JAYAPRANA and LAYONSARI (English Story)

JAYAPRANA and LAYONSARI

Once upon a time there was a small kingdom called Kalianget. At one time the kingdom was plagued by deadly diseases which killed many of its people including most of the king’s family members. This made the King very sad so he decided to visit his people to entertain himself and his people. At a crossroad he met a boy child who was crying for the loss of his parents and brothers. The king decided to adopt the boy since he had already lost all his children in the epidemic that swept through the kingdom. He took the boy to his palace and made arrangements for him to become one of the family. This boy was Jayaprana.

The king loved him as his own child and did everything to keep him happy. Still, as the boy grew to become a handsome adult Jayaprana decided not to interfere with others and approach life in a simple way, even though being the son of a King.

Then, the time had finally come and Jayaprana fell in love with a beautiful flower seller at the market. The girl was Layonsari. She also fell in love with Jayaprana and his father, the King, agreed with their good intentions and accepted the notion of marriage.

The kingdom was delighted with the marriage of Jayaprana and Layonsari but shortly after dark clouds of trouble began to hover above the kingdom. The king had fallen in love with Layonsari which was now the wife of his only son, Jayaprana.

The king, hypnotized by his feelings for Layonsari, began to plan on ways to get rid of Jayaprana. He ordered Jayaprana to travel to the forest near the sea accompanied by his guards to kill people who were disrupting the peace in his Kingdom. The king’s dark plan was to keep Jayaprana away while trying to persuade Layonsari to become his wife instead.

Jayaprana travelled through the forest as instructed even though his wife Layonsari had told him she had seen bad omens and had nightmares about this journey. The head guard of the kingdom, Patih Sawung Galing, accompanied him and after walking for days they finally reached the forest.

There were many confrontations and they succeeded in killing all the troublemakers. Then, at the last battle Patih Sawung Galing tried to kill Jayaprana. He tried several times in various ways but nothing could kill him.

Exhausted of ideas Patih Sawung Galing stopped. They sat down and had a conversation and Jayaprana asked Patih Sawung Galing why he wanted to kill him. He was told it was the king’s orders. He told Jayaprana the king had fallen in love with Layonsari and wanted her to become his wife.

Jayaprana was chocked and became very sad that the King, his father, who had been very kind to him all his life, would do such a thing. Jayaprana would give anything to his father, the King… anything but his wife.

Jayaprana had promised to obey all order from the king and would honour his word. Jayaprana could easily have killed Patih Sawung Galing and then the King… “but for what?” - He thought.

Jayaprana was devastated and felt he had nothing in his life except his dear loving wife, but, to fulfil his promise to his father, the King, he decided to let Patih Sawung Galing kill him. Jayaprana had flowers in his hair and he picked them one by one and placed them in the hands of Patih Sawung Galing. He also gave him his Keris so that he could use it to kill him. He asked Patih Sawung Galing to tell his wife, Layonsari, that he died in order to fulfil his promise to the King. The tears of Patih Sawung Galing fell as he took the flowers and Keris. He could easily kill Jayaprana with one hit and did just that.

All of a sudden a fragrant scent from Jayapranas dead body began to spread. It continued to spread and cover the whole forest making all animals scream with sadness. All but one; a white tiger. The white tiger rushed to Jayapranas dead body to find Patih Sawung Galing holding his bloody Keris and killed him in one fierce blow.

The news spread throughout the Kingdom and Layonsari chose to commit suicide after knowing that the king’s misdeeds had resulted in the death of her husband, Jayaprana. Not long after her committing suicide a fragrant scent began to spread throughout the palace.

The fragrant scent was a sign that they were pure in mind without any sins.

As both Jayaprana and Layonsari were dead the king managed to break out from his illusionary state and realized what he had done. The King withdrew himself from reining the Kingdom.

The people of the Kingdom decided to bring the body of Layonsari to the forest where Jayaprana was killed to unite them in death and two graves were built. One grave for Jayaprana and Layonsari and another grave for Patih Sawung Galing who was the man destined to guard the graves forever.

After a complete ceremony Jayaprana and Layonsari were stated as holy people.