Srivijaya irregulars

4. The Flower of the Dead Soul

After the delegation from the Sriwijaya Union came, the ratification ceremony of Datu Talang Bantas was immediately carried out.

Cahyadawasuna, a young man who had not even turned eleven years old, was appointed to dapunta, without the company of his parents.

But that's not what makes him sad.

In the past, almost 15 years ago, before the arrival of Sri Maharaja Balaputradewa, the name Datu Talang Bantas was almost erased from Bhumi Srivijaya. Just then hundreds of black crows swirled in the sky

like without purpose. A wistful smile of a hoarse voice sounded out of nowhere.

During this time Datu Talang Bantas is so fertile soil, slapping at the feet

the hills that hold it to the east. This is where Mahayana Buddhism developed most rapidly.

Dapunta Sanjarsemita, the leader of this datu, is a devout Buddhist. Since the generation of his great-grandfather ruled Datu Talang Bantas, Buddhism has indeed become part of his family. His devotion to the Buddha was so deep that he sometimes spread the Buddha in other lands around Talang Bantas.

No wonder in the land he led, the aroma of Buddha was so pronounced. Here can be found some fairly large and magnificent monasteries. And, more specifically, in the four cardinal directions, there are four statues of Buddha meditating. His height reached half

coconut tree. The statues sit dashingly as if guarding Datu Tanah Talang Bantas well.

Although he was a dapunta, but the appearance of Dapunta Sanjarsemita far from the impression of a dapunta. He did not wear a robe and a gold tie on his head, like a dapunta

other dapunta. He also did not wear a gold belt. He prefers to wear his shabby-looking gray robe.

His name was Sanjar Sayu. However, his grandfather changed it to Sanjarsemita, a name that smelled of Buddha. It was among the civil families and the locals that many people changed their names or started naming their children with Buddhist names.

As Dapunta Sanjarsemita later did to his son, Cahya-dawasuna.

Dapunta Sanjarsemita himself is a very wise leader. Even though he was very young at the time, he often solved problems very wisely.

Subjugating a robber with just words or subduing a wild elephant attack with meditation are just a few examples of the wisdom that lies with him.

His reputation is very famous until at the unity of Srivijaya in Telaga Batu, after all, a lot of his name. However, unfortunately, suddenly Dapunta Sanjarsemita suffered

the pain is unclear. His body suddenly became hollow and he could only roll in his bed. It is still

he was able to breathe and his eyes were still moving, but his body could no longer move.

Since then, his wife had succeeded him in leading this Datu Talang Bantas. However, wisdom is not something that can be taken for granted even by a wife. Under the leadership of his wife, the state of Datu Talang Bantas increasingly languished. Gradually

robbers from the hill dared to mine.

Wild animals also often come messing around without choosing time. Even then, the catastrophic windstorm, which

never existed before, came to ravage the land.

Although Datu Talang Bantas can still survive, but over time many residents choose to leave the land, moving to other land that is more promising.

This situation worsened when Dapunta Sanjarsemita's wife finally had to exhale her last breath. At that time the atmosphere was uncertain so it included Datu Talang Bantas. Dapunta Sanjarsemita only left a son who was then only five years old. Of course, he

considered too small to hold the reins of leadership.

Amidst that confusion, a traveler suddenly came, out of nowhere. His face was shady, with a robe resembling that of Buddhist monks, but light brown in color. He directly faced Pu Mula Suma, the person who had been indirectly taking care of Kedatuan Talang

Unbecoming.

"I brought the Sukmajiwa Flower," said the traveller, taking out a dried ungumenyala flower.

And, everyone who was in that unity fell silent for a moment. A foreign fragrance instantly filled the room, penetrated the nose, and was absorbed into the heart

them. Everyone has heard of the Sukmajiwa Flower.

It is said that the flower that only grows on the highest peak of Bukit Raja, the highest hill between the rows of hills to the west, can cure all kinds of diseases. This myth is so powerful that it is said that Dapunta Hyang Jayanasa, the founder of the Srivijaya Kingdom, is rumored to have drunk this flower water many times until his body is immune

against anything!

"Is this just a trick?" a colleague of Pu Mula Suma whispered.

"But, he did not seem like a fraud" the other Pu replied after watching the traveler more closely.

For a moment everything was in each other's minds. Until then another Pu said slowly

"But I don't think it's any harm to try" he said.

