The Legend of Limestone Hill: The Tale of King Dewata Cengkar and the Cursed Feast
Long ago, in the lush and fertile lands of Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, there stood a powerful kingdom known as the Medang Kingdom. It was ruled by a fearsome and gluttonous king, King Dewata Cengkar, whose greatest pleasure in life was indulging in extravagant feasts. His hunger was insatiable, and he took great pride in tasting the most exquisite and rare delicacies from across the land.
Every day, his palace chefs worked tirelessly, their hands never resting as they chopped, stirred, and seasoned, striving to create dishes that would satisfy the king’s ever-growing appetite. The royal kitchen was always filled with the rich aromas of spices and sizzling meats, yet no matter how hard they toiled, King Dewata Cengkar was never truly content. He would push away lavish platters of food with a frown, demanding something even tastier, richer, and more indulgent than before. His chefs lived in constant fear, knowing that displeasing the king could mean punishment—or worse.
The Accidental Secret
One fateful day, as the palace kitchen buzzed with frantic energy, the chefs hurried to prepare yet another extravagant feast for King Dewata Cengkar. The scent of roasted meats and fragrant spices filled the air as pots boiled and knives chopped with precision. Amid the rush, one of the palace chefs, exhausted from his relentless work, lost focus for just a moment. As he sliced through a pile of ingredients, his knife slipped—cutting deep into his finger.
A sharp pain shot through his hand, and before he could react, a few drops of his blood trickled into the steaming pot before him. His eyes widened in horror. He knew that even the smallest mistake in the royal kitchen could cost him dearly. If the king discovered what had happened, he would surely be punished—perhaps even sentenced to death.
His hands trembled as he glanced around, hoping no one had noticed. Desperate, he quickly wiped his finger and concealed the wound, turning to his fellow chefs with pleading eyes. “Say nothing of this,” he whispered urgently. The other chefs, equally terrified of the king’s wrath, nodded in agreement. They dared not risk their lives over a few drops of blood. And so, the feast was served, with none suspecting the unintended ingredient that had found its way into the royal dish.
A Delectable Feast
When the meal was served, King Dewata Cengkar devoured it with delight. His eyes widened in astonishment.
“This is the most delicious dish I have ever tasted!” he proclaimed. “What have you done differently?”
The terrified chef hesitated but managed to murmur, “It is the same recipe as always, Your Majesty.”
Unaware of the secret ingredient, the king ordered a grand banquet and invited nobles, ministers, and guests to enjoy the meal. However, to his dismay, none of the dishes tasted as divine as the one he had eaten earlier. Furious, he threw the chef into the dungeon for failing to recreate the flavor.
Later, the chef’s frightened colleagues, unable to bear their friend’s suffering, finally confessed the truth: the secret ingredient was human blood.
The Reign of Terror Begins
King Dewata Cengkar was both horrified and intrigued. To confirm the claim, he ordered his soldiers to bring him a villager, and once again, a few drops of human blood were added to his meal.
The result was undeniable—the king had never tasted anything so delicious. His obsession grew, and from that day on, he demanded his soldiers capture innocent villagers to provide him with the secret ingredient.
A reign of terror swept across the Medang Kingdom. The people lived in fear, hiding in the forests and caves, praying for salvation. Their cries of despair reached the heavens, and the gods took pity on them.
The Arrival of Aji Saka
From a distant land, Aji Saka, a noble traveler and warrior with supernatural abilities, heard the whispers of the gods. He had long sought to rid the world of evil, and upon learning of King Dewata Cengkar’s monstrous deeds, he set out for Medang Kingdom.
Upon reaching the palace gates, he boldly declared, "I have come to offer my own blood to the king."
The soldiers were astonished but quickly brought him before the king, who was overjoyed. It had been too long since he had tasted the exquisite flavor of human blood.
A Clever Trick
“I will give you my blood,” Aji Saka said, “but I have one request: before you take it, you must remove my robe.”
The king scoffed, thinking it was a simple task. “Ha! That is easy!” he sneered.
However, as he pulled on the robe, something strange happened—the robe kept unraveling, stretching endlessly across the palace grounds. No matter how far he pulled, there was always more fabric.
The king grew exhausted, sweat dripping from his brow. As he stopped to catch his breath, Aji Saka seized his chance—he pushed the king with all his might!
King Dewata Cengkar stumbled backward, losing his balance, and before he could react, a mystical transformation took place. His body began to shift, his skin turned pale, and his form became unrecognizable.
To the astonishment of all, the wicked king was no longer a man but a massive white crocodile.
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The Birth of Limestone Hill
Aji Saka, knowing the beast could still bring harm, raised his enchanted bow and shot a single arrow into the crocodile’s heart. With a final, monstrous roar, the creature fell lifeless to the ground.
The moment the crocodile’s body touched the earth, the land around it began to change. The once-fertile ground hardened into stone, and before the people’s eyes, a towering limestone hill rose where the king had fallen.
Though the land became barren, the people rejoiced, for their prayers had been answered. The kingdom was free from terror, and the bloodshed had finally ended.
Over time, the villagers learned to make use of the limestone, carving it into decorations and structures for their homes.
To this day, Gunung Kidul remains known for its vast limestone formations, and the legend of the cruel king serves as a reminder that greed and cruelty will always lead to one’s downfall.
Moral of the Story:
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Greed leads to destruction. King Dewata Cengkar’s insatiable hunger for pleasure brought about his own downfall.
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Cunning can defeat brute strength. Aji Saka did not need violence to win—his wisdom and trickery outmatched the king’s greed.
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Justice prevails. Even when evil seems unstoppable, those who stand for righteousness will always find a way to bring balance.
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| Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta |
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