Men Brayut Legend of Goddess Loving Children
This classic Balinese story tells the story of a mother who is considered a great woman. He managed to raise and care for many children with full dedication. To commemorate his services, the community erected a statue at Candi Dase Temple, Karangasem.
Men Brayut is a mother figure in classic Balinese stories who gives birth to many children, even up to 18 people. Because of her persistence, this mother succeeded in raising her children. The tough figure Men Brayut gave birth to 18 children and her husband actually found happiness or dharma. Men Brayut is a strong Balinese female figure who is told across eras.
Dewi Hariti Gave Birth Children (Source: Personal Picture)
This story has long been an icon for the Balinese people of a mother who has many children. Men Brayut's story is timeless, his story has always been a model of conversation for Balinese people from time to time from generation to generation. The story of Men Brayut is also written in the gagurita with the pupuh Tikus Kapating (Sinom). Men Brayut is a folk tale that is often used as a bedtime story. However, as time goes by, this folk tale is no longer widely told.
Brayut is a family of farmers, Buddhists, who celebrate Galungan Day. Men Brayut's husband cooks offerings in the form of various kinds of processed pork. Meanwhile, Men Brayut was still asleep because he was tired of taking care of his 18 children, including one in the womb. The children's behavior makes the mother drained and neglected.
When Men Brayut woke up, she went straight to the kitchen to eat various foods that her husband had prepared as offerings. Men Brayut ate all the food without caring about her children who were crying, her husband who heard this then scolded Men Brayut. The two then argued about the number of children being born, the husband blamed his wife, while the wife defended herself by telling her husband that he was unable to control his lust.
Then the husband studied divinity from a wise teacher named Prince Jembong, who mastered the teachings of Buddhism. After receiving many lessons, by God's grace, Pan Brayut's knowledge, namely Men Brayut's husband, was perfected. Long story short, Pan and Men Brayut left their children who had grown up and got married.
Hariti Goddess (Source: Personal Picture)
The Brayut family is now legendary. There is even a place of worship for Brayut in Samuan Village, Candi Dasa, Karangasem Regency, which is in the form of a statue of a woman being surrounded by children. Many refer to this figure as Dewi Hariti, Dewi Sri, and Men Brayut.
Goddess Hariti is said to be a female figure who had many children in Buddhist mythology. Initially he was a yaksa who liked to eat human flesh. However, after receiving enlightenment from Buddhist teachings, Dewi Hariti turned into a goddess who loved her children very much. Meanwhile, Dewi Sri is a figure who gives prosperity to the Hindu community in the region.
Dewi Sri is also believed to be able to remove all mala or impurity in humans. Because of this story, people often ask for tirta panglukatan at Candi Dasa Temple, by cleansing themselves at Yeh Mapalu. Namely the meeting between fresh water and sea water which is located in front of the temple.
Yeh Mapalu at Candi Dasa Temple (Source: Personal Picture)
Local people also call the statue in the temple Men Brayut, which is believed to be a goddess who loves children. So many couples who have not yet had children ask for children here.
