Dayang Sumbi is a figure from Sundanese mythology, which is a traditional belief system from the Sundanese people of West Java, Indonesia. She is a prominent character in the legend of Sangkuriang, who is said to have built the city of Bandung and the surrounding area.
According to the legend, Dayang Sumbi was a beautiful princess who lived in the mountains. One day, while she was weaving, she accidentally pricked her finger and a drop of blood fell onto her shuttle. She then threw it away, not realizing that it had magical powers.
Soon after, a young man named Sangkuriang arrived in the mountains. He was a handsome prince who was traveling the world in search of a wife. Dayang Sumbi welcomed him and they fell in love. However, she did not know that Sangkuriang was actually her long-lost son.
The Story of Sangkuriang
Sangkuriang was sent away by Dayang Sumbi when he was just a baby, as she did not want to raise a child alone. He grew up to be a strong and handsome young man, and set out on a journey to find a wife. Along the way, he met Dayang Sumbi and they fell in love.
Dayang Sumbi did not recognize Sangkuriang as her son, and they soon became engaged. However, Sangkuriang’s dog recognized him and revealed the truth to Dayang Sumbi. She was horrified and called off the engagement.
Sangkuriang was heartbroken and angry. He decided to build a dam across the river and a boat to sail away, with the hope that he could forget about Dayang Sumbi. However, he did not realize that the magical shuttle had fallen into the river and was carried downstream.
The Magical Powers of the Shuttle
The shuttle had the power to weave fabric instantly. When it was found by a fisherman, he sold it to a king who was looking for a way to impress his queen. The queen was so impressed by the beautiful fabric that she wanted more, and the king sent messengers to find the weaver.
The messengers eventually found Dayang Sumbi, who was living in a cave in the mountains. She agreed to weave more fabric, but only if the messengers could bring her the head of a wild boar and a bowl of rice. She thought that this would be impossible, but the messengers succeeded.
Dayang Sumbi then realized that the messengers were from Sangkuriang, and she agreed to marry him if he could build a dam and a boat in one night. Sangkuriang accepted the challenge and worked tirelessly, with the help of supernatural beings. However, just before dawn, Dayang Sumbi realized that he was going to succeed and she lit a fire and called out the roosters, to make it seem like dawn had already come.
Sangkuriang was angry and kicked the dam, causing it to break and creating the valley that is now Bandung. He then threw his boat into the air, where it became the volcano Tangkuban Perahu. Dayang Sumbi was turned into a goddess and went to live in the sky.
Who is Tumang?
Tumang is another character from Sundanese mythology, who is often mentioned in the legend of Sangkuriang. He was a loyal dog who accompanied Sangkuriang on his journey. Tumang was the one who recognized Sangkuriang as Dayang Sumbi’s son and revealed the truth to her. He is also said to have helped Sangkuriang build the dam and the boat.
Conclusion
The legend of Sangkuriang and Dayang Sumbi is a fascinating story that is deeply rooted in Sundanese culture. It is a tale of love, betrayal, and supernatural powers, and has been passed down through generations. Tumang, the loyal dog, is also an important character in the story and adds a touch of loyalty and devotion to the tale. The legend has inspired many works of art and literature, and continues to be an important part of Sundanese mythology.
