indonesian Legend

Sri goddess

Dewi Sri or Dewi Shri (Javanese Language), Nyai Pohaci Sanghyang Asri (Sundanese Language), is the goddess of agriculture, goddess of rice and rice fields, as well as the goddess of fertility on the islands of Java and Bali.

The breeding and worship of it has been going on since pre-Hindu and pre-Islamic times in Java. She is believed to be a goddess who rules the realm of the underground world as well as the moon. Her role includes all aspects of the Mother Goddess, namely as a protector of birth and life. It can also control foodstuffs on earth especially rice: the staple food of Indonesian society; hence it governs life, wealth, and prosperity.

Blessings are especially abundant rice harvest and glorified since the time of ancient kingdoms on the island of Java such as Majapahit and Pajajaran. Dewi Sri also controls all the opposite; poverty, famine, pestilence, and to some extent, affects death. Because it is a symbol for rice, it is also seen as the mother of life. Often he is associated with rice plants and rice snakes.

In the past, in a place in central Java, there was a king named Prabu Sri Mahapunggung or Bathara Srigati who reigned in a kingdom called Medang Kamulan Kingdom. Bathara Srigati is the son of Sanghyang Vishnu and Dewi Sri Sekar or Bathari Sri Widowati who was sent to earth to preserve the world.

Prabu Sri Mahapunggung has a daughter named Dewi Sri. She is the eldest daughter of the Prabu who is believed to be the incarnation of her grandmother, Bathari Sri Widowati. In addition to beautiful and beautiful, Dewi Sri is a princess who is smart, kind, meek, patient, smooth, she said, sublime, and wise.

Dewi Sri has three siblings, namely Sadana, Wandu, and Oya. He and his sister, Sadana, are known as the symbol of the prosperity of the earth. Dewi Sri as the goddess of rice, while Sadana as the god of other crops such as tubers, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. Therefore, the two are never separated.

Once, Sadana was asked by her father and mother to marry a daughter named Dewi Panitra, granddaughter of Eyang Pancareshi. However, Sadana refused because she did not want to precede her brother on the grounds that it was often the cause of various difficulties in the future. Seeing the attitude of his son, Prabu Sri Mahapunggung tried to persuade him.

“Sadana, Son. If you marry Goddess Panitra, I will make you Crown Prince.

“ You are the one who will replace Father to be king of this country,” persuaded the Prabu.

Sadana was silent. His heart is broken.

“Already, Son. You don't have to think about your brother. It is our obligation to marry him if he later finds his soul mate,” said the Prabu.

Despite being repeatedly persuaded, Sadana remained adamant in rejecting the marriage.

“Excuse Sadana, Father Prabu. It is not appropriate for a sister to precede her brother to marry,” Sadana said.

Apparently, Sadana's words angered her father. He was considered to have dared to be presumptuous because he did not obey the advice of parents. Fortunately, the mother managed to quell the anger of Sadana's father.

At night, Sadana found it difficult to close her eyes. His mind was very chaotic, sad, and confused. For him, the match was against his life principles. After thinking about all the risks, Sadana finally left the palace secretly that night. How wonderful is the Prabu when he knows that. His anger was also he vent to Dewi Sri because it is considered as the cause of Sadana's death. The accusation saddened the Princess. Because he felt wrong living in the palace, he finally fled the palace.

The passing of Dewi Sri from the palace made Prabu Sri Mahapunggung even more angry. Because of his anger, the Prabu cursed Dewi Sri to be a rice field snake, while Sadana was cursed to be a sriti. Dewi Sri walked towards the east without a definite purpose, while Sadana flew without direction and purpose.

One time, the incarnation of Dewi Sri arrived in Wasutira Hamlet. Because tired, the rice snake then slept coiled in a rice barn owned by a resident named Kyai Brikhu. The farmer had a wife named Ken Sanggi who was pregnant with their first baby. At night, Kyai Brikhu dreamed of getting a clue that the baby contained by his wife was a drop of Goddess Tiksnawati. Later after birth, the baby will be guarded by a paddy snake. If the snake dies, the baby will die.

