The Legend of Rawa Pening

Once upon a time, in the valley between Mount Merbabu and Telomoyo there was a village called
Ngasem. In the village there lived a couple of husband and wive called Ki Hajar and Nyai Selakanta. One
day Nyai Selakanta was sad because their marriage had not been granted a child. Finally, Ki Hajar decided
to meditate in the cave. He prayed to Gods to grant him a child.

After a long time, Nyai Selakanta finally became pregnant and gave birth to a child. It turned out that the
child was a dragon who could talk. She named him, Baru Klinthing. Every day, Baru Klinthing grew bigger
and stronger. He always asked to her mother about his father. One day, Nyai Selakanta told Baru
Klinthing to meet his father, Ki Hajar, in the cave where he meditated. Baru Klinthing explained to Ki
Hajar that he was his son. Ki Hajar suggested that if Baru Klinthing wanted to be human, he should
meditate at Bukit Tugur.

As what his father commanded, Baru Klinthing went to Bukit Tugur and meditated. Years passed, yet he
was still in a form of a dragon. One day, the people of Pathok Village saw Baru Klinthing and decided to
caputre him. The villagers intended to cut him into pieces and cooked him as a feast meal. Apparently
Baru Klinthing transformed into a human being. Baru Klinthing who felt hungry, went to the village to ask
some food to the people of Pathok Village who were partying. But nobody paid attention. In return, Baru
Klinthing stuck a stick to the ground and challenged the villagers to pull it out. None of the villagers could
pull out the stick. With his supernatural powers, Baru Klinthing pulled out the stick. From the hole that
was made by the stick, there it burst out the water which then drowned the entire village so that formed
a lake named Rawa Pening.

Arti/Terjemahan:

Legenda Rawa Pening

Dahulu kala, di lembah antara Gunung Merbabu dan Telomoyo ada sebuah desa bernama Ngasem. Di
desa tersebut tinggal pasangan suami dan istri bernama Ki Hajar dan Nyai Selakanta. Suatu hari Nyai
Selakanta merasa sedih karena pernikahan mereka belum diberikan anak. Akhirnya, Ki Hajar
memutuskan untuk bermeditasi di dalam gua. Dia berdoa kepada Tuhan untuk memberinya anak.
Setelah sekian lama, Nyai Selakanta akhirnya hamil dan melahirkan anak. Ternyata anak itu naga yang
bisa bicara. Dia menamainya, Baru Klinthing. Setiap hari, Baru Klinthing tumbuh lebih besar dan lebih
kuat. Dia selalu bertanya kepada ibunya tentang ayahnya. Suatu hari, Nyai Selakanta menyuruh Baru
Klinthing menemui ayahnya, Ki Hajar, di gua tempat dia bermeditasi. Baru Klinthing menjelaskan kepada
Ki Hajar bahwa dia adalah anaknya. Ki Hajar menyarankan agar jika Klinthing ingin menjadi manusia, ia
harus bermeditasi di Bukit Tugur.

Seperti yang ayahnya perintahkan, Baru Klinthing pergi ke Bukit Tugur dan bermeditasi. Tahun-tahun
berlalu, namun ia masih dalam bentuk naga. Suatu hari, orang-orang Desa Pathok melihat Baru Klinthing
dan memutuskan untuk menangkapnya. Penduduk desa bermaksud memotong-motongnya dan
memasaknya sebagai santapan. Rupanya Baru Klinthing berubah menjadi manusia. Baru Klinthing yang
merasa lapar, pergi ke desa untuk meminta makanan kepada masyarakat Desa Pathok yang sedang
berpesta. Tapi tidak ada yang memperhatikannya. Sebagai gantinya, Baru Klinthing menancapkan lidi ke
tanah dan menantang penduduk desa untuk menariknya keluar. Tak satu pun dari penduduk desa bisa
menarik lidi tersebut. Dengan kekuatan supranaturalnya, Baru Klinthing mencabut lidi tersebut. Dari
lubang yang dibuat oleh lidi tersebut, di sana ia mengeluarkan air yang kemudian menenggelamkan
seluruh desa sehingga membentuk danau bernama Rawa Pening.