Folklore And Fairy Tales

Kuwung Stone

In ancient times, there lived a rich merchant who lived in a village in the Banten area during the time of Sultan Haji. This wealthy merchant had a close relationship with the sultan. His familiarity with the sultan gave him an advantage, one of which was that he got the right to monopolize the coffee and pepper trade in the Lampung area. This makes his business go fast and become a wealthy merchant who is respected in a short period of time. He owns almost all of the farm in his village. However, the way to get these agricultural lands is not good. He got it by lending it to farmers with high interest rates. The farmers became difficult to pay their debts and inevitably had to give up their land.

Not long after, the rich merchant was appointed head of the village. When he became the village chief, he did not make his citizens prosperous and happy, but rather tortured them more and more. He abused his power by making policies to pay higher taxes than he should. This rich merchant became very arrogant because of his wealth and power.

Besides being famous for his arrogant nature, this merchant also has a miserly nature. He never wanted to help people who were in trouble. He prefers to squander his money and live in splendor above the difficulties faced by his people. He doesn't even want to get married. Married and having children will cost her money. Because of the nature he has, people become very hateful to him. Realizing this, the merchant hired several personal guards so that no citizens would dare to disturb him.

The pride and arrogance of this rich merchant reached the ears of a powerful mandraguna. This magician intends to teach a lesson while resuscitating the merchant. One day, this magician disguised himself as a crippled beggar. He asked for food and clothes because he had not eaten since 2 days ago. However, instead of being given food and clothing, the beggar was pushed down and dragged by the merchant guards. The poor beggar became angry and advised the merchant before he disappeared,

“Oh rich merchant who is arrogant and miserly! Be ready to receive the recompense of your deeds. You will feel the pain of being poor.” said the beggar

Hearing this, the rich merchant became afraid. But he dismissed all his fearful thoughts because he thought he had abundant wealth.

The next morning, the feet of this rich merchant could not be moved. He tried many times to move his legs but it was useless the result was still immovable. This rich merchant immediately called his personal bodyguard in a panic. His legs became paralyzed. In a panic, he ordered his guards to look for a healer who could cure him. On that very day all the great healers from all over the area had gathered to treat the feet of the merchant. None of them managed to cure him. With the situation increasingly panicked, the rich merchant gave a message to his guards to hold a competition.

The guards swiftly spread this announcement to places visited by residents. In an instant, all the villagers and the surrounding village knew this, not least the beggar. The beggar also registered himself.

On the appointed day, the contestants had gathered and so did the beggar. One by one, they issued various practical skills. However, none of them succeeded. The beggar remains the only hope of the merchant.

The beggar said that the merchant's illness was due to his arrogant and miserly nature. He also said that the merchant can be cured if he wants to carry out 3 conditions, the first is that the merchant must change his arrogant and miserly nature, which is the first, the second was that the merchant had to go to the foot of Mount Karang to ascend in a sunken rock for 7 days and 7 nights without eating and drinking, and the third merchant had to give half his property to the poor after he was healed.

The merchant also wants to do these conditions. He left on a stretcher by his guards. Before leaving, the beggar advised him to heed all the obstacles that could thwart his asceticism. After giving this message, the beggar disappeared in the blink of an eye and the rich merchant realized that this beggar was not an ordinary person, but a powerful mandraguna.

After two days and two nights of walking, they finally arrived at the foot of Coral Mountain. In that place there is a sunken stone. The merchant immediately ordered his guards to take him to the stone. But without realizing it, his guards had fainted from exhaustion. Eventually, the merchant could reach and climb the stone and begin his hermitage.

After ascending for 7 days and 7 nights and passing through various obstacles and temptations, he suddenly saw hot water coming out from the sidelines of the stone he occupied. In a short time, the place turned into a small pond. Seeing the miracle he immediately dismissed his hermit and began to bathe in the pond. Miraculously, his legs could suddenly be moved back. He thanked God for being healed.

With a feeling of excitement, he and his guards returned to his village. Arriving at the village, he immediately carried out his promise to distribute half his property to the poor. He also distributed his agricultural lands for poor farmers to cultivate. After that, he married a beautiful girl from a poor family. His attitude also turned into generous, wise, and wise in carrying out his duties as the village head so that the residents liked him. He also told the miracle of the hot springs so that in a short time the miracle had been known by all citizens.