“Oh, how happy my life would be if that dream came true. I also promised to take care and care for the rice snake,” muttered Kyai Brikhu with joy.

That day, Kyai Brikhu's supply of rice to be cooked by his wife was exhausted. When he was about to take the rice in his barn, he was struck by a rice snake coiling on top of his pile of rice. The farmer immediately remembered his dream.

Kyai Brikhu finally took good care of the rice snake. When his wife had given birth to a daughter, he then placed the snake near the baby who was in the middle room of his house. Since then, Kyai Brikhu with his wife took care of their child with the rice snake carefully. Every day, they fed the snake with frogs.

One night, Kyai Brikhu had a dream. In his dream, the rice snake refused to be fed frogs. The snake asked to be given offerings in the form of sedah ayu, namely betel nut along with its equipment, flowers, and lights that must always be turned on. When he woke up, Kyai Brikhu also immediately prepared a offerings as requested by the rice snake.

Meanwhile, Dewi Tiksnawati who was crying on the body of Kyai child Brikhu made a melee at the residence of the gods. It makes Sang Hyang Jagadnata or Batara Guru angry.

“Okay, the gods! Go to earth, give disaster to the baby where Dewi Tiksnawati minis!” the Batara Guru.

The gods soon rolled to earth. However, their disastrous attempt at the baby failed due to the repulsive influence of Kyai Brikhu and the rice field snake. Many times the gods tried to do so, but they failed. After conducting an investigation, the gods and Batara Guru also learned that their failure was caused by Dewi Sri who faithfully protected the baby.

By order of Batara Guru, the angels also came down to earth to persuade Dewi Sri to want to become an angel in Kahyangan.

“Goddess, Goddess Sri! We were sent by Batara Guru to ask you to Kahyangan. The Batara Guru will make you an angel to equip us the angels in Kahyangan,” persuade one of the angels.

“Alright, angels. I am willing to accept Batara Guru's request, but on one condition,” said Dewi Sri.

“What are the terms, O Dewi Sri?” ask bidadari.

“I beg my sister, Sadana, who has been cursed to become a sriti bird to be restored to her form of being a human,” pinta Dewi Sri.

The angels also responded to Dewi Seri's request. However, when they were about to fulfill the request, it turned out that Sadana had been returned to being human by a powerful figure, namely Bagawan Brahmin Marhaesi, the son of the Brahma Hyang. In fact, Sadana was married to a princess named Dewi Laksmitawahni. Later when they had a son, Sadana would be made a god.

The news about Sadana was then conveyed to Dewi Sri. Dewi Sri also welcomed her with a feeling of pleasure. Because his wish has been granted, finally Dewi Sri who is the form of a rice serpent was returned to its original form by the angels to its original form, a beautiful girl.

Meanwhile, Kyai Brikhu was shocked that the snake in his farm had disappeared. All she saw was a beautiful girl sitting next to her baby.

“Hai, girl. Who are you and why are you here?” ask Khai Brikhu in wonder.

Dewi Sri also introduced herself and told about the events that had just happened in the house. Finally, Kyai Brikhu also knew that Dewi Sri was the daughter of Prabu Mahapunggung from Medang Kamulan Kingdom. In accordance with his promise, Dewi Sri will soon go to Kahyangan to be made an angel. Before leaving, Dewi Sri did not forget to thank and advise Kyai Brikhu.

“Thank you, Kyai Brikhu for all his help during my stay in this house,” said Dewi Sri,

“For your family food and clothing is always sufficient, do not forget to give offerings in the living room of your house.”

After ordering, Dewi Sri then headed to Kahyangan. After the death of Dewi Sri, Kyai Brikhu also immediately provide offerings in the living room of his house. Since then, the Javanese always keep or display pictures of snakes in the middle room of their house as a symbol of the figure of Dewi Sri who has given prosperity and fertility in their lives. Not only that, people also believe that if there is a snake into the house, it means the sign of the rice field will give good results or sustenance. That is why, the farmers in Java greatly appreciate the rice snake by giving him offerings.