Cerita Rakyat Sumatera Selatan : Dayang Torek (English-Indonesia)

The Legend of Silampari

Once upon a time, in Ulak Lebar village located in Sindang Kelingi Ilir Lubuk Linggau South Sumatera, there lived a very beautiful girl with a charming face and long black hair. Her name was Dayang Torek.

There were many people fascinated on Dayang Torek’s beauty, so story

about her spread to the whole country. She was well-known as an incarnation of an angel or Linggau’s people often call her ‘a fairy that came from the sky’.

She became famous not only because of her amazing appearance, but also because she could dance well. That was the reason why Dayang Torek was often asked to dance in some events of welcoming guests who came to Ulak Lebar.

The story of her beauty was heard by a prince of Palembang. The prince wanted to prove whether Dayang Torek was a girl having an incredible beauty as people say. When he arrived in Ulak Lebar, he as a guest was welcomed with welcoming dance. The prince was very amazed when he saw a graceful dancer that had a remarkable beauty. Eventually, the prince was so fascinated on Dayang Torek’s beauty.

"How beautiful she is! Amazing! People are true that there is an angel in this village. What is her name?" he told himself in admiration. Same as the other guests, the prince's eyes were unblinking to look at Dayang Torek’s elegance.

He wanted Dayang Torek to become his own. He intended to propose Dayang Torek. Then the prince went to meet Dayang Torek's father which name was Gindo Ulak Lebar. Prince expressed his desire to marry Dayang Torek.

"Gindo Ulak Lebar, I want to propose your daughter, Dayang Torek. I want to take her to my palace in Palembang and I’ll make her being my queen" said the Prince. Prince thought that Gindo Ulak Lebar would not refuse his offer, even if his child would become a queen.

"I am sorry, Sir. I do not reject your wish. It is true that Dayang Torek is my daughter. However, all decisions are depended on her own choice because she has the right to decide her fate," said Gindo Ulak Lebar in fear.

"Hmmm .... well, where is your daughter?" the Prince replied arrogantly.

When Dayang Torek came, the Prince expressed his aim. Dayang Torek rejected the request softly. She said that she had not been ready yet to marry. The prince tried to hide his disappointment. Inwardly he was determined that one day Dayang Torek will definitely marry him.

After coming back to Palembang, in many times the Prince sent some delegates to Ulak Lebar village to propose Dayang Torek. They brought gold and silver gifts. He hoped that Dayang Torek could accept his sincerity.

Seeing the prince's attitude, Gindo Ulak Lebar started to aware due to the rejection of his daughter. However, the Prince was his boss. It was not impossible that someday unwanted things would be happened in Ulak Lebar. Finally, Gindo and citizens planted very dense bamboo around the village. It was used as a blockhouse.

Unfortunately, before their work was complete, Dayang Torek had been kidnapped. All residents were in commotion. Dayang Torek had searched in everywhere but she cannot be found. Finally, it was known that Dayang Torek was abducted by agents of the prince. One day, Gindo came to Palembang to meet the Prince

"Your Honour, please give my daughter back. Why do you kidnap her? "

"Gindo, I really like your daughter. I often asked my willingness to propose her to be my wife, but she always refused! I lost my patience. Now she has become my wife! She will be happy living in my palace. Come back to Ulak Lebar!"

"Let me to meet my daughter at once, Prince," said Gindo Ulak Lebar miserably.

"One day Gindo, one day Dayang Torek and I will come to Ulak Lebar," replied the prince, then laughing. Finally, Gindo returned to Ulak Lebar sadly. However, the prince way to kidnap her daughter was not a praiseworthy act.

After knowing all stories of the incident, Dayang Torek’s brother named Nyongang came to Palembang. He just knew that Dayang Torek had had a son. Nyongang became angry. He could not receive if her sister was treated improperly. Dayang did not be the prince’s empress, but she only became one of so many concubines. By using his power, Nyonggang succeeded to meet Dayang Torek in the palace.

“Sister, you have to escape! Let’s come home with me. We will return to Ulak Lebar...” Nyongang persuaded her sister.

"My brother ... I've had a son" said Dayang Torek smoothly. His face was pale indicating that she was tortured.

"Leave him! It is his father’s palace, isn’t it?"

"No way. However, he is my child. I cannot leave him"

"Fine, we bring this child with us," said Nyongang.

Nyongang carried Dayang Torek and her son off. They walked through many forests. Eventually, they arrived to the Kelingi riverside at the foot of Sulap hill. Since the beginning Nyongang didn’t like Dayang Torek’s son which he considered as illegitimate child. He had an intention to kill the boy. He slipped a taji (a traditional weapon) in his hand and patted the child's forehead. Dayang Torek’s child died immediately.

"Nyongang! What are you doing? Why do you kill my son? "Said Dayang Torek. She was shock.

"No, I am not.  I just swatted a mosquito which is stuck in his forehead"

"No!! You knowingly wanted to kill my son!"

