THE EMERGENCE OF BALISTRAIT

     A long, long time ago in old Java there was a priest who lived in the kingdom of Kediri.  Sidik Mantra was his name.  He was a wise priest who had left worldly ambition.  He had a wife and a son.  Although Sidik Mantra was a wise priest, Manik Angkeran was a naughty boy.  He liked gambling very much.  He was a well known gambler.  Instead of praying to god, he played gambling all the time.  Consequently he lost a lot of money.  He had much debt.  His headache with his debts led him to ask his father for help.

     Since Sidik Mantra was not a rich man, he was unable to fulfill his son’s demand.  So he prayed to god to ask for a solution to his son’s financial problems.  When he was meditating one night, he heard a voice in his heart.  God gave him a hint that on top of MountAgung in Bali lived a dragon.  His name was Naga Besuki.  He was a wealthy dragon because his skin was made of gold and jewelry.  God ordered him to ask the dragon for financial help.

     The next day Sidik Mantra went to Bali.  The trip to Bali was hard.  To reach the top of MountAgung, the highest mountain in Bali, he had to overcome many obstacles.  Finally he could make it.  Then he sat meditating on top of it.  He sounded a small bell and read ‘mantra’ or prayer.  Shortly after that a big snake appeared.  It was a very big and scary snake.  His skin was made of gold and decorated with jewelry.  Then the dragon asked Sidik Mantra.

‘O, human, what do you want from me?’

‘O, Naga Besuki,   God had told me that you can help me solve my problem’

‘What is your problem?’

‘I have debts.  I need your help’

‘Take this’.

     The dragon gave coins of gold taken from his skin.  Sidik Mantra was delighted.  He took it home immediately.  Then he gave it to his son. 

     Manik Angkeran was very happy.  But he was not content with what he got.  He heard that his father got gold coins from Naga Besuki on top of MountAgung.  So he decided to go there by himself to get more wealth.

     He stole the small bell from his father.  It was a tool for religious ceremony.  Then he left for Bali.  When he got to top of MountAgung he sat meditating.  He did not know how to pray so he just sounded the bell and cried out loud to call Naga Besuki.

     Suddenly Naga Besuki appeared in front of him.  Manik Angkeran was scared.

‘O boy, what do you want from me?  Why do you call my name?’

‘I am Manik Ankeran, I need you help’.

‘How can I help you?’

‘I need money to pay my debts.  Please give me some’

‘I will help you on one condition.  Leave your bad habit.  You must not gamble again’

‘I promise I will not play gambling again’

‘OK, take this’

     Naga Besuki gave two gold coins from his skin.  But Manik Angkeran who was very greedy did not content at all.  He saw Naga Besuki’s tail was full of jewelry.  He decided to possess it.  When Naga Besuki turned his body to leave him, Manik Angkeran suddenly cut Besuki’s tail.  Then he ran away with the jewel.  The dragon was furious.  He chased Manik and finally he killed him.

     Sidik Mantra was very sad to hear his son’s death.  He went to see Naga Besuki on top of MountAgung in Bali.  There he asked for apology.  He also asked Naga Besuki to bring his son’s life back.  Naga Besuki was a powerful dragon so he could bring Manik Angkeran to life.  But he gave one condition.  He wanted his tail back.  Sidik Mantra had spiritual power so he could replace Naga Besuki’s tail.  The dragon was very satisfied so he brought Manik back to life.

     When Manik woke up Sidik Permana scolded him.  He decided that from then on they could not live together again.  They must live separately.  So he hit the ground with his stick.  Suddenly from the ground water poured.  It became a big spring. It became bigger and bigger and finally it became a strait that separate the Island of Java and Bali.  The western part is Java and the eastern part is Bali.