And, Pu Mula Suma also nodded slowly. He immediately requested the flower from the traveler and replaced it with a box of silver pieces left over from the union.

However, the traveler rejected it subtly.

"You don't need to replace it with anything" he said, bowing deeply.

"Feeling the scent of peace in this one is enough for me. Really, already

more than enough" he said before walking away....

After the wanderer left, Pu Mula Suma carefully, pounding the flower himself. Some of the other Pu only watched closely, without saying anything. Then, in a hurry, Pu Mula Suma followed by another Pu ran towards the room of Dapunta Sanjarsemita

layin. But they turned out to be late. When they lifted up the body of Dapunta Sanjarsemita, the body turned out to be

stiffen up not breathing anymore.

Everything could only be stunned in disbelief. Unknowingly Pu Mula Suma shed her tears while hissing, hissing,

"We... late.”.

The atmosphere became gloomy. For a moment no one knew what to do. Pu Mula Suma's hand was still shaking holding a cup filled with water Sukmajiwa Flower.

It was then that Dapunta Sanjarsemita's five-year-old son, Cahyadawasuna, entered the room with a wooden toy in his hand.

"Why Father, Uncle?" tanyanya while trying to see the body of her father who was held up by Pu Mula Suma's hand.

Pu Mula Suma did not answer that question at all. His eyes could only look at the boy's body fixedly

clingy.

Since then, Cahyadawasuna grew in silence. The land of Talang Bantas, since the death of his parents, seemed to wither. More and more people left the land, going away. While new people come, always want to leave as soon as possible.

Only a few Pu's in this union, along with his family, are still trying to survive. No more than twenty people.

Indeed, since the death of Dapunta Sanjarsemita and his wife, the state of unity seemed to be without a leader. There is no dapunta

on that land. Although in reality, Pu Mula Suma is the one who takes care of all things related to unity.

He who faces directly to Dapunta Hyang to tell everything that happened to Datu Talang Bantas. He also asked for leniency not to send tribute for some time to the Unity of Srivijaya.

At that time, every single one of them was under power

Srivijaya is indeed obliged to send tribute regularly on the unity in Telaga Batu.

Pu Mula Suma also asked for a delay in the appointment of dapunta for Cahyadawasuna so that later he could immediately become a mature dapunta. At his request, the Sriwijaya Union then gave up to seven years to prepare.

So, from that day on every day that is born, Pu Mula Suma will accompany Cahyadawasuna in all talks. He never stopped teaching Cahyadawasuna about everything he wanted to know.

Every morning, with his body increasingly fragile, he accompanied Cahyadawasuna to walk around the almost empty land of Talang Bantas.

"Ask whatever Dapunta wants to know," said Pu Mula Suma at the time.

He has indeed called

Cahyadawasuna with the title of dapunta, before he was officially crowned.

Thus, the dawn moments before sunrise and the twilight moments before sunset are the moments Cahyadawasuna awaits. He was a boy who always wanted to know.

So he will ask a lot of things. Just as he was going through the four great Buddha statues, he immediately

enquired

"Why does the Buddha statue in the west look dirtier than the one in the east, north, and south?"

At other times, as he passed through the hills of the western row, he would ask,

"Why do the hills always seem irregular?"

Also as he passed by the river bank, he

will ask

"Why does water relieve my throat?"

Always similar to that. Every day a new question arises about the Buddha statues, about the hills

that, and about the banks of that river. And, Cahyadawasuna will be stuck listening to all the answers until Pu Mula Suma stops talking. That's when he'll come back asking a new question.

Cahyadawasuna never repeated the same question. All just once. And, everything will also be answered by Pu Mula Suma with

be very careful, just once.

Yes, all questions are asked only once, except for this one, which never changes anyway. This was the moment he passed through the silent paths around his unit. Wild grass grew everywhere and the dusty wind repeatedly blew painful eyes. That question will appear here in that tone of voice

lower

"Didu Talang Bantas used to be this lonely?"

And in the past, when this question was asked for the first time, Pu Mula Suma shook her head slowly

"No, Dapunta, no. The land used to be so crowded here. Dapunta would never walk in this loneliness. People pass by, smile at us, even greet us."

