The Legend
of Gunung Bromo
Hundreds of years
ago, during the reign of the last king of Majapahit, Brawijaya, one of the
King’s wives gave birth to a girl, who was named Roro Anteng. Later this young
princess married Joko Seger, who came from a Brahman caste. Because of an
unfortunate situation the couple was forced to leave the kingdom. They settled
down in the mountain area. They ruled the area and named it “Tengger”, which
was derived from the couples’ names: Roro Anteng and Joko Seger.
After several years
the region flourished in prosperity, but Roro Anteng and Joko Seger were
unhappy because they did not have a child. Frustrated, they climbed the top of
the mountain and prayed night and day hoping that the gods would listen. The
prayer was heard and Betoro Bromo promised them many children. However, the
couple had to promise that they would sacrifice their youngest child in return.
Roro Anteng gave
birth to a child, then another, and another. In the end Roro Anteng and Joko
Seger got 25 children. Soon it was time for them to sacrifice the youngest
child, Kesuma, but the parents just could not do it. They tried to hide the
child, but an eruption happened and Kesuma fell into the crater. There was
silence before they heard a voice: “I have to be sacrificed so that you will
all stay alive. From now on, you should arrange an annual offering ceremony on
the 14th of Kesodo (the twelfth month of Tenggerese calender.”It was Kesuma’s
voice. Kesuma’s brothers and sisters held the offering ceremony every year.
Instead of a human being, these people collected fruit, vegetables, rice and
meat to be offered to the gods. And this has been done generation after
generation until today.
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