Ciung Wanara

The folklore tells the legend of the Sunda Galuh kingdom, the origin of Pamali River's name as well as describes the cultural ties between Sundanese and Javanese living in the western part of Central Java province.

The legend of Ciung Wanara is often associated with Karang Kamulyan archaeological sites, a sub-district in Ciamis Regency, West Java.

After having reigned for a long time the King decided to become an ascetic and he therefore summoned his minister Aria Kebonan to the palace.

While he was waiting in the front pendopo, he saw servants busy walking back and forth, arranging everything for the king.

In a moment Aria Kebonan's appearance resembled Prabu Permana di Kusumah's, but looked ten years younger.

Uwa Batara Lengser appeared and proposed to invite a new ascetic, called Ajar Sukaresi - who was none else than King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah - to explain the strange dream.

The king kicked the dead body so violently that it was thrown into the forest where it changed into a big dragon, called Nagawiru.

Barma Wijaya even sentenced Dewi Naganingrum to death because she had given birth to a dog, which was considered a curse from the gods and shameful for the country.

One morning they went to the river to fetch the bow-net and were very surprised to find a casket in the net instead of a fish.

Ciung Wanara took the egg, made for the wood as told by the old man, but he could not find a fowl.

Ciung Wanara put it in the basket, left the old man and his wife, and made his journey to Galuh.

In the capital of Galuh, cockfighting was a big sporting event, as both the king and its people loved it.

King Barma Wijaya has an undefeated fierce and large rooster (cock) named Si Jeling.

While Ciung Wanara was looking for the owner of the casket, he took part in a royal cockfighting tournament.

The old man immediately learns that he is Dewi Naganingrum's long-lost son, especially when Ciung Wanara shows him the casket in which he had been thrown into the river.

Uwa Batara Lengser told Ciung Wanara that the king had ordered such besides accusing his mother of having given birth to a dog.

"If your rooster wins in the fight against that of the king, just ask him half of the kingdom as a reward for your victory."

The next morning Ciung Wanara appeared in front of Prabu Barma Wijaya and told him what Lengser had proposed.

Ciung Wanara became king of half of the kingdom and had an iron prison built to keep bad people.

Ciung Wanara planned a plot to punish Prabu Barma Jaya and Dewi Pangrenyep.

One day Prabu Barma Jaya and Dewi Pangrenyep are invited by Ciung Wanara to come and inspect the newly built prison.

However, Hariang Banga, Dewi Pangrenyep's son, was sad to learn about the capture of his mother.

Both Ciung Wanara and Hariang Banga are powerful princes with great skill in pencak silat martial arts.

However, Ciung Wanara managed to push Hariang Banga to the eastern bank of Brebes River.

All of a sudden there appeared King Prabu Permana Di Kusumah accompanied by Queen Dewi Naganingrum and Uwa Batara Lengser.

Both of you will reign in this land, Ciung Wanara in Galuh and Hariang Banga in the eastern Brebes River, the new country.

Let Dewi Pangrenyep and Barma Wijaya who was Aria Kebonan remain in prison for their sins."

Entitled Tjioeng Wanara, the film starred R Sukran, Elly Joenara, AB Djoenaedi, Muhammad Arief, and S Waldy.