Then, Pu Mula Suma pointed at a point in the distance

"And there, there was a market so crowded. Dozens of sellers lined up to roll out their trades. You can buy what

even what Dapunta wants, even. Dapunta knows, so far away this land from the sea, right? But that's what happened first. This land is not only visited by people

around here, but also the people across"

Cahyadawasuna looked at Pu Mula Suma in disbelief,

"Then, why is it so quiet now?"

Pu Mula Suma could only catch her breath, though,

"Since the death of Dapunta Sanjarsemita, the father of Dapunta, the situation has changed ...."

Cahyadawasuna. He walked a few steps forward.

"Then, can I return this land to what it was, Uncle?" ask without looking.

"Of course, of course," Pu Mula Suma smiled heartily.

"Later if Dapunta is getting bigger, then,

Dapunta will surely transform this land, into a land that no longer knows silence ...."

Pu Mula Suma's speech was not excessive. For some reason, he seemed to be able to feel the privilege of this figure in front of him. In his age that has not even six years, he can spur his brain to ask sharply.

Since then, every passing through this silent path,

Cahyadawasuna will always come back asking questions

"Didu Talang Bantas used to be this lonely too?"

But he no longer needed an answer to that question. Because in his heart, he would repeat Pu Mula Suma's long answer back then ....

Yes, it's always like that ....

Another one that Pu Mula Suma taught, namely martial skills. Actually, Cahyadawasuna is not a person who

interested in martial arts. However, because of the demands as Dapunta in Datu Talang Bantas, he had to learn it.

At the age of seven, Pu Mula Suma brought in several warriors to train him. One who survived long enough to live in Datu Talang Bantas is Ki Selo Wind Wesi. He is a fighter

from Bhumijawa. It is said that this moody sea man is very well known in Bhumijawa as a big swordsman. His skill is not only to play keris, but also all kinds of weapons, such as spears, machetes, and even arrows.

In addition, Pu Mula Suma also brought in several healers from China to teach medicine and the science of needle and pulse totok. It is his own initiative. Because he realized once that Cahyadawasuna was not a talented figure in martial arts, then he should try to cover it with other skills.

However, what he then deeply embraced was Buddhism, especially meditation on surrender to the Creator.

This all goes on for a long time. It did not feel as if sixty full moons had passed in such a silent silence

interminable. Thousands of tired questions have come from the mouth of Cahyadawasuna and thousands of answers have been spoken from the mouth

Pu Mula Suma's.

And, now with the age of Cahyadawasuna, Pu Mula Suma seems increasingly fragile. So, when the age of Cahyadawasuna stepped ten years, Pu Mula Suma also decided to raise Cahyadawasuna as

dapunta di Datu Talang Bantas. Some of the other pu's that still survive, try to remind him that it's too

quick one. They still have two more years to mature Cahyadawasuna.

However, Pu Mula Suma felt that Cahyadawasuna had learned everything he knew. He can't teach you anything anymore. So, he immediately sent a messenger to Telaga Batu.

At his home, right on the day of the coronation, Pu Mula Suma felt his body was very tired. He had twice asked his wife to make water soaking roots. However, it seems that fatigue does not want to go away from him either.

"Aren't you supposed to attend the coronation ceremony of Dapunta Cahyadawasuna?" his wife tried to remind him.

Pu Mula Suma just smiled, though,

"of course. I'll be leaving soon. I just want to rest for a moment"

Then his wife passed.

Pu Mula Suma let out a long sigh while taking a meditative position. His face looked so happy. Finally my task was done, he thought with a big smile and touched his white beard. Truly, inwardly, he was completely satisfied to have taught Cahyadawasuna all this time.

Meanwhile, not far from the residence of Pu Mula Suma, in Kedatuan Talang Bantas, Cahyadawasuna sat quietly. A Buddhist priest was reciting prayers for him. Usually under these conditions, he would fervently listen to those prayers and come along

chalked. But not this time. For some reason, his mind just kept on going to Pu Mula Suma.When he had the chance, he whispered to wrong

a bodyguard nearby, though,

"Where's Old Uncle Suma?"

The bodyguard immediately observed the surroundings.

"Let the servant look for him first, Dapunta," he whispered, before passing by among the crowd.

Shortly afterwards, just as the representatives of the Sriwijaya Union in Telaga Batu recited the title for Cahyadawasuna, in the position of meditation Pu Mula Suma

take his last breath. He died with lips smiling ..