BALINESE FOLKLORE

The Legend Of Timun Mas

Once upon the time, not far from a jungle, lived a couple of farmers. They have been
married for many years, but still not have a child yet. Everyday they prayed to the God for a
child. One day a giant passed their house and heard what they were praying, Hahahahaha...
Dont worry farmers. I can give you a child. But you have to give me that child when she is 17
years old. Said the giant. The farmers were so happy, they didnt think about the risk of losing
their child later. So they agree to take the offer without thinking first. Then, the giant gave them a
bunch of cucumber seed. Plant this seed, and you will get a daughter. Said the giant, Really?
Oh.. Thank you giant! Cried the farmers.
The couple planted the cucumber seed carefully, and the seed became into a big golden
cucumber. When it was ripe, they picked it. They cut out the big cucumber very carefully and
they found the beautiful baby inside. They were so happy. They named the baby Timun Mas, or
Golden Cucumber. Years passing by and Timun Mas grown into a beautiful girl, but her parent
happiness turned to fear when her 17th birthday came. They had to keep their promise to the
giant. He was going to take Timun Mas away. But they didnt want to lose their beloved
daughter. Timun Mas, take this bag. It can safe you from the giant. Said her father. What do
you mean father? I dont understand. Said Timun Mas. Right after that, the giant came into their
house. Run Timun Mas! Safe your life! shounted her mother panic.
The giant was angry and knew that the farmers wanted to break their promise. He chased
Timun Mas away. Oh, no! What should i do now?! Timun Mas was in panic, because the giant
getting closer and closer. Then, Timun Mas opened the bag and threw a handfull of salt. It
became sea. The giant had to swim to cross the sea, but unfortunately he safe from the sea. Later,
Timun Mas threw some chillies and it became a jungle full of trees. The trees had sharp thorns,
and hurt the giants body. However, the giant was still able to chase Timun Mas. In the cruel
situations, Timun Mas took her last magic stuff. It was a kind of shrimp pasta, terasi. She threw it
and became a big swamp. The giant fell into it, he get panic because he couldnt breathe, What
happend?! I Cant breathe! Noooo...! At last he was drown and died.

Timun Mas returned to her parents house, Mother, Father! Im back! she sounted. Oh,
God thanks to saved our daughter, said the father, they were so happy to get their daughter safe.
So, they lived happily ever after together.

JAYAPRANA AND LAYONSARI

A long time ago in the kingdom of Kalianget, a small village in North Bali,
there lived a powerful king, whose name has long been forgotten. It happened that
an epidemic struck the whole village, killing most of the villagers. One of the few
survivors was a little boy, called I Nyoman Jayaprana, the only person in his family
to have been spared from the disease.
I Nyoman Jayaprana had to live in a lonely and sad life. One day he met the
kings chief minister, who was a generous man. Nyoman, will you be willing to live
in the palace and serve the king ? , offered the kings aide. After a moment of
consideration, Nyoman accepted the offer.
In the palace, Jayaprana grew up to become a handsome, brave and
intelligent young man. At the age of 21 he was able to do Kakawin , chant and
sing poetical texts written in old Javanese language. No wonder Jayaprana became
the apple of the kings eye. The king thought it was the time for Jayaprana to get
married. He was to choose one of the kings maids to be his wife. However, none of
the maids appealed to him.
The king then suggested that Jayaprana could look for a girl of his own choice
outside the palace. He went to the market and he saw a very beautiful girl, called Ni
Nyoman Layonsari, and fell in love with her. Layonsari too later fell in love with
Jayaprana. The lovers were then engaged to get married.
Soon, the wedding ceremony took place in the palace. Everybody was very
happy. The bride and the bridegroom appeared to be a perfect couple. However, the
king was not happy at all. He was struck by Layonsaris beauty, became crazily
enchanted by her and immediately envied Jayaprana. In his heart he said,
Jayaprana does not deserve this beautiful woman. He is only my servant. I am a
king. Layonsari shall be my wife.
After the wedding party, the king summoned his chief minister, Maha Patih
Saunggaling. He expressed his anger to this loyal man. Layonsari is too precious
for a servant like Jayaprana. I want her, he said angrily. The king then had a
cunning idea to get rid of Jayaprana. Go to Teluk Terima a small district to the
west of the kingdom, and kill him there, but you must not let Layonsari know about
this, he ordered.
The following day, Jayaprana got an order from the king. He was to go to
Teluk Terima, accompanied by Saunggaling, to fight the Bajo people who were

