Long ago, in a small kingdom in Central Java, there lived a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang.
She is the daughter of Prabu Baka, a cruel and arrogant king.
Roro Jonggrang has a loyal bodyguard named Bandung Bondowoso.
One day, Prabu Baka sent Bandung Bondowoso to look for a new concubine.
Bandung Bondowoso also went to various countries to look for a beautiful and perfect concubine.
However, he did not find anyone suitable.
One day, Bandung Bondowoso returned to his father’s kingdom.
He saw Roro Jonggrang in the palace yard.
Bandung Bondowoso immediately fell in love with Roro Jonggrang’s beauty.
Bandung Bondowoso also proposed to Roro Jonggrang.
However, Roro Jonggrang rejected the proposal.
She doesn’t want to marry a man who is arrogant and cruel like Bandung Bondowoso.
Bandung Bondowoso was angry.
He threatened to destroy his father’s kingdom if Roro Jonggrang did not want to marry him.
Roro Jonggrang was forced to accept Bandung Bondowoso’s proposal.
However, She has a plan to thwart the wedding.
Build a thousand temples
On the night of the wedding, Roro Jonggrang asked Bandung Bondowoso to build a thousand temples before dawn.
Bandung Bondowoso agreed to this request.
Bandung Bondowoso summoned the genies to help him build the temple.
The genies worked very quickly. In a short time, they had built nine hundred and ninety-nine temples.
Roro Jonggrang saw that Bandung Bondowoso had almost succeeded in completing his task.
She panicked.
Roro Jonggrang also called the women in the village to beat the mortar and pound the rice.
The sound of the mortar and pestle making the chicken crow.
Hearing the sound of a rooster crowing, the genies thought that the day had come.
They left their jobs and disappeared.
Roro Jonggrang become a stone statue
Bandung Bondowoso was furious.
He cursed Roro Jonggrang to become a stone statue.
Roro Jonggrang Begs For Forgiveness
Roro Jonggrang, who had become a stone statue, burst into tears.
She begged forgiveness from Bandung Bondowoso.
“I’m sorry, my lord,” said Roro Jonggrang softly. “I just want to save myself from a marriage I don’t want.”
Bandung Bondowoso was silent for a moment.
He also realized that Roro Jonggrang loved Prabu Baka, his own father.
“Okay,” said Bandung Bondowoso. “I will spare you. However, you must remain a stone statue forever.”
Roro Jonggrang also accepted the decision.
She was willing to become a stone statue forever for the sake of his love for Prabu Baka.
Moral message
Roro Jonggrang’s story teaches us several important things, namely:
The importance of respecting parents.
Prabu Baka was a cruel and arrogant father.
He did not respect Roro Jonggrang, his own son.
The danger of arrogance. Bandung Bondowoso is a man who is arrogant and arrogant.
That arrogance makes him do things that harm other people.
The importance of keeping promises.
Bandung Bondowoso has promised to build a thousand temples before dawn.
However, he did not keep his promise.
Power of love. Roro Jonggrang’s great love for Prabu Baka made him willing to sacrifice his life.
Prambanan temple
Prambanan Temple is one of the largest Hindu temples in Indonesia.
This temple is located in Prambanan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region.
This temple was built in the 9th century by King Rakai Pikatan.
Prambanan Temple is a silent witness to the love story of Roro Jonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso.
In the temple grounds, there is a stone statue of Roro Jonggrang which is a symbol of forbidden love.
Prambanan Temple has become one of the popular tourist destinations in Indonesia.
This temple is an attraction for local and foreign tourists.