Bandung, Indonesia Sentinel — The recent discovery of a supposed “grave” of Nyi Roro Kidul in Tangerang has stirred up excitement among locals. In a short video clip, the alleged grave is shown inside a house, adorned with flowers. Beside the burial site are several photographs draped in green.
According to a report by Detik.com (July 26, 2024), the grave was found inside the home of a woman named Nurhaeni. Upon investigation, authorities learned that Nurhaeni had fabricated the tomb to attract people seeking spiritual healing.
Nurhaeni claimed to offer spiritual treatments, reciting Quranic verses over a glass of water for her patients to drink in hopes of curing illnesses. After her ruse was exposed, Nurhaeni apologized and dismantled the fake grave.
However, this incident serves as a reminder that the mystical figure of Nyi Roro Kidul still holds a significant place in the public imagination. Yet, many are unaware of the true origins of the myth. Here’s a deeper look into the legend.
The Queen of the Southern Sea
Nyi Roro Kidul is often depicted as a powerful queen who rules the Southern Sea (Pantai Selatan) of Java. She is frequently portrayed wearing green garments, and the mere mention of her name inspires both awe and fear. Many believe she wields great supernatural powers, and her presence is particularly linked to the ocean’s deadly waves.
One aspect of the myth revolves around the mysterious disappearances of people along the southern coast of Java. It is said that those who venture into the sea wearing green—a color beloved by Nyi Roro Kidul—are taken by her, never to be seen again.
The storyhas been passed down through generations, and several versions of her origin exist. Historian M.C. Ricklefs, in his book A History of Modern Indonesia (2008), suggests that Nyi Roro Kidul was once a princess from the Kingdom of Pajajaran. Other versions claim she was descended from the rulers of Kediri or even King Airlangga.
Regardless of which version is true, one common thread is that resides beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean, off the southern coast of Java. According to Ricklefs, she was banished from the palace after refusing to marry, and thus, she took up residence under the sea.
Her underwater kingdom piqued the interest of Mataram ruler Senopati. Historian Denys Lombard, in Le Carrefour Javanais (1996), retells the story of Senopati, who sought an alliance with Nyi Roro Kidul to secure his kingdom. According to the Babad Tanah Jawi, a Javanese chronicle, Senopati often visited Parangtritis Beach to meet and consummated their relationship in her underwater palace.
Senopati believed that by aligning himself with Nyi Roro Kidul, he could harness her immense power to protect his kingdom from natural and supernatural threats.
“Nyi Roro Kidul was said to not only control the raging waves of the Indian Ocean but also command all the malevolent spirits that plagued the kingdom,” Lombard explains.
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Senopati’s belief in this supernatural bond helped solidify the Mataram Sultanate’s dominance, particularly during the reign of his grandson, Sultan Agung, in the early 17th century. Historians Peter Carey and Vincent Houben, in Powerful Women of Java in the 18th-19th Centuries (2016), recount how this alliance between Nyi Roro Kidul and the royal family contributed to the prosperity of Mataram.
At the height of Sultan Agung’s reign, the people of Mataram saw Nyi Roro Kidul as both protector and savior of the kingdom. Her legend continued to grow, cementing her status as an icon of Javanese mysticism.
Dissecting the Myth
While the legend of Nyi Roro Kidul is deeply entrenched in Javanese culture, some question the plausibility of her story. After all, no human can survive underwater indefinitely, and no empirical evidence supports her existence.
One of the most vocal critics of the myth was renowned Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, who offered a more rational explanation. Pramoedya argued that Nyi Roro Kidul was a creation of the Mataram royal court following their defeat by the Dutch on Java’s northern coast.
During the 17th century, Mataram was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Java, controlling much of the northern coastline, which was an essential hub for international trade. However, when the Dutch successfully drove Mataram out of the north, the kingdom’s influence waned.
To counter the Dutch and instill fear, the Mataram rulers fabricated the myth of Nyi Roro Kidul. The idea was that the Dutch could never conquer Java’s southern coast because it was protected by this powerful sea goddess. It was also a way for Mataram to maintain a sense of sovereignty, even after losing their northern territories.
“To mask the loss, Javanese poets created the Sea Goddess Nyi Roro Kidul, symbolizing that Mataram still controlled the southern seas,” Pramoedya wrote in Literature, Censorship, and the State (1995).
The myth also included the stipulation that people should avoid wearing green, the color associated with Dutch military uniforms, when near the southern coast. This further bolstered Mataram’s narrative and allowed the kingdom to project power in the south.
As time passed, the legend of Nyi Roro Kidul endured, continuing to captivate the imaginations of people across Indonesia and beyond. Though modern scholars and critics have exposed its origins, the allure of the mythical Queen of the Southern Sea remains strong.
(Ray)
