The Legend of Raden Kamandaka

The Legend of Raden Kamandaka
(Lutung Kasarung)

            Once upon a time there was a kingdom in West Java, its name was Pajajaran kingdom. This kingdom was ruled by Prabu Siliwangi. Prabu Siliwangi has 3 sons and 1 daughter from 2 empress, from the first married he has 2 sons they were Banyak Cotro and Banyak Ngampar, but when they were young their mother had died and Prabu Siliwangi decided to married again with Dewi Kumudaningsih. But before it they made an agreement , if one day they had a son ,their son must be a king in Pajajaran. Then Prabu Siliwangi and Dewi Kumudaningsih married and have a sons and a daughter, they were Banyak Blabur and Dewi Pamungkas.

            One day Prabu Siliwangi thought that he was too old to be a king in Pajajaran, so he wanted his son to replace his leadership in Pajajaran. But both of them didn’t want to be a king, as the eldest son Banyak Cotro gave some reasons, first he was not ready because he didn’t have enough science and he hadn’t married yet. Banyak Cotro said that he would marry if he met a girl who has a face like his mother. So Banyak Cotro asked for permission to left Pajajaran kingdom to found out a girl who he want.

            Banyak Cotro went to Tangkuban Perahu mount to met a priest, he was Ki Ajar Winarong , he was a sacred priest he knew how to get a girl who Banyak Cotro want, but there were several requirements that must be done by Banyak Cotro, he must apart from his greatness clothes of Pajajaran and only wearing an ordinal clothes and he should be replace his name became Raden Kamandaka.
After several days he arrived at Kadipaten Pasir Luhur and met Patih Reksonoto and he took Kamandaka as his son. Kadipaten Pasir Luhur was led by Adipatih Kandandoho he has a daughter who hadn’t married yet her name was Dewi Ciptoroso. She has a face like Kamandaka’s mother.

            Kadipaten Pasir Luhur has a tradition ceremony that holds every year,in this ceremony all family of Kadipaten followed to catch fish in logawa river. When Reksonoto followed this ceremony , secretly Kamandaka had followed him. At this time Kamandaka met Dewi Ciptoroso and they fell in love. Dewi Ciptoroso asked Kamandaka to met her in Kaputren park. In the evening secretly Kamandaka went to Kaputren park to met her,but their meeting didn’t take a long time, because the soldiers had known it. Before Kamandaka had gone he had told his identity that he was Patih Reksonoto’s son,it was heard by the soldiers and they reported it to Adipatih. So Patih Reksonoto called by Adipatih and he must gave his son,and he had done that command. But Kamandaka can run away from Kadipaten,he was diving a long the river, Adipatih Kandandoho thought that he had died. Then he met a man he was Rekajaya and they were be a bestfriend,then Raden Kamandaka stayed at Panagih Village.
Raden Kamandaka be a fan of cockfighting, fortunately Mbok Reksonoto has a rooster,its named Mercu, in every match Raden Kamandaka always be the winner,so he became very famous as chicken botoh. It was heard until Pasir Luhur,because of hearing it Adipatih Kandandoho was very angry,he command his soldiers to catch Kamandaka. Suddenly a handsome man came,he admitted that his named was Silihwarni who will devote himself for Pasir Luhur. So he get a command from Adipatih he must killed Raden Kamandaka and to prove it he must bring Raden Kamandaka’s blood and liver.
Actually Silihwarni only a pseudonym name his real name was Banyak Ngampar the younger brother of Kamandaka, he was asked by his father to found out his sibling who had gone for a long time,to overcome any problem in the trip he provided Kujang Pamungkas kerisas a weapon. Then he went to Karang Luas village and at this village he met Raden Kamandaka but both of them didn’t know each other. Then cockfighting between Kamandaka and Silihwarni happened, suddenly Silihwarni stabbed Kamandaka by Kujang Pamungkas keris,but it wasn’t in his purpose. Raden Kamandaka kept run until he arrived at a cave, he took a rest and hid from pursuit of Silihwarni in that cave. Silihwarni challenged Kamandaka from mouth of the cave, after hearing that challenge Kamandaka replied and told his identity that he was son of Pajajaran Banyak Cotro, then Silihwarni told his identity too that he was son of Pajajaran too. So the name of Jatijajar cave is the second version of that cave. Then both of them forgive each other.
But because he must bring Kamandaka’s blood and liver so he killed the dog and took its blood and liver. He said that it was Kamandaka’s blood and liver.

            Then Kamandaka meditated in that cave and he get a clue his dream to get married with Dewi Ciptoroso will come true if he can get lutung’s clothes.
The hobby of Adipatih is hunting, one day he and his family hunt, they met a large and tame monkey that actually it was Raden Kamandaka . But when they want to brought it home suddenly Rekajaya came and claim that it was his monkey,he said that he want to help kept the monkey in kadipaten. After arrived at kadipaten all girl want to kept the monkey but during at kadipaten it didn’t want to eat, it only want received food from Dewi Ciptoroso so the monkey was kept by Dewi Ciptoroso. In the evening that monkey changed into Kamandaka and during the day it turned back into monkey,only Dewi Ciptoroso who knew about it.
One day king of Nusakambangan king Pule Bahas wanted Dewi Ciptoroso to be his wife, and if she refused he will destroy kadipaten pasir luhur. Lutung kasarung(Kamandaka)suggest to accept Pule Bahas proposal but there was a requirement during the wedding Dewi Ciptoroso must be accompanied by Lutung Kasarung. When the wedding took place Pule Bahas always disturbed by Lutung Kasarung,it made he was very angry, and they were fighting. Because of his supernatural power Lutung Kasarung could be the winner, after king Pule Bahas had died Lutung Kasarung immediately turned back into Raden Kamandaka.

Finally Raden Kamandaka married with Dewi Ciptoroso.But because Raden Kamandaka had defect in cockfighting with Silihwarni so he couldn’t be a king in Pajajaran and he only be Adipatih in Pasir Luhur replace his father in-law while the king in Pajajaran was Banyak Blabur.