The Legend of Reog Ponorogo

The Legend of Reog Ponorogo


Long time ago, there was a wise king who ruled a kingdom in Kediri. He had a beautiful daughter called Dewi Sanggalangit. When the princess grew up, her well-known beauty attracted princes and kings from neighboring kingdoms who asked for her hand to be their wife.
Unfortunately, Dewi Sanggalangit seemed not keen enough to settle down. Her act of refusing marriage confusing her parents.


When her father asked, she answered, "Father, actually I'm not willing to get married yet, but if you insist me to settle down at the soonest, I'll do. However there are some conditions that have to be fulfilled by my spouse."

Then Dewi Sanggalangit stayed in her room for five days and five nights asking for God's guidance. On the sixth day, she told her parents, "My future husband should be able to present an exciting performance which has not existed before, kind of dance with gamelan accompaniment. Followed by a hundred and forty-four twin horses. And lastly, he must be able yo bring a two-headed beast."

At first the king confused. Then he announced his daughter proposal requirements although it looks like difficult to be completed.
Many applicants who had been passionate to marry Dewi Sanggalangit were discouraged. They withdrew and gave up,

Finally only two men claimed being able to fulfilled the request. They are Singabarong, king of Lodaya Kingdom, and King of Bandarangin Kingdom, Kelanaswandana.
Both of them were unique person. Singabarong was a tiger-headed man with fierce and cruel nature. However Kelanaswandana was a handsome and dashing one, but he had strange habits. He admired the boys and considered them as beautiful girl.
King of kediri shocked. But he and her daughter couldn't derail the request that had been announced.

When both kings were working hard, one day King Singabarong sent his prime minister, Duke Iderkala to investigate King Kelanaswandana's preparation. Then Iderkala reported that his majesty's preparation was nothing to his majesty's rival. An evil plan came to Singabarong's head. He decided play unfair. He prepared his troops and learn the path Kelanaswandana would take to Kediri then rob his rival's work to be handed to DewiSanggalangit.

Before the evil plan began, fortunately Bandarangin's prime minister, Duke Pujanggelang had known it and reported it to King Kelanaswandana. He got so angry and assaulted Lodaya Kingdom before he would be attacked. With his magical power, he direct his hand into Singabarong's head and stuck it onto the head of a peacock that perched on his shoulder and turned them into a strange animal, two-headed beast, peacock and tiger.
Then king kelanaswandana had completed the task and sent a message to Kediri.

Thus on the appointed day, Kelanaswandana came to Kediri with Reog Dance as accompaniment, coupled with a hundred and forty-four twin horses, and two-headed beast who dance wild but beautiful and interesting. With gamelan, kendang, and trumpet that caused strange mix of sound, resulted lilting melodious symphony.

Everyone who were watching became cheered with delight. King of Kediri and Dewi Sanggalangit were satisfied.

In the end, Dewi Sanggalangit became the empress of Bandarangin Kingdom. Since that day King Kelanaswandana never collected boys anymore.

Bandarangin that located in Wengker, now called Ponorogo. So at a later date, the dance named Reog Ponorogo.