Indonesian Folklore (Folklor Indonesia): Tales from Nusantara (Archipelago)

The Mother in the Forest: A Gentle Adaptation of the Wewe Gombel Legend for Children About Safety and Parental Care

It was a quiet night, and the soft wind whispered outside the window. I sat on my mother’s lap, my eyes fixed on the nearly full moon.

“Long ago,” my mother began, her voice gentle, “there was a mother who lived deep in the forest. She once lost her child and since then, her heart has always carried both longing and worry.”

I held my breath, listening carefully.

“She never wanted to scare children,” my mother continued. “She would walk through the trees and across little streams at night, making sure that children who played too long or wandered far could safely return home.”

I imagined her walking beneath the moonlight, her hair flowing softly in the night breeze, her face tender but full of longing. There was a warmth in how she watched over children, even though she never spoke to them.

“Was she like a scary ghost?” I asked, my voice trembling a little.

Mother smiled and gently patted my hand.
“No, dear. She wasn’t scary. She was a mother who had lost her child and cared deeply. Every child who returned home safely made her heart feel lighter. Sometimes, she waited at the edge of the forest, watching from afar, smiling quietly as children found their way home.”

That night, I promised myself I would always return before dark. And I understood that, whether at home or in the forest, a mother’s care and love are always watching over her children—even from a distance, always guiding and protecting.

Sometimes, the most important guidance comes from a mother’s gentle words, lighting the way home before the night grows dark.

Adaptation Note

This story is a gentle adaptation of the Wewe Gombel legend, a traditional Javanese folklore with many variations. This version focuses on child safety and parental care, without horror elements.

Moral / Takeaway

Children: always return home before dark, because love and care are the safest guides.
Parents: your attention and affection are the most important protection for your children.

The Legend of Dewi Rengganis, Guardian of Mount Argopuro

Edisi Indonesia: Legenda Dewi Rengganis

Long before hiking trails were carved and mountain maps were drawn, Mount Argopuro was already known as a place of silence and mystery.
Its forests grew thick and deep, the wind often whispered through the trees, and mist arrived without warning.

Elders who lived along the mountain slopes used to say,

“Argopuro is not an ordinary mountain.
It is guarded.”

According to the most widely told folktales, that guardian is Dewi Rengganis.

In the age of ancient Javanese kingdoms, there lived a noble princess named Rengganis. She was known not only for her beauty, but for her gentle heart and calm spirit. Yet life inside the palace was not always as golden as its walls.

One night, beneath the moonlight, Dewi Rengganis stood on the palace veranda. A soft breeze carried the distant sound of gamelan music.

“I am tired,” she said quietly to her loyal attendant.
“Not tired of walking… but tired of staying in a place that no longer brings peace.”

The attendant hesitated, then asked softly,
“Where will you go, my lady?”

Dewi Rengganis gazed westward, toward the dark blue silhouette of distant mountains.
“To a place where I can hear my own voice.”

Dewi Rengganis, the guardian of Mount Argopuro, appears with gentleness—to remind humankind to live in harmony with nature.

And so, she left the palace behind. Accompanied by a few loyal followers, Dewi Rengganis journeyed toward Mount Argopuro. They passed through forests, climbed into the highlands, and finally reached a place of deep quiet and peace.

There, Dewi Rengganis devoted herself to spiritual practice and contemplation. Days passed into years. She learned to listen to the wind, to understand the language of the forest, and to align her soul with the rhythms of nature.

It is said that one misty evening, she spoke these words:

“If humans protect nature with respect,
nature will protect humans in return.”

From that time on, people believed that Dewi Rengganis never truly left. She became one with Mount Argopuro—an unseen guardian watching over the land.

One place most closely associated with her presence is Lake Taman Hidup. Its waters are clear, its atmosphere quiet, often wrapped in a veil of thin mist. Hikers who rest there often speak of an unusual calm, as if time itself slows down.

There is a story of a traveler who once heard a woman’s gentle voice whisper from within the fog:

“Watch your words. Watch your steps.”

When he turned, there was no one there.
Yet from that moment on, he walked with greater care.

Local communities believe that Dewi Rengganis shows kindness to those who are respectful, and reveals her power to those who are careless or arrogant toward nature.

To this day, the legend of Dewi Rengganis continues to live on. Parents share it with their children. Mountain guides tell it to first-time hikers. The people of Argopuro pass it down as a reminder—

That mountains are not merely meant to be conquered.
That forests are not merely backdrops for adventure.
And that nature always listens to how humans treat it.

Dewi Rengganis may be a legend rather than a historical figure. Yet within the mist of Mount Argopuro, her name still whispers—teaching balance, calmness, and respect.

Moral Message

The legend of Dewi Rengganis teaches that true wisdom lies in living in harmony with nature, listening to one’s inner voice, and honoring life with gentleness.