An Epic Tale from the Kingdom of Banjar
Long ago, in the ancient land of South Kalimantan, where rivers danced through the rainforests and mist veiled the towering mountains, there lived a powerful king named Datu Karang. He ruled the kingdom of Negara Dipa with strength and wisdom, yet his heart ached with one great sorrow — he had no heir.
King Datu Karang prayed day and night to the gods and spirits of the land and water. He climbed sacred mountains and offered precious gems to the ocean, asking for a child who could one day inherit the throne and bring glory to his kingdom. The gods, hearing his deep longing and sincerity, sent word to the spirits of the sea.
One early morning, the sea was strangely calm. The people of the kingdom gathered near the river's mouth where foam bubbled mysteriously on the water’s surface. From the heart of this foam — called buih — rose a dazzling light. Slowly, the light formed into the figure of a beautiful young girl, untouched by the world, glowing like the moon. She was wrapped in silken robes, her hair as black as the night sky, and her eyes shimmered like stars reflected in the ocean.
The people fell to their knees in awe. They believed she was a gift from the gods — a divine being. She was called Putri Junjung Buih, meaning The Princess Carried by Sea Foam. The king took her into the palace and raised her as his own, treating her with reverence and love.
As the years passed, Putri Junjung Buih grew into a woman of unmatched beauty, wisdom, and mystery. She spoke little of her origins but was always drawn to water — rivers, lakes, and the ocean. It was said she could speak with the spirits that lived beneath the waves. Some even believed she was the daughter of a sea goddess.
When the time came to find her a husband, many noblemen from distant lands came to seek her hand, bringing with them gold, treasures, and armies. But Putri Junjung Buih refused them all. She said she would only marry someone who was brave, noble, and chosen by the spirits of the sea.
Far across the sea, in a land of fire and mountains, lived a warrior-prince named Lambung Mangkurat. He had trained in the art of war and diplomacy, and he sought not power, but peace and honor. One night, he had a dream — a vision of a woman rising from the sea, calling to him. He followed the call, sailing through storms and darkness, until he reached the shores of Negara Dipa.
When Putri Junjung Buih saw Lambung Mangkurat, she knew at once he was the one the spirits had sent. The sea grew calm, the skies cleared, and the air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers. The people rejoiced, and the kingdom celebrated for seven days and nights.
Their union was more than a marriage — it was the joining of the divine and the earthly, a symbol of harmony between the human world and the spiritual realm. Putri Junjung Buih and Lambung Mangkurat ruled together with wisdom and compassion, guiding the kingdom into a golden age of peace and prosperity.
And though many years have passed, and the kingdom of Negara Dipa has faded into history, the legend of Putri Junjung Buih lives on. The rivers and seas of South Kalimantan still whisper her name, and the foam upon the water is said to carry her spirit — a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary miracles rise from the humblest of places.