, only to find it had been given to Prabu Airlangga's younger brother, Marakata.
• 😀 To divide the kingdom fairly, Mpu Bharada used his magical powers to create the Brantas River, which became the boundary between the two parts of the kingdom.
• 😀 Raden Jayengrana was given the eastern part of the kingdom, which was named Jenggala, while Raden Jayawarsa received the western part, called Pandjalu.
• 😀 With the kingdom successfully divided, Prabu Airlangga retired peacefully to meditate and took the name Maharesi Gentayu.
• 😀 The division of the kingdom eventually led to the rise of the Kadiri Kingdom, which later became known as Kediri, marking the lasting legacy of Prabu Airlangga.

Q & A

Why did King Airlangga decide to abdicate the throne?

King Airlangga decided to abdicate the throne as he entered his old age and wished to become a hermit, focusing on spiritual contemplation rather than ruling the kingdom.

What was Princess Dyah Sanggramawijaya's response to her father's decision to pass the throne to her?

Princess Dyah Sanggramawijaya refused to take the throne, expressing her desire to become a hermit instead of ruling the kingdom, despite being the rightful heir.

Why did King Airlangga hesitate to pass the throne to his two sons, Jayengrana and Jayawarsa?

King Airlangga hesitated to pass the throne to his two sons because he feared that doing so could lead to rivalry, jealousy, and potentially a war between them.

How did Mpu Bharada help resolve the conflict between Jayengrana and Jayawarsa?

Mpu Bharada resolved the conflict by dividing the kingdom into two equal parts using magical powers. He created the Brantas River as a natural boundary between the two regions, ensuring both sons would rule separate territories.

What role did Mpu Bharada play in the story?

Mpu Bharada was a wise and powerful hermit who used his magical abilities to create a river that separated the kingdom into two parts, allowing for a peaceful division of the land between the two sons.

What were the names of the two kingdoms created after the division of Medang Kahuripan?

The two kingdoms created after the division of Medang Kahuripan were Jenggala, which went to Jayengrana, and Pandjalu, which went to Jayawarsa.

What is the historical significance of the kingdom of Jenggala?

Jenggala eventually became the kingdom of Kediri, an important historical region in East Java, known for its influence during the 12th century.

How did Mpu Bharada perform the act of dividing the kingdom?

Mpu Bharada performed the act by collecting water from seven sacred springs and pouring it from a magical pot. The water transformed into the Brantas River, which naturally divided the kingdom into two equal parts.

What was the significance of the Brantas River in the story?

The Brantas River served as the mystical boundary that separated the two newly created kingdoms, Jenggala and Pandjalu, ensuring that both sons would have their own territories to rule.

What did King Airlangga do after the kingdom was divided?

After the kingdom was divided, King Airlangga peacefully retired to a life of meditation and spiritual contemplation, taking on the name Maharesi Gentayu as he went to a hermitage in Pucangan.