Once
upon a time, there region in East Java a king
named Sindureja. He had a prime minister named Sidapaksa. Sidapaksa had a very
beautiful wife
Sidapaksa
loved his wife deeply. They lived in
complete happiness. However, Sidapaksa’s mother didn’t like her
daughter-in-law. Each day she tried to think a way to separate Sidapaksa from
his wife
One
day, King Sindureja asked Sidapaksa to search for the bud of a magic flower on mount Ijen.
It was a long and dangerous journey. The assignment from the king was so
important and urgent. Sidapaksa had to leave his pregnant wife
Not
long afterward, a son was born. The baby’s birth gave much happiness to the
young mother.
However
one day, while this young mother was bathing, her evil mother-in-law threw the
baby into the river. Knowing that her
baby had disappeared, the young mother was very sad. She could neither eat nor
sleep. She became very ill
Two
years passed and Sidapaksa returned from his journey. He succeeded in doing his
duty. Just as he was about to enter his house, her mother told him that his
wife had thrown their baby into the river
Sidapaksa
believed his mother’s story. He was too angry to use his common sense. He drew
his Kris and approached his wife who was lying weak on hear bed
“Ah,
witched women. Tell me why you threw our new-born child into the river. Tell
me!” he said in a rough and angry voice.
“Oh,
my dearest husband. I am innocent. I love you, and our baby. I didn’t kill our
child. If you don’t believe me, carry me to the river. I will prove that I
didn’t do it” replied his wife calmly
Sidapaksa
took her wife to the edge of the river. Suddenly, his wife leaped up and threw
herself into the river
“Oh
my god! How will I know who kill my child?” moaned Sidapaksa
Then
he looked down at the water. Suddenly, two pure white flower-buds appeared, one
larger and taller than the other. A sweet fragrance came from them.
“Sidapaksa,
look here! Beside me is our child. He himself will tell you who drowned him,”
the taller one spoke.
“Father,
my mother is innocent. Grand mother threw me into the river. Now I’m happy
because my beloved mother was come with me,” the smaller one spoke. Then, one
two flowers vanished into the water. They left their fragrance behind
Since
then, people call the city on its banks of the river Banyuwangi. Banyu means
water and wangi means fragrant.
