Dewi Melanting: A Story of Love, Courage, and Eternity

Dewi Melanting or Ida Bhatari Melanting is depicted as Ratu Ayu Mas Melanting whose real name is Dyah Ayu Swabhawa, the daughter of Dang Hyang Nirartha. Dewi Melanting has a smart, wise, and expert character in trading. She is also known as a beautiful trader and is favored by her customers.

Dang Hyang Nirartha's arrival in Bali was due to the fall of the Majapahit kingdom and the emergence of Islamic influence on the island of Java. The trip brought his family, such as his wife and children. Dang Hyang Nirartha is also known by the title Dang Hyang Dwijendra and Pedanda Sakti Wawu Rauh.

His journey from Java to Bali must have been very far and long so that his wife Danghyang Biyang Patni Keniten who was heavily pregnant at that time felt exhausted. The joints of her legs were swollen and painful, and he was unable to lift his legs to continue the journey to the Far East. Therefore, he felt confused whether to accompany his wife until she gave birth or continue the spiritual journey.

Dang Hyang Nirartha Continues His Journey to Bali (Source: Personal Collection)

Finally, Dang Hyang Nirartha decided to continue his journey and left his wife in the village with one of his daughters, Dyah Ayu Swabawa, and several of his followers. While the other sons and daughters who could still walk were invited to continue the journey, then when Dang Hyang Nirartha arrived, his followers were sent to invite his wife and children to reunite with his extended family. 

Danghyang Biyang Patni Keniten and his followers and a daughter rested until they were completely healthy, then cleared land for a place to live and planted rice. With a wealth of life knowledge, religious knowledge and supernatural powers from Peranda's wife. With his wisdom in teaching the sciences of life to the local community, over time he became more famous, had thousands of followers and became the mother of the entire community here.

She finally gave birth to a son named Bagus Bajra who had a charming face. The children of Danghyang Biyang Patni Keniten grew bigger, as did Dyah Ayu Swabawa who grew into a smart girl, full of charm, wisdom and authority like her father, even looking more mature than her age.

Dyah Ayu Swabhawa Trading in the Market (Source: Personal Collection)

Dyah Ayu Swabawa has expertise in trading science, very skilled in attracting buyers or choosing goods that buyers want, so that loyal buyers come back again. The area where she lives is a famous trading place so that it becomes a trading center because people like to shop there.

After waiting for so long, the hopes of Danghyang Biyang Patni Keniten and his family for the arrival of a messenger from Dang Hyang Nirartha to look for him never came, even Dyah Ayu Swabawa climbed a tree almost every day to observe from above while swinging in the tree waiting for the arrival of the messenger from her father. The local people really love Dyah Ayu, because of her habit of climbing and swinging on trees, the people gave her the respectful name Dyah Ayu Melanting from the name Dyah Ayu, the history of the name of the temple.

Dang Hyang Biyang Patni Keniten Prays To Remain Eternal With Its Citizens (Source: Personal Collection)

Time passed, Dang Hyang Nirartha's messenger never came to pick him up, there was no news, the wife's role regretted the previous separation, she felt hopeless, she cried at the place of worship to pray for herself and everyone to the gods so that her people would be immortal and not be consumed by age. Because of her devotion, the gods finally gave their blessing but with one condition. Peranda Istri or Mpu Alaki will be free from the cycle of time, free from old age and death but will not be seen by others. Because of love and loyalty, the long wait is rewarded with invisible eternity.

When he learned of the disappearance of Danghyang Biyang Patni Keniten or his wife, Dang Hyang Nirartha thought that his wife, children, and followers had died. And he only realized it when Dang Hyang Nirartha disappeared at the southern tip of Bali, at Uluwatu Temple. Then followed by Danghyang Patni Keniten, the place where his wife's moksa was achieved was given the name Pura Pulaki according to his title Mpu Alaki. Meanwhile, Princess Dya Subawa Melanting is enshrined at the Melanting Temple and her son Bagus Bajra is enshrined at the Kerta Kawat Temple as the prince of Mentang Yuda as the source of justice in decision making.