Dewi Sri – The Legend of the Rice Goddess

This is a classic Indonesian folktale. It is about a Goddess named Dewi Sri. She is one of the most popular Indonesian mythological characters.

This tale originated from the time when Hinduism was the Major Religion in Nusantara (Indonesian archipelago). This is a post that I have wanted to write since I wrote the tale ofNu Wa, the Chinese Goddess who created mankind. Both Dewi Sri and Nu Wa are strong “primordial mother” figures in their own cultures.

Anyway, this is my first tale in this year of the horse. The illustrations are more minimalistic (Hari got too busy. I ain’t lazy! L-O-L!). I hope you still enjoy the tale nonetheless. 

Do you know that snakes originally had arms and legs? Oh yes, they looked like long-bodied lizards. How could they end up like what they are?

It all started when Batara Guru – the supreme god – issued a decree. It said that all immortal beings must lend their assistance in building the new Celestial Palace. Anyone who disobeyed would be considered lazy and lose their arms and legs.

Ananta, the naga (snake) goddess was busy fighting her eternal enemy, the eagle king Garuda. When the palace was almost done, Garuda flew so fast to the site and helped the other gods placing the roof. Ananta was the only one who ended up contributing nothing.

Ananta was punished, as commended by Batara Guru. Her arms and legs were cut off. Her physical form became what a modern snake looks like. She was also banished from heaven.

Ananta was so sad. She slowly slithered to a swamp to hid herself. As, she gazed upon the reflection of the full moon, three drops of tear flowed out of her eyes. When these tear-drops touched the water, they turned into three colorful orbs.

Ananta collected these pearly orbs in her mouth. She could feel lives inside those orbs. They were pulsing as if they were breathing.

Ananta decided to visit Batara Narada. He was the younger brother of Batara Guru. Ananta showed him the glowing orbs. After examining them, Batara Narada told Ananta that those pearls contained lives. They must be eggs!

Narada advised Ananta to humbly offer those living jewels to Batara Guru. If the supreme god was pleased, he might just forgive Ananta and lift her banishment.

Ananta thought that it was a marvelous idea. She immediately went Batara to Guru’s new palace. On her way there, she was spotted by an eagle – a follower of Garuda.

The eagle attacked Ananta twice. The first attack caused Ananta so much pain that she jerked her head up. As the result, one of the orbs was thrown up so close to the sun. It cracked and a snake came out. It flew up to the sun. The mortals knew it as the flare, the flaming snake that playfully circled the sun.

The second attack caused Ananta to cough up another orb. It rolled into a big river which carried it to the sea. When it reached the depth, it cracked and another snake came out. It grew into a giant sea serpent, the mount of the Sea King.

Ananta finally reached the Celestial Palace, the abode of Batara Guru. She had one orb left to offer. She carefully put it on the floor, in front of the supreme god.

The last orb cracked and a baby girl came out of it. Batara Guru was amazed. He accepted this gift and adopted the girl. Ananta was forgiven and her banishment was lifted.

The baby girl was named Nyai Pohaci Sanghyang Asri. They called her Sri for short. She grew up into a beautiful goddess. All Gods who laid eyes on her desired her, including her every own foster father.

The elder gods feared that Batara Guru might took Sri as his concubine. It would be such an inappropriate, blasphemous thing!

A great debate took place among the elder gods. In order to protect Sri’s chastity and honor, they decided that Sri must die. They secretly poisoned her supper so that she died peacefully when she was sleeping.

They took her dead body to earth and buried her in a hidden place. When the morning dawned, dwellers of heaven looked for the missing goddess everywhere but they could not find her.

Through her motherly instinct, Ananta knew that Sri was no more alive. She wept for her for days and nights. The Earth took pity on the poor mother. The nature wept for the innocent goddess who withered before she has the chance to blossom.

The weather turned turbulent. The grave where Sri was buried suddenly shook and shone. Sri body was revealed for all to see.

Look! A miracle took place as the weeping Ananta approached her daughter’s cold body. Mother Nature had showed her power. She gave the goddess a chance to be useful for the world!

Her skull turned into coconut tree, one of the most useful plants known in Nusantara. Her nose, lips and ears became herbs and spices that give flavors to our foods and lives. Her hair turned into grass and vegetables, feeding both the humans and animals.

Her breasts became fruits and her nails became flowering plants. Her arms turned into strong teak trees, her legs grew into tuber plants, her fingers became sugar canes and her toes became bamboos.

From her uterus, grew the sugar palm. Corns, beans and nuts grew from her abdomen. Finally, her left eye became red rice and the right one became white rice. The last one is the staple food that feeds the people of Nusantara.

The spirit of Sri turned into a gigantic snake. It protected the rice paddy field from rats. The snake had beautiful batik patterned skin and moved graciously like a princess.We call the snake Sanca Batik (literally means batik python – known as reticulated python in English).

This snake is also popularly known as Ular Sawah (literally means “Paddy Field Snake”, not to be mistaken with Asian Rice Paddy Snake – Enhydris plumbea).

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Even in this modern day, Dewi Sri (dewi means “goddess”) is referred as the symbol of rice and fertility. Many traditional events in Java and Bali are dedicated to her.

There are many other versions of this tale. In one of them, the bird that attacked Ananta was a crow. When it was going to attack Ananta for the third time after Sri came out of the orb, the gods casted it away and named it bad-luck bringer.

In another version, the first two eggs contained Sri’s brothers. They were also killed by the gods because they witnessed the burial of Sri. Their spirits turned into Swifts (a type of bird that looks like swallow). These birds help protecting the rice plants by eating the harmful insects.

THANKS by EVADA