[Cerpen] Legend: The Queen of the Southern Sea

Dewi Kadita was an unlucky princess. Her father, Prabu Siliwangi of Pajajaran, had many wives. Because Dewi Kadita and her mother (Queen Mayangsari) were very beautiful, all the mistresses—the king’s other wives—were jealous. They used some kind of magic to curse Dewi Kadita and her mother. The princess and the queen became ugly and dirty. Prabu Siliwangi didn’t recognize them and send them away.

 Dewi Kadita’s life changed after she was cursed. She and her mother wandered in the forest. Unfortunately, her mother did not survive—she died. Dewi Kadita was confused and upset. She cried until she fell asleep. She had a dream. She saw herself jumping into the water and was free from the curse. When she woke up, she jumped into the sea without the second thought. She turned into a beautiful lady. She was as beautiful as she was before the curse. Then she realized that she was no longer human.

Dewi Kadita became a very powerful goddess. She rules all ‘creatures’ on the southern coast of Java Island and she is known as Kanjeng Ratu Kidul or Nyai Roro Kidul. She wanted to get even with her father. She became the primary bride of Mataram kings, the rival of Pajajaran kings. People say she trapes males who wear green while they walk along the shore. They are swallowed by the waves and are either missing or dead. People still believe that they have become her guards or her male companions.