The First Folklore

THE ORIGIN OF SIDAMULIH
(A Village in Rawalo, Banyumas, Central Java)

Retold by Muhammad Zainul Wafa

Many years ago, there was a small kingdom. The king of that kingdom likes collecting unusual things. He had collected many kinds of unusual things such as four legs chicken, antique glass and others. One day, the king heard that the villagers ever had seen a golden deer with four horns in the forest. After the king heard the issue about a golden deer with four horns in the forest, he want to make the golden deer became his own.
“It would be wonderful day to have an animal with golden fur.” thought the king.
Then the king called a servant and asked him to announce that the king would conduct a prize contest. The servant went to the village as soon as possible to announce the prize contest news. The king would give a big prize to every villager who could catch the golden deer in forest.
The villagers seem very enthusiastic with the prize contest. After that a big number of groups went to the forest. They cut all the trees in front of them to clear their view, burned the trees to force the golden deer came out even kill their friend who block their effort to catch the golden deer away. The prize had blinded their eyes. But, no one saw the golden deer in the forest. The villagers felt that their effort were senseless and claimed that the king had lied who caused many victims. The king very disappointed when knew that there was no golden deer in the forest and the villagers were angry with him. The villagers wouldn’t trust the king anymore.
In the cave that located in the forest, there was a man named kaki (an appellation for the old man) Sida who woke up from his asceticism. He heard the price contest announcement but he didn’t know the meaning of the prize contest itself. All the things that he knew was the king need the golden deer. Even though he didn’t know what the golden deer for.
He went to the forest and saw the golden deer in front of him. Before kaki Sida caught it, the golden deer was getting closer with him. The golden deer was very tame with kaki Sida. Then, he brought it to the palace. The villagers were very amazed with golden deer that was brought by kaki Sida. The king was very glad to meet kaki Sida who had brought the animal that he dream of. The king would fulfil his promise who wants to give a big prize to kaki Sida. When the king would give the prize toward kaki Sida, he regard as the king want to punish him. So, kaki Sida ran away and never came back. The king was very sad and hopes that kaki Sida came back. Finally to fulfil his promise, the king named the village with Sidamulih. “Sida” was the name of kaki Sida and “mulih” means come back or return. Although he had fulfilled his promise, he still hopes that kaki Sida would return someday.


COMMENT
In this story we learn that we have to do everything honestly and straightforward. The villagers can’t achieve their purpose (get the prize) because there is no honest at all in their heart. They merely think about prize although they have to sacrifice their friend, environment and so on so far. But different with kaki Sida that wants to help the king to get the golden deer honestly. His name become immortal in this village, and everyone will memorize his life.