"Come on. Why should be mourn? He is a child of a man who you hate! And this .., this is a illegitimate child! "

"No! You shouldn’t do this! This child is innocent, Nyongang. He is my son! I hate you! You are so mean !! Cruel !! " Dayang Torek cried, then she run onto the Sulap Hill.

"Sister ....! Don’t go! Sister !!" Nyongang screamed while he chased Dayang Torek. Dayang Torek ran very fast. Nyonggang continued to chase Dayang Torek who ran to the top of Sulap Hill while crying. Dayang Torek suddenly disappeared. Nyonggang screamed hysterically.

"Sister... Where are you?? Where are you??  Why do you disappear!" Nyongang cried and screamed very loudly.  His voice reverberated from the slopes of Sulap hill to the valley. All animals there fell silent. Some trees fell because Nyonggang voice thundered like a lightning.

At the last, Nyongang wept the Dayang Torek disappearance (Silam) in Sulap Hill. Since then, to commemorate that tragic event at Sulap Hill, people call the place as Silampari which means ‘the disappearance (silam) of the princess (fairy or peri)’. Since then Lubuklinggau and Musi Rawas are often called as the earth of Silampari.

  

Asal-Usul Silampari

Pada suatu masa di Desa Ulak Lebar, Sindang Kelingi Ilir, Lubuk Linggau Sumatera Selatan, hiduplah seorang gadis yang sangat cantik dengan wajah yang mempesona dan rambut hitam panjang. Gadis luar biasa itu bernama Dayang Torek.

Banyak sekali orang yang terpesona dengan kecantikan Dayang Torek, sehingga tersebarlah cerita tentang Dayang torek hingga ke seluruh negeri sebagai titisan bidadari atau orang Linggau sering menyebutnya sebagai Peri yang turun dari langit.

Selain memiliki penampilan yang mengagumkan, ia juga pandai menari. Itu sebabnya Dayang Torek sering diminta untuk menari dalam penyambutan tamu-tamu yang datang ke Desa Ulak Lebar.

Cerita tentang kecantikan Dayang Torek ini akhirnya sampailah ke telinga pangeran dari Palembang. Pangeran tersebut ingin membuktikan apakah benar Dayang Torek seorang gadis yang memiliki kecantikan luar biasa seperti di katakan orang-orang. Ketika sampai di desa Ulak Lebar, seperti biasa para tamu disambut dengan tari-tari persembahan. Betapa terkejutnya pangeran ketika melihat seorang penari yang lemah gemulai dan memiliki kecantikan luar biasa. Dan hari itu pangeran sangat terpesona pada kecantikan Dayang Torek.

“Alangkah cantiknya gadis itu! Luar biasa! Benar kata orang kalau di desa ini ada bidadari. Siapakah nama bidadari itu?” batin Pangeran terkagum-kagum. Seperti tamu yang lainnya, mata pangeran pun seperti tak berkedip melihat keanggunan Dayang Torek.

Kekaguman Pangeran membuat dirinya ingin memiliki Dayang Torek. Niatnya sudah bulat untuk menyunting Dayang Torek. Lalu pangeran menghadap ayahanda Dayang Torek, yaitu Gindo Ulak Lebar. Pangeran menyampaikan keinginannya untuk mempersunting Dayang Torek.

“Gindo Ulak Lebar, Aku bermaksud ingin menyunting putri Gindo, Dayang Torek. Aku ingin membawanya ke istanaku di Palembang dan akan kujadikan permaisuriku” Ungkap pangeran. Dalam hati Pangeran, Gindo Ulak Lebar tak akan menolak, apalagi jika anaknya akan dijadikan seorang permaisuri.

“Maaf Baginda, hamba bukan menolak keinginan baginda. Benar Dayang Torek putri hamba. Namun, semuanya hamba serahkan kepada Dayang Torek sendiri, Baginda. Karena dialah yang punya hak untuk menentukan nasibnya” Jawab Gindo Ulak Lebar dengan hati bergetar.

”Hmmm....baik, mana putrimu itu?” Jawab Pangeran agak pongah.

Ketika Dayang Torek tiba dihadapannya, Pangeran mengemukakan maksudnya. Dayang Torek dengan halus menolak permintaan Pangeran dengan alasan belum mau berumah tangga. Sang Pangeran berusaha menutupi kekecewaannya. Dalam hati dia bertekad, suatu saat Dayang Torek pasti akan disuntingnya.

Setelah kembali ke Palembang, beberapa kali Pangeran mengirim utusannya ke dusun Ulak Lebar untuk melamar Dayang Torek. Dibawakanlah hadiah emas dan perak, dengan harapan Dayang Torek dapat menerima kesungguhannya.

Melihat perbuatan-perbuatan Pangeran itu, Gindo Ulak Lebar mulai waspada terhadap penolakan putrinya. Walau bagaimanapun Pangeran adalah atasannya. Tidak menutup kemungkinan suatu saat hal yang tidak diinginkan terjadi di Ulak Lebar ini. Akhirnya Gindo bersama dengan warganya menanami sekeliling kampung dengan bambu yang sangat rapat. Maksudnya sebagai benteng pertahanan.

