The Origin of Rawa Pening

 

Ngasem is the name of a village located in the Ambarawa District, Semarang Regency. The village of Ngasem was well-known. Every action and discipline in the village was inspired by the wisdom of a teacher named Ki Hajar Salokantara. Ki Hajar was a wise man. Meanwhile, there was a woman named Ni Endang Ariwulan. 

One day, Ni Endang was confused while searching for a knife to split an areca nut she had prepared for an evening offering. She asked Ki Hajar to choose a knife. Ki Hajar was surprised, but when the time came, he was given the knife and was encouraged to think carefully before placing it on his lap. 

However, Ni Endang forgot about the knife and placed it on her lap. As time passed, Ni Endang and Ki Hajar developed a romantic relationship, but it was said that the heavens became angry. Ki Hajar Salokantara then asked Ni Endang to come before him. He planned to meditate on Mount Telamaya and left a magical object called gentha or klintingan at a temple. This object would play a role in the fate of a baby, a baby’s pregnancy, and the birth of a dragon. 

Even though the child behaved like other boys, he would sometimes cry. People noticed that this child was different. Eventually, they asked Ni Endang to find out who the child’s father was. She followed the signs to Telamaya. 

Ni Endang, using her knowledge, followed the child, who turned into a dragon. The dragon moved toward a river that flowed under a rock called Selo. It made its way through a swamp, and in Kaligung, there was another rock called Sela Gombak. Across from it, there was another rock called Baru Klinthing or Baru Minthing. 

Months and years passed, but Baru Klinthing had yet to find Ki Hajar Salokantara. Eventually, following the guidance of his mother, Ni Endang, he discovered Ki Hajar’s residence and stayed in Sapakung. Ni Endang settled near a sacred spring (sendhang). 

Ni Endang was then known as Sandhang An Wulana in the Telamaya meditation site. When Ki Hajar examined the waiting dragon, the dragon bowed and showed respect. Ki Hajar realized that this was not an evil dragon but a dragon with a noble heart. The dragon then spoke, “Ki Hajar Salokantara, I am surprised, for I did not know that you could see me.”

The dragon then requested guidance. Ki Hajar tested Baru Klinthing by setting difficult spiritual trials (tapa brata). Ki Hajar threw him from his arms, but neither his head nor tail met. Finally, Baru Klinthing reconnected himself and presented a mystical heirloom. 

Ki Hajar, impressed, advised that strength comes with challenges. To be acknowledged as his child, Baru Klinthing had to endure severe trials. Eventually, after many hardships, Baru Klinthing received a powerful spear called Kyai Baru Klinthing. 

One day, after completing his spiritual journey, Baru Klinthing returned to a village where people were celebrating a festival. However, he was treated poorly. He disguised himself as a poor young man named Jaka Bandung and begged for food. Everyone rejected him except for a widow named Ni Endang Ariwulan, who gave him food. Before leaving, he told her that if anything unusual happened, she should climb a tree. 

Jaka Bandung then returned to the village and issued a challenge: whoever could pull a stick he had planted in the ground would be honored seven times. No one could do it, except him. 

When Jaka Bandung pulled out the stick, water gushed from the hole, causing a massive flood that drowned the entire village. The flood created a roaring sound (salsin). The land submerged, and one part of the mountain was swept away, forming a small hill called Gunung Kendhalisada. Meanwhile, the flooded land became a vast, clear lake known as Rawa Bening, which is now called Rawa Pening.

Kontributor

1. Bahtiar Tohari 

2. Bayu Aji Setiawan 

3. Benyamin Wonggor 

4. Chorin Aditiya 

5. Dafa Nur Zahroini 

6. Daffa Ilham Aditama 

7. Dava Andhika Pratama 

8. Deni Tri Pamungkas 

9. Denis Pratama Putra