A long time ago, on the island of Java, there were no rice plants. The people only grew cassava for their daily food, as rice was reserved for heaven. At that time, rice was considered the food of the gods.
In those days, man was permitted to visit heaven by walking on the clouds. The gods and goddesses often came down to earth to talk with man. One day, a youth went to heaven. He happened to see the gods dining on food that he had never seen on earth. The youth did not know that this food was rice. The fragrant smell made his mouth water. How he wished to taste the delicious rice!
He sought a way to fulfil his wish. He went to see Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Rice, and found the courage to beg her to allow him to stay in heaven and learn how to grow rice. He said,
“Dewi Sri, Goddess of Rice, I beg you to permit me to stay for a while in heaven. Please allow me to help plant, harvest, and pound your rice. Even if I receive only a handful, I want to help. I want to taste this rice, even if only a little.”
Dewi Sri, who was wise and kind-hearted, agreed. “Did you know that rice comes from this plant?” She showed him a rice plant. “You may work here, learn to be a farmer, and cultivate rice.”
The youth was overjoyed to receive permission. Dewi Sri taught him how to plough the rice field with a tool used to turn over the soil, called a waluku. Then she showed him how to soften the soil with a harrow called a garu.
After the soil was softened, the youth learned how to irrigate, raise seedlings, plant, and harvest. When the rice ripened, the goddess showed him how to cut the stalk using a small palm-held reaping knife called an ani-ani.
Dewi Sri also taught him how to pound the rice in a mortar called a lesung. When all the work was done, the youth was at last allowed to taste a small handful of rice. It was delicious—just as he had imagined.
The youth stayed in heaven, learning the skills of rice farming well, and often enjoyed the delicious rice. But after several years of hard work as a farmer in heaven, he longed to return to earth. He missed his family, relatives, and neighbours.
“How happy they would be if the people of Java could enjoy this delicious rice,” he thought. “By eating rice, the people could become as healthy and strong as the gods.”
The youth approached Dewi Sri and asked permission to go back to earth to see his family and friends, whom he had not met for so long. Dewi Sri agreed. But very early in the morning, without the gods’ knowledge, the youth took several ripe rice stalks and carried them with him to earth.
Arriving back on earth, he planted the grains exactly as he had learned in heaven. The rice grew rapidly. He worked hard, and the plants thrived. When he harvested, he shared seeds with all his neighbours and showed them how to plant and care for the rice.
Soon, rice fields spread across Java. When the crops ripened, the golden stalks covered the island in yellow.
One day, the gods came to visit earth. They were startled to see the rice stretching in all directions. They hurried back to heaven and reported to Dewi Sri. The gods were furious, for rice was meant only for heaven.
Dewi Sri descended to earth. She knew this must be the work of the youth who had once farmed in heaven. He must have stolen the seeds when he left.
She soon found him. At first, she was angry.
“Young man, why did you betray my trust? You should not have stolen rice. It is the food of the gods.”
“Forgive me, Dewi Sri,” said the youth. “I did take seeds back from heaven without permission. But I did not do this for myself. I brought rice for the benefit of all the people of Java. They had only cassava to eat. I pitied them and shared the seeds so they too could taste rice. I know I have angered you. I am willing to accept punishment.”
Dewi Sri’s anger softened. She saw that the youth’s intentions were sincere and noble, born out of kindness for others.
“I forgive you,” she said. “But you must always ask permission, not take by stealing. As punishment, I will never again allow humans to come to heaven. It will remain only for the gods.”
“However,” she continued, “you may cultivate rice. But remember, this plant is like my child. Care for it as I taught you.”
She gave clear instructions: “Irrigate the fields regularly. Weed the wild plants. Fertilise the soil. Harvest carefully with the ani-ani, so you do not waste or damage the grains. Let the birds also enjoy a little of the rice. Do not kill them, for they are beloved by the gods. If you neglect these rules, I will send calamities to destroy your work.”
Before returning to heaven, Dewi Sri spoke once more.
“To make the rice grow best, follow nature’s rules. Plant at the right time. I will give a sign from heaven by dropping jasmine flowers from my hair bun. These flowers will become the Waluku stars (Orion). That will be the sign that the planting season has come.”
(Folktale from Indonesia – Pixabay)