Sayangnya, sebelum pekerjaan mereka selesai, Dayang Torek telah diculik. Semua penduduk gempar. Dayang Torek telah dicari kemanapun namun dia tidak dapat ditemukan juga. Akhirnya diketahuilah kalau Dayang Torek telah diculik oleh orang suruhan pangeran. Suatu hari Gindo datang ke Palembang menemui Pangeran.

“Pangeran junjungan patik, hamba mohon kembalikan putri hamba. Mengapa Pangeran menculiknya?”

“Gindo, aku benar-benar menyukai anakmu. Berulang kali aku meminta kesediaannya untuk ku sunting jadi istriku. Tapi dia selalu menolak! Habislah kesabaranku. Sekarang dia telah menjadi istriku! Dia akan bahagia hidup di istanaku. Pulanglah ke Ulak Lebar!”

”Izinkan hamba bertemu dengan anak hamba sekali saja, Pangeran” Gindo Ulak Lebar memelas.

”Suatu saat Gindo, suatu saat aku dan Dayang Torek akan datang ke Ulak Lebar.” Jawab pangeran sembari tertawa. Dengan perasaan sedih akhirnya Gindo pulang ke Ulak Lebar. Bagaimanapun cara pangeran menculik anaknya bukanlah tindakan terpuji.

Setelah mengetahui semua kejadian itu, adik Dayang Torek yang bernama Nyongang menyusul ke Palembang. Ternyata Dayang Torek telah mempunyai seorang putra. Nyongang naik pitam. Dia tidak terima jika ayuknya (panggilan untuk saudara perempuan di daerah Sumatera Selatan) diperlakukan seperti itu. Dayang bukan dijadikan permaisuri, akan tetapi dijadikan selir, entah yang ke berapa. Dengan menggunakan kekuatan ilmunya, Nyonggang berhasil menemui Dayang Torek di istana.

“Ayuk Dayang Torek, kau harus lari dari sekapan Pangeran bejat itu, Yuk. Mari pulang bersamaku. Kita pulang ke Ulak Lebar...” Bujuk Nyongang.

“Adikku…, aku telah berputra” suara Dayang Torek Lembut. Wajahnya pucat pasi menandakan ia sangat tersiksa.

“Tinggalkan saja, Bukankah ini istana ayahnya?”

“Tidak dik, Bagaimanapun dia adalah darah dagingku. Aku tidak mungkin meninggalkannya”

“Baik, kalau begitu kita bawa pergi saja anak ini” kata Nyongang.

Nyongang membawa kabur Dayang Torek dan anaknya. Mereka berjalan- keluar masuk hutan tiada henti. Akhirnya sampailah mereka di tepi sungai Kelingi di kaki Bukit Sulap. Sejak awal Nyongang tidak menyenangi anak Dayang Torek yang dianggapnya anak haram. Kemudian muncullah niatnya untuk membunuh anak itu. Diselipkannya taji ditangannya lalu ditepuknya ke dahi anak Dayang Torek. Anak Dayang Torek meninggal seketika.

“Nyongang! Apa yang kau lakukan? Mengapa kau bunuh anakku?” Kata Dayang Torek terkejut.

“Tidak, yuk. Aku hanya menepuk nyamuk yang menempel di dahinya”

“Tidak!! Kau sengaja ingin melenyapkan anakku!”

“Yuk, sudahlah. mengapa harus ditangisi? Bukankah ayah anak ini adalah orang yang ayuk benci? Dan ini.., ini anak haram, yuk!”

“Tidak! Kau tidak boleh melakukan ini. Anak ini tidak berdosa Nyongang. Dia adalah darah dagingku. Aku benci dengan kau! Kau juga jahat!! Jahat!!” Dayang Torek menangis dan kemudian berlari ke Bukit Sulap.

“Ayuk….! Jangan pergi. Ayuuuuk!!” Nyongang berteriak-teriak sambil berlari mengejar Dayang Torek. Dayang Torek berlari sangat cepat. Nyonggang terus mengejar Dayang Torek yang berlari ke puncak Bukit Sulap sembari menangis. Tiba-tiba Dayang Torek lenyap tak tahu kemana. Nyonggang berteriak-teriak histeris.

”Yuk…kemana kau, yuk??  Kemana kau?? Mengapa kau menghilang!” Nyongang menangis dan berteriak sekencang-kencangnya. Gema suaranya mengisi lereng Bukit Sulap hingga ke lembah. Semua hewan yang berada di Bukit Sulap diam tak bersuara. Beberapa pohon tumbang karena suara Nyonggang yang menggelegar seperti petir.

Akhirnya tinggalah Nyongang menangis sedih meratapi kepergian Dayang Torek yang hilang (silam) di Bukit Sulap. Sejak itu, untuk mengenang peristiwa tragis di Bukit Sulap, masyarakat menyebut daerah tersebut ‘Silampari’. Artinya Putri (peri atau pari) yang hilang (silam). Sejak itulah Kota Lubuklinggau dan Musi Rawas sering disebut Bumi Silampari.