Once upon a time, in Eastern part of java
Island, there was a kingdom ruled by a king. The king’s name was Prabu Menak
Prakoso. One day, Prabu Menak Prakoso and his soldiers invaded the Kingdom of
Klungkung in Bali. The king of Klungkung was killed on the battlefield, yet his
daughter, Made Surati, and his son, Agung Bagus Mantra, were able to escape and
hide in the jungle.
Prabu Menak Prakoso had a son named Raden
Banterang. He was such a handsome young man. One day, Raden banterang went to
the jungle for hunting. It was in the jungle that Raden Banterang met Made
Surati. She was then taking to Blambangan to be his wife. Raden Banterang and
Made Surati enjoyed a happy life in the
palace.
When Raden Banterang was hunting one day,
Made Surati was surprised by the arrivealof a dirty beggar asking for her pity.
The princess was surprised to find that the beggar was her older brother, Agung
Bagus Mantra. She promptly squatted and embraced her brother’s legs. However,
her great respect of her brother was not well accepted. Instead, Agung Bagus
Mantra asked his sister to kill Raden banterang, but such a request was
rejected. He was very angry with her and came up with a sky idea to slander
her.
Slowly but surely, Agung succeded in convincing Raden Banterang that his wife had been
involved in a scandal with another man. Asking for compassion, Made Surati
tried to tell the truth and denied her husband’s accusation. Hearing his wife’s
explanation, the king became angrier and angrier. As a proof of her sacred
love, she asked her husband to kill her. As a last request. She asked her
husband to throw her dead body into the river. She said that if the water in the river smelled
terrible, it meant that she had ever been sinful, but if it smelled fragrant it
meant that she was innocent.
Raden Banterang who was unable to control
his emotions soon stabbed his keris
(dagger) into his wife’s chest. She died instantly. The dead body of Made
Surati was quickly thrown into the dirty river. Raden Banterang was shocked to
see the river suddenly become clean and as clear as glass with a fragrant
smell. Raden Banterang screamed crazily and regretted his deed. He walked
unsteadily and fell into the river screaming, ‘Banyu...Wangi...Banyuwangi!’
This means “Fragrant water”.
Banyuwangi was born from the proof of
noble and sacred love. From then on, the place is called Banyuwangi.
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