destroying the forest in West Bali. Jayaprana was an obedient man. He agreed to
face the danger despite the happy moment he was enjoying. That night, Layonsari
was very worried. At about midnight, she had a nightmare. There was a big flood in
all parts of the Kingdom, washing away the palace and their homes. The bad dream
was a bad omen to her. What will become of my husband and me ? , she
wondered.
The following morning, Jayaprana and Saunggaling set off, leaving the sad
Layonsari in tears. Arriving in the jungle of Teluk Terima, Jayaprana did not see any
enemies around. He asked Saunggaling about the enemies. In response to the
question, Saunggaling produced a letter the king had given him and asked
Jayaprana to read it. It read, Jayaprana, I have ordered you to this place because I
want to get rid of you. Saunggaling is to cut your head off and Layonsari shall be my
wife. After reading the letter, Jayaprana realized that the kings order was just a
devilish trap. He was loyal and obedient to the king. Saunggaling then killed him.
Meanwhile, in the palace, Layonsari was convinced that something bad had
happened to her husband, just as a flock of crows came and perched on the trees
around the palace. Layonsari, the king called her, I feel very sorry that my
beloved man, your husband, has died in the fight in Teluk Terima. I understand how
difficult it is for you to face this. Therefore I come here to propose you to be my
wife, he said.
No ! Impossible. Id rather die, Layonsari refused firmly, arousing the kings
anger. He stepped forward to grab Layonsari, but she ran. She ran to the place
where the kingdoms weapons were stored. The king ran after her quickly, but it was
too late. Layonsari picked up a kris dagger and stabbed herself in the chest. Blood
gushed from her body. Layonsari ! the king screamed and cried, knowing that he
had failed. He was furious and went wild. Later, a grave was built on the site where
Jayaprana was believed to have been buried. The builder, a man from Desa Pulu,
had vowed to do this.
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The Legend of Bali Strait

A long time ago, lived a very rich family in Bali. The father was Sidi Mantra. He was
very famous for his supernatural power. He lived happily with his wife and his only child Manik
Angkeran. Manik Angkeran was a spoiled son. He also had a bad habit. He liked to gamble.
Because of his bad habit, his parents soon became poor. They always advised Manik
Angkeran to stop his bad habit, but he never listened to them. Instead he kept on begging for his
parents to give him a lot of money.
The parents didnt have the heart to see him begging. Sidi Mantra then went to Agung
Mountain. There lived a mighty dragon with his great supernatural power. He could provide

jewelries to those who could say the right prayers and ring the bell. Sidi Mantra had the bell and
knew the prayers.
"My name is Sidi Mantra. I have a problem. My son likes to gamble. He has made me
poor. And now he asks a lot of money. " explained Sidi Mantra after he met the dragon.
Sidi Mantra said the prayers and rang the bell. Suddenly, jewelries came out from the
dragon's body. He was very happy and immediately brought the jewelries home. This time Sidi
Mantra wanted Manik Angkeran really to stop gambling.
The son then promised. But soon he broke the promise and he didnt have any money
again. He heard that his father got the jewelries from the dragon living in Agung Mountain. So
he stole the bell.
After arriving at Agung Mountain, Manik Angkeran rang the bell. The dragon knew him.
"I will give you anything you want but you have to promise to stop gambling. " then the dragon
gave him the jewelries.
Suddenly he had a bad idea. He wanted to kill the dragon and stole all his jewelries. The
dragon knew his plan and with his great power he killed Manik Angkeran. Sidi Mantra was very
sad. He asked the dragon to bring his son back to life. The dragon agreed but they had to live in
different places.
After a few moments, Manik Angkeran lived again. Then Sidi Mantra used a stick to
make a big line between them on the ground.
From the line, water flowed. Soon it became a river. Finally it became a strait. It
separated Java and Bali. People then named the strait as Bali Strait.
KEBO IWA
ONCE upon a time in Bali, a man and his wife were praying. They have been
married for a long time but did not have any children. They asked God to give them
a child. They prayed and prayed.
God finally answered their pray. The wife, then, got pregnant and they had a
baby boy. They were very happy.
The baby was extraordinary. He was very much different from other babies.
He ate and drank a lot. Day after day he ate more and more. His body was getting
bigger and bigger. And by the time he was a teenager, his body was as big as a
buffalo. People then started to call him Kebo Iwa.
Because of his eating habit, Kebo Iwas parents spent a lot of money to buy
his food in large amount. They finally went bankrupt. They gave up and asked the
villagers to help them provide the food.
The villagers then worked together to cook and build a big house for Kebo
Iwa. He was like a giant. He could not stay in his parents house anymore because of

