The Myth of the Serayu River and Sunan Kalijaga's Shock When He Sees a Beautiful Woman's Head in the Middle of

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.

Regarding the naming of rivers

Meanwhile, regarding the myth of naming the Serayu River, many believe it to be part of the history of Sunan Kalijaga's religious journey. The community believes that the name Serayu comes from two Javanese words, namely sira (you) or sirah (head) and ayu (beautiful).

So the name Serayu means you have a beautiful face or a head with a beautiful face. It is said that during the reign of the Demak Bintoro Sunanate, there was a sunan who had supernatural powers and high religious knowledge.

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Sunan, who is a member of the Wali Songo, is Sunan Kalijaga. His real name is Raden Said, son of Tumenggung Wilwatikta from the Duchy of Tuban.

As a person who is responsible for spreading the teachings of Islam in Java, Sunan Kalijaga often spends his time traveling. Besides that, they also live and settle from place to place.

So, suddenly, on a journey, Sunan Kalijaga arrived at the bank of a wide and deep river. Sunan Kalijaga, who is also often referred to as Sunan Undik, suddenly saw a beautiful woman's head appear in the middle of the river's water.

From the events he experienced, Sunan Kalijaga then named the big and deep Serayu River. Another myth also mentions that the Serayu River is protected by a god in human form, Semar.

Semar always maintains harmony in human relations and has a simple, honest, patient, and humble character. There are a number of myths about the formation and naming of the Serayu River, which crosses five regency areas in the former Banyumas Residency. (*)

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