BANYUWANGI

Once upon a time, in eastern part of Java Island, there was a kingdom ruled by a king. The king’s name was Prabu Menak Prakoso. One day, Prabu Menak and his soldiers invaded the kingdom of Klungkung in Bali. The king of Klungkung was killed, yet his daughter, Made Surati, and his son, Agung Bagus Mantra, were able to escape and hide in the jungle.

Prabu Menak Prakoso had a son named Raden Banterang. He was such a handsome young man. One day, Raden Banterang went to the jungle for hunting. It was in the jungle that Raden Banterang met Made Surati. She was then taken to Blambangan to be his wife. Raden Banterang and Made Surati enjoyed a happy life in the Palace.

When Raden Banterang was hunting one day, Made Surati was surprised by the arrival of a dirty beggar asking for her pity.

Agung Bagus Mantra  : Give me something to eat, lady!

Made Surati              : How poor you are. Come closer! Here’s some money. Buy someothing you want to eat.

Agung Bagus Mantra  : Th.. thank you very much!

Made Surati                : Wait, are you Agung Bagus Mantra?

Agung Bagus Mantra  : Yeah, how do you know who I am?

Made Surati                : It’s me your sister.

The princess was surprised to find that the beggar was her older brother, Agung Bagus Mantra. She promptly squatted and embraced her brother’s legs. However, her great respect of her brother was not well accepted. Instead, Agung Bagus Mantra asked his sister to kill Raden Banterang, “Made Surati, now you must kill your husband because he is our enemy!” But such a request was rejected. He was very angry with her and came up with a sly idea to slander her, “Now she belongs to him I must kill her!”.

Slowly but surely, Agung Bagus Mantra succeeded in convincing Raden Banterang that his wife had been involved in a scandal with another man, “I swear, I was in the palace, asked something to eat. Here were a man and your wife inside the palace and they went to a room”. Asking for compassion,  Made Surati tried to tell the truth and denied her husband’s accusation. Hearing his wife explanation, the king became angrier. As a proof of her sacred love,  she asked her husband to kill her. As her last request, she asked her husband to throw her dead body into the river. Made Surati : No! It was a lie. I never did such this terrible dear, believe me! If you dont trust me. It’s better for you to take my life. Then throw my body to this river. If the water in the river smelled terrible, it meant that I had ever been sinful. But if it smelled fragrant, it meant that I was innocent.”

            Raden Banterang who was unable to control his emotions soon stabbed his kerís (dagger) into his wife’s chest. She died instantly. The dead body of Made Surati was quickly thrown into the dirty river. Raden Banterang was shocked to see the river suddenly become clean and as clear as glass with a fragrant smell. Raden Banterang screamed crazily and regretted his deed. He walked unsteadily and fell into the river screaming, “Banyu… Wangì… Banyuwangi!”  This means “fragrant water”.

Banyuwangi was born from the proof of noble and sacred love. From then on, the place is called Banyuwangi.

So guys, that’s the story of banyuwangi. From this story we can get the moral value: Dont believe the information from someone easily without searching first & think first before you make the desicion.

Sumber: http://oscar17.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/the-legend-of-banyuwangi/