his big body. Sadly, after a few months, the villagers also could not afford to cook
him the food. They then asked Kebo Iwa to cook his own food. The villagers just
prepared the raw materials.
Kebo Iwa agreed and as an expression of his gratitude to the villagers, he
built a dam, dug wells, and he also protected the villagers from animals and people
who wanted to attack their village. He did those things by himself.
Meanwhile, the troops of Majapahit were planning to attack Bali. They knew
about Kebo Iwa. And they also knew that they could not conquer Bali with Kebo Iwa
there. Kebo Iwa was more powerful than they were.
Gajah Mada, the Maha Patih (Chief Minister) of Majapahit then planned
something. They were pretending to invite Kebo Iwa to Majapahit to help them dig
some wells. They said that Majapahit was suffering from a long dry season and
needed much water. Kebo Iwa did not know the plan, so he went to Majapahit.
When Kebo Iwa was busy digging a very big well, the troops covered the well.
Kebo Iwa had difficulty in breathing and buried alive. He died inside the well.
After the death of Kebo Iwa, Bali was conquered by Majapahit. Until now,
people still remember Kebo Iwa because he had done a lot for Majapahit and Bali.
The stone head of legendary Kebo Iwa can be found in Pura Gaduh temple in
Blahbatuh. (Folklore from Bali)

A LOYAL FARMER
A long time ago, there was a small village in Bali. The villagers were farmers
they were very happy. Gods gave them fertile land. They always had great harvest.
There were no poor family in that village.
One day, a young man came to the village. He came from a very far place.
He went to the richest farmer in the village. The richest farmer's name was
Jero Pasek.
"My name is I Tundung. I came here to work, Sir. I promise I will work hard."
"Hmm...Okay, I will let you work in my rice field. But remember, I will ask you
to leave if you are lazy." said Jero Pasek.
I Tudung was very happy. He did not want to disappoint Jero pasek, his
master. He worked diligently. Jero Pasek was very grateful. The harvest was much
better. Besides cultivating, I Tundung also look care of the animals, such as
chickens, ducks, goats and cows. The number of the animals also increased. Jero
Pasek become richer.

Jero pasek planned to ask I Tundung to cultivate his field in Kangin Hill.
Unlike the land in the village, the land in Kangin Hill was not fertile.
However, I Tundung accepted it very happy. He felt that Jero Pasek had
already trusted him. He wanted to repay his trust by giving him great harvest.
The land in the hill was arid. It was very dry. However, I Tundung was never
gave up. There was a small spring. I Tundung made irrigation. He used the water in
the spring and flew it through the irrigation.
It worked! The land was not dry anymore. The plants grew very well. And
again they had great harvest. Now the whole hills are green, thanks to I Tundung.

Unfortunately, their happiness did not last long. A thief stole the harvest and
the
animals.
Sadly, I Tundung was never able to catch the thief. The harvest and the animals kept
on missing, Jero Pasek was angry.
"I'm very disappointed in you. I have lost a lot of harvest and animals!"
I Tundung was sad. He went to a temple to pray. While he was meditating, he
heard a voice.
"I know your problem and I can help you."
"Thank you. I'm willing to do anything as long as I can protect my master's
harvest and animals." said I Tundung.
"I will change you into a big black snake. You will live in the hill and you can
protect the harvest and the animals."
I Tundung agreed. he did not want to make his master disappointed and
angry at him. Slowly, he changed into a big black snake.
Meanwhile, Joko Pasek was looking for I Tundung. And when he arrived at his
field, he saw a big black snake. He was so surprised when the snake was able to
talk!
"Don't be afraid, Sir. It's me, I Tundung. From now on, I will always protect
your harvest and your animals."
Jero Pasek was very sad. He never meant to ask I Tundung to do anything. But
it was to late. (Folklore from Bali)

