Queen of The South Sea: Roro Kidul

Queen Roro Kidul is a legendary figure in Javanese folk lore. There are many sources of her origin; below are two of them:

Legend 1

Legend has it that Queen Roro Kidul was the daughter of a king from the first wife. It was believed that in an act of jealousy of the king’s younger royal wives; the Roro Kidul Queen and her mother were attacked by a strange disease (witchcraft) and was consequently expelled from the kingdom. The mother had died, while Roro Kidul finds a cure and decided to dwell on the southern coast of Java. Here, she met with the genie ruler of the sea who promised to cure her illness but on the condition that Roro Kidul must live in the kingdom of the sea. Roro Kidul accepted the offer. Furthermore, Queen Roro Kidul was later appointed as the queen after the previous ruler died. Interestingly, the origin of Roro Kidul area also varied. There is a story, originating from the soil of Roro Kidul in Java. But there is also a story that Queen Roro Kidul is the elder sister who is a descendant of King Saribu Raja Batak. The original name of Queen Roro Kidul is “Biding Sea”. Legend 2 This is the story relates to Sultan Agung, ruler of the kingdom of Mataram. It was said that, when Sultan Agung came into power, he hoped that his people live peacefully and with no intention to conduct insurgency; such as experienced as its predecessor empires: Singosari, Majapahit, Demak, etc. In order to prevent rebellions, Sultan Agung boasted about the greatness of the kingdom of Mataram. Sultan Agung claimed that his power not only includes the land of Java, but covers the sea as well. In order to proof that his claims were logical, Sultan Agung declared also that he has collaborated with Queen Roro Kidul, Ruler of the South Sea. This strategy is quite apt considering the cultural and traditional Javanese believes are covered with thick mystical veils. There are rumours concerning the prohibition of having party or celebration in the month of Suro (Muharram) because in the same month Queen Roro Kidul is also organizing a celebration in the kingdom of the sea. Yet the real reason was because that in the month of Suro, the rulers of Mataram also wanted to have celebrations, such as the royal wedding.

Conjuration of The Queen Roro Kidul

HANGA PURWOJATI WINANTU PUJI RAHAYU DUH KANJENG RATU ENGKANG LENGGAH ING DAMPARING SAMUDRA KIDUL INGKANG NGRATONI SAGUNG PORO LELEMBUT DUMAWAH, LENGKEHE JURANG PUNCAKING GUNUNG, GUNTUR ING WAREH SELANING TOYA, SAMI GELARAKEN WONTEN ING WREKSA GUNG, SELO GUNG SINEBAT PORO LELUHUR INGKANG MANGGEN ING JOWO, NENG BUMI LAN LEBETE BUMI, KAWULO JABANG BAYINE (say your name) NYUWUN DIPUN RUWAT SAKING PANANDANG KAWULO KAWULANING PARA LELUHUR INGKANG LENGGAH ING GUNUNG PEDHOT LAN BUMI KERTO, NYUWUN KAPARING REJEKI SUGIH LANTARAN ARTO, BONDO DADOSO SEBABING KAMULYAN

The method:

1.    Prepare a bunch of banana, some benzoin incense and some flowers on a Tuesday night in a quiet room. Recite the mantra above 44x then sit quietly to wait for the arrival of the Queen Roro Kidul.

2.    It is said that the best place to conjure the Queen is in Karanganyar area of Central Java, at the foot of the mountain where the ruins Pablengan are located. It was also where the King Solo summoned the Queen.

This ritual is one of my favorites. I like to sit on the sandy beach of Batu Ferringi in Penang Island and recite the above mantra; I can feel that the Queen talks to me through her morning sea breeze J