The Legend of Timun Mas

Once upon a time in Central Java, at the edge of the jungle, there lived an elderly woman named Mbok Srini. She had been feeling lonely because she didn’t have a child and her spouse had passed away several years ago. In the dense and gloomy jungle once said there lived a green giant, also known as Bhuto Ijo who eats human flesh. However, Mbok Srini had never seen or met one while she and her husband were living together.

In her struggle of loneliness following the death of her husband, Mbok Srini wished for a child to accompany her. The longing of the child made Mbok Srini pray day and night to the God Almighty in hoping to get her wish granted regardless of how difficult the path could be. Her faith and determination brought her to the dream estuary where Bhuto Ijo asked her to pick up an encasement beneath the big tree in the jungle where firewood usually takes. When she woke up in the next morning with an unbelieving look on her face and fear of the giant figure, Mbok Srini put at risk to go to the large tree in the midst of the jungle that was shown to her in her dream last night.

Mbok Srini was surprised when she discovered a bundle of stuff below the large tree when she got there. She unwrapped the bundles and discovered cucumber seeds inside. The giant from her dream suddenly appeared in the middle of her perplexity while she was clutching the cucumber seeds. 

“Don’t be afraid; I won’t eat you,” the giant soothed. “Would you like a child?” he continued. “Yes, Mr. Giant”, Mbok Srini answered, her face trembling in dread. 

“I need a child to accompany me”, Mbok Srini continued.

“Plant the cucumber seed that you’re holding on the field in front of your home, it will grow a child. Give her affection and feed her a lot so that it will grow and become plump. I will take her back when she is turning six.” The giant declared in a loud voice.

After the giant disappeared, Mbok Srini hurriedly left the jungle and went home. When she got home, she planted the cucumber seeds in her yard with high hopes. The seeds quickly grew and produced fruit. The cucumber plants came up with large, ready-to-harvest fruits in a couple of days. When Mbok Srini went to pick a cucumber, she was incredibly surprised by the discovery of a gorgeous baby girl inside. As she was born from a golden cucumber, the name “Timun Mas” was given to her. 

As the 6 years passed, Timun Mas grew up into a lovely and healthy young girl who was raised by Mbok Srini with all of her heart and affection. They both adore each other so much that they don’t want to be apart. But, one night, Mbok Srini had an unpleasant dream about the giant. He approached Mbok Srini and said “I will immediately take the child to eat within 7 days”. Then Mbok Srini cleverly replied “Oh Mr. Giant, be patient. I will give her to you, but she is still small and thin. It’s not good for you to eat now, wait for another two years.” After a lengthy pause, the giant nodded in agreement and said, “Well, I’ll be back to get her in two years when she’s fat and good for me to eat,” and then the giant then disappeared into her dream.

Mbok Srini woke up from her sleep full of worries about the dream. She nevertheless wholeheartedly prayed and fasted to the God Almighty to find a way of salvation so that Timun Mas would not be gobbled up by the giant. After 40 days of prayer and fasting, on a night, Mbok Srini got a vision in her dream again. She met an old hermit man who said “I will help your daughter! Bring her to me at the top of this mountain”. Mbok Srini felt a bit relieved because she knew the exact location of the mountain peak. She had once crossed the mountain with her husband.

Mbok Srini subsequently told her dream to Timun Mas the following morning. Hearing that made Timun Mas nervous, but Mbok Srini urged her not to be. They prepared the supplies needed to get there to meet the ascetic man. They reached the summit of the mountain after several days of hiking. Mbok Srini, however, only waited on the mountainside because she was exhausted. Then Timun Mas continued her journey on her own. A few hours later, she finally reached the top of the mountain and saw an old man with white hair wearing a white robe. She greeted “Excuse me, Mister. My name is Timun Mas. My mom told me that you will help me fight the evil giant who wants to eat me,” 

“Oh, you’re the one called Timun Mas? Yes, I did come to your mother in a dream. My granddaughter, if the giant returns, run fast,” said the hermit.” 

“His footsteps are wide, I should be easy to catch,” Timun Mas wondered. “Then take these four small bundles. Throw them one by one as you run away,” the hermit replied firmly.