THE LEGEND OF SINGARAJA

SRI Sagening was the king of Klungkung Kingdom, Bali. He had a lot of wives.
His last wife was Ni Luh Pasek. She was the most beautiful wife and that made the
other wives were jealous. They often told bad things to the king. Sadly, the king was
influenced and he finally asked Ni Luh Pasek to leave the palace. Ni Luh Pasek was
very sad, but she had no other choice. She became very sad when she knew that
she was pregnant! Ni Luh Pasek arrived at a village. An old man felt very sorry with
her condition. His name was Jelantik Bogol. He was a holy man and had
supernatural power. He married Ni Luh Pasek. And when the baby was born, Jelantik
Bogol named him I Gusti Gede. He loved I gusti Gede just like his own son.
I Gusti Gede grew as a strong man. He also mastered a lot of skills such as
martial arts and supernatural power. His step father taught him the skills. One day
his step father asked him to go to a jungle in Den Hill. It was the place Ni Luh Pasek
was born. Jelantik Bogol asked him to go there to get more supernatural power.
Before he left, his step father gave him two weapons, a spear and a keris, it's a
traditional wavy double-bladed dagger. I Gusti Gede did it. He went to the Den Hill
and meditated. While he was meditating, a spirit of the jungle came to him. The
spirit spoke to him.
"You will be a great king. Go to Panimbangan beach, help the people there."
I Gusti Gede continued his journey. When he arrived at Panimbangan Beach,
there was an incident. There was a ship from Bugis sinking at the beach. The people
had tried to help, but they did not succeed.
I Gusti Gede wanted to help. He asked the people to stay away from the ship.
He prayed and took out hos weapons. Suddenly, two big spirits came out of the
spear and the keris.
I Gusti Gede asked the spirits to pull the sinking ships back to sea. The people
could not see the spirits. They only saw I Gusti Gede moving his hands. The spirits
slowly pulled the ship. In just a minute, a ship just back in the sea. The owner was
very happy. He gave some of his wealth to I Gusti Gede. People were amazed with
his power. they named him as I Gusti Panji Sakti.
I Gusti Panji Sakti went back to Den Hill. He started to build a village. People
came one by one. I Gusti panji Sakti protected them from bad people. Slowly the
village became a kingdom. I Gusti Panji Sakti became the king and he named the
kingdom as Sukasada.
Sukasada became a big kigdom, I Gusti Panji Sakti planned to make another
kingdom. He opened up a new area. It was full of buleleng trees. Therefore he
named the kingdom as Buleleng Kingdom.
He also build a great palace. People named it Singaraja. Singa means lion and
Raja means king. With his power I Gusti Panji Sakti was like a lion. He always

protected his people from bad people. While he became a king, Buleleng Kingdom
was safe and prosperous. (Folklore from Bali)

NI TIMUN MAS AND I LANTANG

HIDUNGIndIndonesian Myth,
NI Timun Mas was a beautiful girl. She lived with her mother in a house near
a jungle. Ni Timun Mas always helped her mother. When her mother worked in a rice
field, Ni Timun Mas always stayed at home to clean up and cook. she was not
allowed to go to the rice field. Her mother was afraid that a giant would kidnap her.
Yes, there was a giant lived in the jungle. His name was I Latang Hidung. He loved to
eat young people!
Her mother always went home in the afternoon. She always asked Ni Timun
Mas not to open the door while she worked. Her mother would sing a song, "Ni
Timun Mas, I'm home. Please open the door" Then Ni Timun Mas opened the door.
Sadly, it happened. I Lantang Hidung came to see the house. The giant was
hungry. He banged the door. Ni Timun Mas was so scared. Because the door was not
opened, the giant left. He was sure there was somebody in the house. He was hiding
behind the trees.
And when her mother went home, the giant knew that the door would be
opened when a song was sung. He planned to come back and he would sing the
song. Ni Timun Mas told her mother about the giant. She was very happy that the
door was not opened. Unfortunately, they did not know that the giant already knew
their secret.
On the following afternoon, I Lantang Hidung came. The giant sing the song,
"Ni Timun Mas, I'm home. Please open the door." He imitated Timun Mas mother's
voice.
Of course Timun Mas thought it was her mother who came home. She opened
the door and suddenly I Lantang Hidung grabbed her. The giant kidnapped her and
brought her to his house in the jungle.
When her mother arrived, she was so shocked. The door was opened and her
daughter was not home. She ran and cried. While she was looking for her daughter,
she met a man. He was beating a cat. She felt sorry. She bought the cat from the
man and kept the cat. Then she continued her journey, this time she saw a mouse
was beaten by a man. She saved and bought the mouse. Later, she met a man who
was beating a dog. Again, she saved and bought the dog. And finally she met a man
who was trying to kill a snake. She also saved and bought the snake.
It was already dark. The mother decided to go home. She would look for her
daughter later in the morning. At night, she remembered she remembered her

daughter. She cried. The animals she saved were looking at her. They were carious.
The cat asked her.
"Why are you crying?"
The mother was surprised. The animals could talk like humans. She explained
that a giant kidnapped her daughter. The animals were so sorry. They wanted to
reply her kindness. They would free Ni Timun Mas from the giant.
The animals went to the jungle. They saw the giant was sleeping and Ni
Timun Mas was tied with a rope. They set a plan. The mouse would bit the rope. The
cat would observe and told them when the giant woke up. The dog and the snake
were ready to attack the giant.
They started to do their plan. The mouse slowly bit the rope. It started to
loosen up. Finally she was free. Unfortunately, the giant woke up. The cat
immediately told his friends. The mouse asked Ni Timun Mas to follow him. The dog
and the snake immediately attacked the giant. The dog bit and the snake squeezed
the giant, The giant was loosing so much blood. He finally died.
The animals and Ni Timun Mas arrived home. Her mother was very happy.
She did not worry animore because the giant was dead, Since then, Ni Timun Mas,
her mother and the animals lived peacefully. (Folklore from Bali)