RADAR TEGAL - As one of the largest and longest rivers in Central Java, the Serayu River holds various stories. It is said that the myth of the Serayu River also comes from the mystical experience of Sunan Kalijaga.
Apart from being said to have been formed from the urine of Bima or Wekudoro, many residents and communities around the river have revealed other myths. Moreover, the largest and longest river in the former Banyumas residency also crosses five districts.
The five regencies are Wonosobo, Banjarnegara, Purbalingga, Banyumas, and Cilacap. So that not a few people in the five regencies have a story that they believe is the beginning of the formation of the Serayu river.
The headwaters of Serayu River are located on the slopes of Mount Prahu in Dieng, Wonosobo. The spring is known as Tuk Bima Lukar (Bima Lukar spring, Ed. ), which has many tributaries and a total area of 4,375 square km.
The Serayu River, or Bengawan Serayu, stretches from northeast to southwest for 181 km. This river flows through five districts from Wonosobo Regency to Cilacap Regency, where it empties into the Indian Ocean.
The myth of the formation of the Serayu River
Until now, not a few people depended on their fate or on the longest and largest river flow in the Banyumas area. Among them are agricultural irrigation sources, tourism, energy sources, and so on.
The existence of the Serayu River for residents in the former Banyumas Residency is an important river flow for its citizens. So they uphold the legends and myths of the formation of the Serayu River.
If the Serayu River flows upstream in the Dieng Mountains, its mouth is in the South Sea, adjacent to Mount Srandil. Specifically, a sacred mountain located in the Adipala region, Cilacap Regency
Some members of the community in the five regencies where the Serayu River crosses reveal the myth of the initial naming of the river. They believe that the formation of the Serayu River is closely related to one of the figures in the Five Pandavas, namely Bima or Werkudoro.
Bima is the son of Pandu Dewanata, who was born in the womb of Dewi Kunthi Nalibrata. While studying with Resi Kumbayana (Durna), Bimo was ordered to look for tirta perwitasari, or water of perfection.
As an honest and determined knight, Bima obeys his teacher's orders. It is said that the story goes that when Bima wanted to go look for the tirta perwitasari, no one from the Pandawa family allowed him, including his mother.
But with all his faith, Bima, who had received instructions from Druna, went to the South Sea to get the tirta perwitasari. So, when his feet stepped towards the South Sea, Bima's footprints left traces of holes.
Over time, the holes are connected to each other and then become a river that is long, wide, and deep. It was this river that was later known by the people in the five districts of the former Banyumas Residency as the Serayu River.