The Legend of Banyuwangi

A long time ago, Banyuwangi is known as Blambangan. It’s kingdom has a wise king who
has a handsome and smart son named Raden Banterang. Raden prefers hunting that he often went
to forest around Blambangan to hunt for animals.
One day, when Raden was in a forest he spotted a dear. He chased it and the deer ran
deeper into the forest. His horse was so good and strong that he left his guards behind.
Unfortunately, he lost the deer. As he took the rest under the big Banyan tree suddenly a beautiful
girl appeared in front of him. She was all alone in the forest.
He suspected that the girl may not be a human after all. So he asked her, “Excuse me, lovely
lady, do you lived around here?” “No, I don’t. I’m from Klungkung, Bali. My name is Surati. I’m a
princess, the daughter of the king of Klungkung. The rebels killed my father but I managed to
escape. My guards took me here but I got lost. Now I’m alone. I don’t know where to go. I have no
relatives here. Please help me,” Surati begged.
“You come to the right person. I’m Prince Banterang from the kingdom of Blambangan. I am
going to protect you. Please come with me,” said the prince.
Then, Raden took Surati home. He fell in love with her and then several months later he
married her. One day when Surati was in the street he met a man. The man called her.
“Surati, Surati”
She was surprised to see her brother Rupaksa. His brother revealed that it was Raden
Banterang who killed their farher. He came to Blambangan to take revenge. At this time, he asked
Surati to join him. Surati refused to join.
Raden Banterang is now my husband. He’s very kind to me. He never hurts me. He’s
protecting me. As a good wife, I will never betray him. It is my duty to serve him,” Surati pleaded.
“But he killed our father”, Rupaksa
“It is hard for me to believe it. When I met Raden, he was here and not in Klungkung.”
Rupaksa was disappointed with his sister. He was very angry and upset.
“All right then, Ihave to go now. But please keep my head dress, put it under your pillow,”
Rupaksa demanded.
Rupaksa gave his head dress to his sister Surati. To respect her older brother, Surati put it
under her pillow. Several days later, Raden was hunting in a forest when he met a man that looked
like a priest. The man greeted him politely. Then he said something.
“Your life is in danger. Someone has an evil intention on you,” the man said.
“Who is he?” asked raden.
“Your wife Surati, “the man replied
“Surati? How do you know?” Raden verified.
“I’m a priest. I have a clear spiritual vision. I just want to save you. Search her room. If you
find a head dress under her pillow then my words are correct. It is from a man who will help her kill
you.”
“Thank you your holiness,” Raden uttered.
When he reached the palace, he immediately searched Surati’s bedroom. He found the head
dress under Surati’s pillow. The priest was right.
Raden confronted Surati, “You’re not faithful to me. I know that you want me dead. This is
the evidence. This is from a man who will help you kill me. Tell me who he is.”
Surati was defenceless, she cried.
It is my brother’s head dress. I met him several days ago when you went hunting. He gave
me this head dress and told me to put it under my pillow. So I put it there to show my respect for
him. It is Rupaksa who wants to kill you not me.”
But Raden no longer trust her. He decided to penalize Surati by giving her death sentence
near the riverbank.
“Before I die, let me say a few words, “Surati pleaded.
“Please do,” Raden granted Surati’s request.
Surati spoke calmly. “When I die, just throw my body into the river. If water becomes dirty
and smelly, it means that I am guilty. But if the water becomes clear and fragrant, it means that I am
innocent.”
Then as Raden Stabbed her wife with a kris, Surati threw herself into the river. Amazingly
the water became clear and fragrant. Surati was innocent!
Raden regretted what he had done. Fromthen on, he changed the name of his kingdom into
Banyuwangi. Banyu means water and wangi means fragrance.