RORO JONGGRANG, THE COMPLEMENTARY OF

PRAMBANAN TEMPLE
Once upon a time, there were two Hindu Kingdoms, Pengging Kingdom
and Kraton Boko. Pengging Kingdom was a prosperous and wealthy kingdom,
that was led by a king named Prabu Damar Moyo. He had a son, named Bandung
Bondowoso. Meanwhile, Kraton Boko was led by a cruel and irritable king,
named Prabu Boko. However, Prabu Boko had a very beautiful daughter called
Roro Jonggrang.
One day in Kraton Boko
Prabu Boko : “Patih Gupolo! I want to revolt and have control over
Pengging Kingdom! I want to be the strongest king in this land! HUAHAHAHA!”
Patih Gupolo : “Of course, Your Majesty. I will execute your command.”
Then, the war between Pengging Kingdom and Kraton Boko happened!
But in the end, Prabu Boko died in that war.
Knowing his king had died, Patih Gupolo ran away from the battle. By
then, Bandung Bondowoso and his soldiers chased Patih Gupolo to Kraton Boko.
After Patih Gupolo arrived in Kraton Boko, he reported to Roro Jonggrang that
her father was killed by the Pengging knight which was Bandung Bondowoso.
Roro Jonggrang : “Oh.. my dear father.. why do you leave me alone here…?”
(crying)
Patih Gupolo : “My Princess. I have to go. Look! It’s Bandung Bondowoso and
his soldiers. I have to go!”
Roro Jonggrang : “Okay uncle. Run away! Run away!”
Bandung Bondowoso and his soldiers saw Roro Jonggrang and stopped.
Bandung Bondowoso : “Hey, beautiful lady, who are you?”
Roro Jonggrang : “I’m Roro Jonggrang, the daughter of Prabu Boko. Is that you
who have killed my father?”
Bandung Bondowoso : “I’m so sorry, Roro Jonggrang. I didn’t mean to. But,
your father attacked my kingdom first.”
Roro Jonggrang can say nothing. But then, Bandung Bondowoso said something
unexpected…
Bandung Bondowoso : “Roro Jonggrang, would you be my queen, please?”
Roro Jonggrang was so shocked! She wanted to refuse, but she was afraid
that Bandung Bondowoso would be angry. But then, she had a strategy…
Roro Jonggrang : “If you want to marry me, you must build a thousand temple
for me just in one night. Would you able to do that for me?
Bandung Bondowoso : “What?! A thousand temple just in one night? Hm… I
will do anything for you, my dear. ”
After the deal, Bandung Bondowoso called his unseen soldiers at night…
Bandung Bondowoso : “Come to me, my Jinn army… come to me, please…. I
need your help… come…”
The Jinn army appeared, and bowed down to Bandung Bondowoso.
Jinn Army : “What can we do for you, Lord?”
Bandung Bondowoso : “Please, build me a thousand temple just in one night.”
Jinn Army : “Oh, that’s easy, My Lord. We’ll do it right away!”
Then, the Jinn army worked in an unbelievable speed! From one temple, to
five temples, to twenty, and there were so many temples built! This made Roro
Jonggrang very worried. But then, she had an idea. She called all her servants to
help her…
Roro Jonggrang : “My servants, help me! Please prepare a lot of rice straw and
burn it. A-and.. make some noises with pestles and mortars. Now! Quickly!
Quickly!”
The idea makes the dark night seemed to be bright and the sun was going to rise
in the east.
Jinn Army : “Oh, look! The sun is rising! We have to go! C’mon!”
The Jinn army left the site because they thought morning had came.
Bandung Bondowoso was very upset! Then he realized that Roro Jonggrang
tricked him.
Bandung Bondowoso : “Roro Jonggrang! I have built 999 temples! I just need
one more temple! Now… the thousandth temple will be you!”
Bandung Bondowoso cursed Roro Jonggrang, and she turned into a statue.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Now, we can see the statue of Roro Jonggrang in Prambanan temple. The moral
value that we can take from this story is, don’t be arrogant even though we are
strong and smart. Because there will be other people who may be stronger and
smarter than we are.