Dragon Star Dahanapura

Episode 22 of Tapa Ngalong and Topo Kungkum

The gentala began to descend the cliff as the sun peered on the eastern horizon, and only until the time when the sun was high. After arriving at Sumber Lo, he rushed to take a bath, and prepared everything for Tapa Ngalong.

He looked up to find a cross branch, as a cantolan of his two legs. After finding the branch in question, he immediately went up and turned around hanging his legs.

The purpose of this tapa ngalong is to launch blood circulation to the brain, but should not be done too long, because it can cause blood vessels in the head to rupture.

The time given to Gentala for napa ngalong is until noon, it means approximately five incense burning. Apparently Ki Bajra has predicted precisely, the time to do tapa ngalong so as not to harm Gentala.

Just a moment he hung up, his head felt heavy and his eyes were blurred, the earth seemed to be spinning tightly.

Bruuukkk... ! ! !

Gentala fell and his head felt dizzy, his eyes were still twitching. After drifting, he went back up and hung upside down. Shortly after, he fell back.

Countless times Gentala fell, while doing tapa ngalong. But he seemed to not care about it, the blisters on the forehead and temples seemed to bleed mixed with sweat. The same thing happens to his knees and elbows. Until finally the noon time has come.

Now he is soaking limited to the neck to undergo tapa kungkum. At first, he thought asceticism with a soak was easy. But the longer his body shivered with a twinkle because it continued to be soaked in water.

The purpose of asceticism by soaking in water is to prepare the veins in his body to become strong when receiving energy. Only half the time allotted, Gentala rose and basked in the sun.

After his body was warm, he went back into the water until dusk and continued the hermitage. Then he went back up the steep cliff to the cave to do the semedi.

He did this routine for seven days. In the morning, on the eighth day Ki Bajra came to see him with a good sword. Gentala barely recognized the sword in Ki Bajra's hand. Now Gentala's worn out sword is becoming like new.

*****

A week before....

Ki Bajra flew south towards Lodoyong, precisely at the foot of Gamping Mountain. An acquaintance whom he had not visited for decades. That person was a blacksmith who had the ability to make weapons. Not only ordinary weapons, but even high-level heirloom weapons could be made.

His name was Empu Prahasta, with his ability at that time, he was often visited by royal officials to make heirlooms, both keris, spear and sword. Not infrequently, royal officials must go home empty-handed, because they are unable to perform the conditions proposed.

At least they went home with ordinary weapons, whose raw materials were in the place of Empu Prahasta. For those who are able to do these conditions, then the Empu will be happy to make it.

One of the requirements is that the person who wants to be made heirloom, must bring their own raw materials. Then Prahasta will burn the raw material with a special ritual. If the material does not melt, then it will be ready to make it.

In addition, during the manufacture, prospective heirloom owners must do tapa brata at the foot of Mount Gamping until the heirloom is finished. The goal is that the heirloom can be integrated with its owner.

Because of that heavy condition, he finally began to be forgotten by the warriors. Until finally 15 years ago, word spread that the Empu had put down a hammer, and passed on his abilities to one of his students. The student was named Empu Pranayam, although he inherited all his teacher's knowledge, but it seems that the inheritance quality he made has not been able to match it.

This is because the practice of tirakat done by Pranayam is still not at the level of the teacher (laku tirakat is one of the spiritual efforts to increase inner strength)

Ki Bajra had reached the foot of the Gamping Mountain before noon. He then continued the journey on foot, when he saw the building of heirlooms.

Dhangg.... !!! Dheengg.... !!!

The sound of metal clashing with a hammer had sounded loud, a sign that the place was near. Pranayam stopped the movement of the hammer in his hand when he saw the old man dressed in all black reach the hut.

"I want to meet your Master", replied Ki Bajra in a subtle and authoritative tone.

Pranayam does not directly grant e

ki Bajra's request, because he just met. He even said that his teacher was doing tapa brata and could not be met.

Indeed, the habit of Empu Prahasta when doing tirakat practice, then nothing can disturb him. It is said that the King's messenger class must wait half a full moon to meet him.

"Go to your teacher's place, tell him Bajra wants to meet. I'll leave if your teacher doesn't come out until the sun's overhead", the old man's polite request, inevitably melts Pranayam's heart.

As soon as he arrived in front of the room where his Master was mediocre, Pranayam sat down and cleared his throat.

"Ehem... Guru there is an old man, named Ki Bajra wants to meet", said Pranayam.

No sound could be heard from inside, Pranayam then returned to the hut where Ki Bajra was waiting. He was shocked to death when he found his teacher talking to Ki Bajra.

He so guessed how powerful his teacher, so far his teacher never showed his magic. Then who is the guest, even the king's messenger class must wait. Not to mention how important the news that his guest brought was.

"Pranayam, let's just say you don't see and hear what's happening right now" Prahasta told his student.

Pranayam knew very well, that if his teacher had said so, then life would be at stake to keep the secret. Then Prahasta told his students to sit down and listen to the conversation of the two. Pranayam's heart blossomed when given that rare opportunity.

"Bajra's back, I don't think we'll ever meet again. I hear you have renounced all worldly affairs, and committed austerity" said Prahasta.

"Adi Prahasta, it seems that the universe has not given me permission to avoid the world" Ki Bajra said.

Then Ki Bajra recounted the whispers he had received and the prophecy of a holy hermit. What made Prahasta stunned was that currently Ki Bajra was training a disciple.

"At this time I am training the descendants of Eyang Kamajaya" said Ki Bajra who was in contact to make Prahasta surprised not kepalang. He also has the blood of Kamajaya. Indirectly Gentala is his grandson.

"Your news really surprised me Kakang" replied Prahasta. Prahasta did not think that finally the blood of Kamajaya would again color the martial world.

"Adi, is it true in Lodoyong here has risen up against the black stream?", asked Ki Bajra.

Prahasta then recounted one of the reasons for his retreat from the world of blacksmithing. He got orders from people several times with black flow. At first he did not question anyone who wanted to order weapons or heirlooms.

Until finally, Prahasta heard, people suspected of being descendants of Kamajaya have been hunted and slaughtered in this Lodoyong area. At first Prahasta thought this was just a coincidence.

One day, he was approached by someone from the eastern end of Lodoyong. The man came, with wounds all over his body. After being assisted by Prahasta, he told that his family had been slaughtered by a group of warriors who claimed to be Bethari Durga.

Then the man handed over one of the swords he had snatched from his assailant. Then Prahasta recognized that the sword was one of his creations. Since then Empu Prahasta does not make weapons anymore.

"Hmm.. so so Adimas" said Ki Bajra while stroking his thin beard.