The Legend of Dewi Sri: Harmony of Nature and Man

According to Balinese folklore, there was a time when the world experienced a great crisis. Crops no longer grew abundantly, and people faced famine and suffering due to failed harvests. Witnessing human suffering, Batara Wisnu decided to help mankind. Vishnu, deeply concerned with human well-being, created Dewi Sri from the purest elements of nature: water from sacred rivers, soil from the most fertile mountains, and sunlight that warms the earth.

One day, Dewi Sri was sent by Vishnu to safeguard the well-being of humanity by ensuring that the soil remained fertile and rice crops thrived. Dewi Sri accepted Vishnu's command and descended to the earth to rescue humanity from drought and failed harvests.

Goddess Sri Was Sent Down to Earth by Lord Wisnu (Source: Personal Collection)

Dewi Sri, with her gentleness, descended from the heavenly realm, bringing with her precious rice seeds. Every time Dewi Sri set foot on earth, she brought fertility and life to the land she touched. For this reason, the Balinese people greatly revere Dewi Sri, seeing her as the primary guardian of their village’s fertility and prosperity. The villagers lived in peace and prosperity, with abundant rice harvests every year, making their village flourish. As a token of gratitude, they held grand ceremonies after each harvest to honor Dewi Sri. They prepared offerings of yellow rice and their finest crops, placing them in the rice fields as a tribute to her.

However, behind this peace lay a threat from a kingdom ruled by a greedy king who cared little for his people. This king heard about the prosperity of the village, whose harvests were always abundant. Envious, he sought to seize the village's fertile land for himself. Believing that if he could control Dewi Sri, all the fertility and prosperity of the village would be his, the greedy king devised a sinister plan. With ill intent, he sent his soldiers to capture Dewi Sri. The troops marched toward the village, stealthily searching for a way to find and seize her.

Dewi Sri, aware of the king's wicked intentions, felt both sorrow and anger. Determined to oppose this evil to protect the villagers she loved dearly, she transformed herself into an ordinary girl and lived among the villagers, with no one recognizing her true identity. 

The Greedy King (Source: Personal Collection)

Meanwhile, the evil king's soldiers continued their search for Dewi Sri. They scoured the rice fields, mountains, and forests but could never find her. Every time they came close to Dewi Sri, the rice plants would suddenly grow tall and dense, concealing her from their sight. Even when the soldiers managed to reach the outskirts of the village, they became lost in a forest created by Dewi Sri's magical powers.  

Seeing that his soldiers repeatedly failed, the greedy king became even more furious. He decided to go to the village himself to capture Dewi Sri. However, upon arriving and witnessing the villagers' simple yet joyful way of life, the king's heart began to soften. He observed how the people lived with gratitude and humility, always respecting nature and appreciating what they had. The king realized that true happiness and prosperity do not lie in abundant wealth or great power but in gratitude and harmony with nature.

The Greedy King Begs Goddess Sri for Forgiveness (Source: Personal Collection)

Filled with regret, the king knelt before Dewi Sri, who had returned to her true form. He begged for forgiveness and promised to become a fair and wise leader, vowing to no longer follow his greedy desires that only brought ruin. Dewi Sri, with her wisdom and compassion, forgave the king. She then bestowed her blessings upon the king and his people.

Dewi Sri imparted an important message to the king and his people. “Fertility and prosperity do not come solely from fertile land but also from sincere hearts and wise actions,” she said in a gentle yet authoritative voice. “If one day you forget this balance and return to greed, my blessings will vanish, and your land will become barren once more.” From that day on, the king ruled justly and taught his people to respect nature and live in harmony.

Dewi Sri then returned to the heavens, but her presence was always felt by the villagers each time they planted and harvested rice. The thriving rice crops became a symbol of Dewi Sri’s presence among them, reminding them of her blessings. The villagers continued to hold ceremonies to express gratitude and share the bounty of the earth with others. 

The Greedy King Begs Goddess Sri for Forgiveness (Source: Personal Collection)

Year after year passed, and the kingdom flourished. Their rice fields remained green, their crops yielded abundantly, and the rivers stayed clear. Dewi Sri's wisdom became the foundation of their way of life, and the people lived peacefully, free from envy and greed. They believed that as long as they cared for nature and lived in harmony, Dewi Sri would continue to bless their land with fertility and prosperity.