CERITA RAKYAT (FOLKTALE) BATARA KALA

It is good to know some of the folktales our country has. The is one or the that is commonly told in Java

People in some villages in Java believe: that an aclipse happens when the sun or the moon in swallowed by Batara kala, an evil giant.

The Story says that although Batara Kala is not of the gods in heaven, he is very powerful.

One day Batara Wisnu (god, the protector) distributed the tirta amerta sari or the dringk of the gods. Anyone who drank from ti would never die. Batar kala wanted to have some, too, so he tried the cheat by talking the from of a god. Batara Surya (the sun god) and Batari Chandra (the moon goddess), however, knew of this trick and told Batara Wisnu about it. When Batara kala's turn came to receive the drink, Batara Wisnu shot him from a distance with his famous weapon, the cakra and it cut his head off. Some of the drink, however, spilled over Batara kala's head, and this made his head live forever. From then on Batara kala has continued to live without his body.

Batara Kala was very angry with Batara Surya and Batari Chandra and tried to eat them, but the god and goddes escaped. Batara Kala got angrier and from that time on he has never stopped chasing, them.

Batara Wisnu wanted to protect the god and the goddess and ordered the peole on earth to make a lot of noise whenever there is an eclipse. The noise would help Batara Surya and Batari Chandra to escape from Batara kala's throat.