The Story of Sangkuriang: A Tragic Tale of Forbidden Love
The story of Sangkuriang is a popular legend from the Sundanese people of West Java, Indonesia. It tells the tale of a young man named Sangkuriang who falls in love with his own mother, Dayang Sumbi. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of forbidden love and the importance of respecting one’s parents.
The Beginning
In the beginning, there was a beautiful princess named Dayang Sumbi who lived in a kingdom in West Java. She was a skilled weaver and was known for her beautiful cloth. One day, she was weaving when she accidentally pricked her finger and a drop of blood fell onto the cloth. She quickly tried to wipe it away, but it was too late. The blood had already left a mark on the cloth.
Dayang Sumbi was ashamed of the mark and decided to run away from home. She wandered into the forest and came across a hunter named Tumang. Tumang was a kind and gentle man, and he agreed to let Dayang Sumbi stay with him.
Over time, Dayang Sumbi and Tumang fell in love and had a son named Sangkuriang. Sangkuriang was a strong and handsome young man, and he was very skilled at hunting. He loved his mother very much and would often go hunting with her.
The Forbidden Love
One day, Sangkuriang was out hunting when he came across a beautiful woman. He was immediately smitten with her and asked her to marry him. The woman agreed, but only if Sangkuriang could finish building a dam across the Citarum River by the next morning.
Sangkuriang worked tirelessly all night, and by the morning, he had almost finished the dam. However, just as he was about to put the finishing touches on it, he heard a rooster crow. He thought it was morning, but it was actually just Dayang Sumbi tricking him.
Sangkuriang was furious that he had been tricked, and he destroyed the dam. He then chased after the woman, who turned out to be his own mother.
The Curse
Dayang Sumbi realized that she had made a terrible mistake, and she begged for Sangkuriang’s forgiveness. However, Sangkuriang was too angry to forgive her. He cursed her, saying that she would become a mountain and that he would become a lake.
Sangkuriang then began to build a boat to sail across the lake. Dayang Sumbi knew that she had to stop him, so she turned herself into a needle. Sangkuriang was about to sail away when he saw the needle floating on the lake. He thought it was a bird, so he threw his paddle at it. The paddle hit the needle, and it broke.
Sangkuriang was heartbroken. He realized that he could never marry his mother, and he threw himself into the lake. The lake then erupted in a fiery explosion, and a mountain was formed in its place. The mountain is now known as Tangkuban Perahu, or "Upturned Boat."
The End
The story of Sangkuriang is a cautionary tale about the dangers of forbidden love. It also teaches the importance of respecting one’s parents. The story is still told today in West Java, and it is a popular tourist attraction.
Variations of the Story
There are many variations of the story of Sangkuriang. In some versions, Sangkuriang is a god who is banished from heaven for his arrogance. He then comes to Earth and falls in love with his own mother.
In other versions, Sangkuriang is a mortal man who is cursed by a witch. The witch tells him that he can only marry the woman he loves if he can build a dam across the Citarum River by the next morning. If he fails, he will be turned into a dog.
Despite the variations, the basic story of Sangkuriang remains the same. It is a tale of forbidden love, tragedy, and redemption.
