The
legend of Wijaya Kusuma flower in Cilacap
Once
upon a time in CIlacap, there was a sprig of flower that was never wilted all
season. A rare flower that, allegedly, not only curing a variety of disease,
but also reviving the dead body. People earlier believed that the origin of the
magic flower was from the stamens of Wijaya Kusuma Flower that belonged to the
Lord Vishnu in heaven, which fell and grew in the world. The flower of the Gods
which later sought to become an amulet that its owner would be immortal in the world.
At
one time, the King of the land of Java dreamed of finding Wijaya Kusuma flower which grew in a coral island in the South Sea. He had a dream that he could not die if he got it. The
next day, the King immediately called the entire of trusty retainer. They were
instructed to pluck Wijaya Kusuma flower, which grew up on the coral island in
the South Seas, which was known as Badong coral island. One of the adviser said to the King that it could not be plucked at any time because it could be plucked when
the climate was good and the South Seas were quiet. However, the King did not listen for the advice.
Finally,
without being able to resist the King’s command, a troupe of royal retainer
left the Palace to go to the South Seas. In fact, they went with misgivings and fear.
Officers of the Place has said that anyone who violated the restrictions would
get a plague, not longevity.
Arrived
on the coast of the southern sea, their feelings grew wryly. When the waves of
the South Seas were very high as a hill, they became very afraid. Badong coral
island was in the middle of the ocean; sometimes it appeared and sometimes
vanished hindered by the wave. That situation was not the appropriate time to
conduct the King’s command.
In
the middle of bewilderment and despair, they saw a fisherman sat brooding while
staring at the sea. The retainers of the kingdom immediately approached him and asked why he sat alone there. He was contemplating his fate. As a fisherman but he did not have a ship. Then, the retainers of the kingdom offered the man to pluck the flower and he would be given many rewards.
Finally,
he went there because he was interested in the reward he would get. By borrowing his brother’s
ship, he encouraged himself passed the violently waves of the South Seas to
Badong coral Island where wijaya Kusuma flower was. The fisherman really
exerted all his skill and courage in order to get to the Badong coral island.
After arriving there, the fisherman quickly climbed the cliff he could pluck
that rare flower.
After
getting it, suddenly he saw there were many terrified faces of demon around him
who wanted to get the flower too because of its power. They wanted to grab it
but the fisherman could run away from the crowd of demon with his chopping
knife to go to the boat. However, how disappointed he was, when he saw his boat
was hit by strong waves to pieces among the coral. He was very afraid and
thought how about his fate if he was killed by the demon of the Badong coral
island. Finally, when the demons who chased him getting closer, the fisherman
had no choice anymore then he dabbled into waves that run down. However,
because of his spirit made him not to give up. With all his might, he grabbed a
swim board that apparently came from the fragments of his boat. It made him
safe from the waves.
In
the next day, the retainer of the kingdom found him with a sprig of flower in
his hand. However they did not take the responsible of him. Knowing the
fisherman be dying, they just left him and took the flower from him without
helping him.
In
the end, the King and the retainer of the kingdom got the curse because they
had violated the restrictions. One by one the retainer of the Kingdom dead
without any clear reason while the King itself became mad and left the palace.
The fisherman who so cursed the King because of his betrayal, eventually could
still be grateful. Although he did not get the ship but he was still safe.
After that event, no one knew where the flower was. It disappeared
mysteriously.