Timun Mas left the hermit after hearing his advice and went to get her mother. She delivered a message from the ascetic telling not to be afraid because she now has four little packages to utilize when escaping from the giant. 

Two years had passed. Timun Mas had trained herself to run before the monster appeared. It was time for the giant to return and take Timun Mas.  Suddenly, there were loud footsteps and the shout of “Mbok Srini!” could be heard coming closer from a distance. “Where is your daughter?” The giant yelled, “I’m starving and want to eat your daughter.”

“Please Mr. Giant, don’t eat my daughter,” she pleaded in terror. “You had promised! You can’t back out of it! “I’ve been waiting for two years now!” Bhuto Ijo fiercely yelled. Mbok Srini reluctantly and shakily accompanied Timun Mas to meet him.

“Don’t worry, mom!  I can get away from this beast, trust me.” Timun Mas whispered to Mbok Srini.

Timun Mas instantly unwrapped the parcels the hermit had given her after reaching the giant. It turned out that the first bundle contained cucumber seeds. When she tossed it towards the giant, something miraculous happened. When the cucumber seeds hit the earth, the giant’s surroundings changed into a cucumber field with an abundance of fruit. The field of cucumbers halted the giant’s progress.

Then for the first time, Timun Mas could escape the giant. She struggled mightily to get around obstacles and tree trunks that were encircling her body. But after a few days, she succeeded in getting away. As Butho Ijo’s rage grew, Timun Mas was pursued ferociously.

Timun Mas was seen in the distance after moving by with her broad strides. She abruptly hurled a second bundle, which included sharp needles, when the giant got close to her. The needles grew into tall, leafy bamboo trees that encircled Timun Mas and kept the giant from catching her. For several days, Butho Ijo struggled tremendously to cut through the bamboo trees. However, Timun Mas continued to run away from the bamboo grove.

Butho Ijo finally saw Timun Mas again after two days of running. Timun Mas  quickly opened the third bundle since she could feel the giant getting closer. The third packet, which contained salt, was thrown his way. Another miracle happened again, this time the area around the gigantic transformed into an enormous, deep ocean as the salt struck the ground. 

However, the wide and deep ocean had no effect on Butho Ijo. The monster managed to reach the shore where Timun Mas was sprinting after swimming across the ocean for an entire week. Despite growing exhausted, Butho Ijo was prepared to go after Timun Mas once more because she was still aware of his fury and how delicious her meat tasted.

After 5 days of running, Timun Mas came into view. She was terrified by the giant’s might and desire to capture and swallow Timun Mas.  Timun Mas’ sole chance lay in the last bundle. She unwrapped the fourth package while fervently praising God. “A piece of shrimp paste (terasi)” was within. Timun Mas flung the shrimp paste towards the giant with all her strength she had left. 

When it hit the ground, the shrimp paste rapidly changed into an enormously deep sea of scorching hot mud. Butho Ijo could not slow down his galloping. He then collapsed into the scorching mud, suffering from the mud’s intense heat, shouting and struggling. However, the more he fought, the more the mud dragged him down. He finally perished in the boiling mud.

Timun Mas halted her movement after the giant’s shouts could no longer be heard. She felt relieved and at peace because she had saved herself and drowned the giant, who had vanished from her sight. Timun Mas could finally return home to meet her mother after weeks of adventure.

Mbok Srini, who had been grieving for weeks about Timun Mas’s return, was now overjoyed. They hugged and thanked God for His guidance. Timun Mas is saved from the giant’s pursuit. Mbok Srini eventually lived peacefully with Timun Mas in her cottage on the edge of the jungle without fear of the giant.

Every folktale must have a lesson to be learned. The legend of Timun Mas reminds us that, with enough faith and perseverance, we may alter our fate and course in life. In the end, if God wills, everything that your heart desires will be granted. Don’t give up easily; keep trying, and everything will be fine in time.

Bibliography

Rompies, J. K. (2023, January 31). Dongeng anak Nusantara: Timun mas dan raksasa. Popmama.com. https://www.popmama.com/kid/4-5-years-old/jemima/dongeng-anak-timun-mas-dan-raksasa#page-2