บท 8: The Myth of Buto
I nodded slowly, I took a deep breath and leaned limply on the city transportation window. Nina got off ahead of me as soon as we arrived at SMAN Bandoso, the school was still quiet. I remember that the clock was just past six o'clock and I could leave earlier by bike, but I hate sweating in the morning.
caught up with Nina who somehow accelerated her walk pace, I almost fell when the minibus was speeding as soon as my feet hit the asphalt
"Hey, Nina!"
"Yes?"
I held my breath while compiling the words I was going to say. How can I communicate with this nerd without her demanding weird things after she answered my question?
"You are pretty clever right?"
"Is that's supposed to be a compliment or a sarcasm?"
Nina glared at me. Oh no, a red flag. How can I change this conversation to be more casual?
"It's about the books in my father's study."
"Okay, I'm listening."
She turned back towards the front with a more relaxed expression, but her eyes were still cynical.
"So, have you ever heard the folk story about the giant who ate the moon? I've heard the story, but maybe you know more?"
Nina adjusted her glasses, walked hand in hand with me entering the school gate while looking thoughtful for a moment before answering my question.
"Sorry, Aji. Can you be more specific with your question? Which giant are you referring to? Swarbhanu? Batara Kala? Kalarahu? Several mythological beings ate the moon, and that's just the local mythology I mentioned. We haven't discussed mythology abroad. You know about nordic mythology right? Remember about Skoll and Hati eating Sol and Mani right?"
"Eh?"
Oh shit, looks like I just triggered her nerd personality again. Damn, I just want to fast answer and not be lectured like this.
"So which the giant do you mean Aji Saputra? You aren't possibly bringing up this topic without doing some research first right?"
My face turned pale, cold sweat started to roll down my face. If I give the wrong answer, then important information from Nina will fail to get my hands on it.
"You know if we talk about the local myth. The mythology of the buto or the moon-eating giant itself has several versions with some similarities."
Our conversation was interrupted when our teacher Mr. Prasetyo passed us. Nina immediately kissed his hand as soon as she greeted us.
"This so unusual for two to come this early, did something happens to you Mr. Saputra?"
"I just didn't want to get some sweat, Sir."
"Isn't that healthy for a youngster like you? Or you just got a new girlfriend huh?"
"It's nothing like that sir!"
"It's a joke boy! Excuse me!"
Mr. Prasetyo walks away into his office while I and Nina go to our classroom. For a while, we had to postpone our conversation. Moreover, Nina had to chat with some of her classmates before we got to class XI C on the second floor. Once we sat down opposite each other in our seats, Nina continued her story.
"Our myth about giant is based on a certain myth In India. The origin stories about giants eating the moon are even related to conflicts between gods and asuras. Durvasa's curse once made all the gods lose their immortality, making the gods ask for the help of the god Vishnu. The life-sustaining god ordered the gods to extract Tirta Amerta from the ocean of life In the famous myth of the churning of the oceans, Samudramantahana. Of course, you know about this myth right? We even had this myth on the genesis of the Java Island!"
"Err..."
"Oh god, then why you ask this question in the first place Aji?"
"I'm so sorry, dear Nina. But please can you just continue your story?"
"Alright then, so the gods who lost their powers were forced to ask the asuras for help with the churn of the ocean to get the tirta amerta. Too bad all this is just a trick of the gods. Only one asura was smart enough to realize this, namely Swarbhanu. He who realized the stupidity of the gods finally secretly disguised himself, and he managed to sit between Surya the sun god and Chandra the moon god."
"And Swarbhanu managed to drink Tirta Amerta just before Vishnu split his head in half right?"
Nina stopped her words for a moment while looking at me in disbelief
"I can't believe you could figure that out. Surely you know what happened next, don't you?"
I shook my head slowly while smiling awkwardly, and Nina just replied with a disappointed sigh.
"Gosh, I thought the boys would at least like the story about the god's weapons."
I just shrugged trying to get Nina to understand my limited knowledge of local mythology.
"Anyway! with the Sudharsana Chakra Vishnu managed to cut off Swarbhanu's head. But unfortunately, the head and body became two different entities. His head became a snake named Rahu while his body became an asura named Ketu. Knowing that Chandra and Surya were the ones who leaked their identities to Vishnu, made the two Swarbhanu's body parts are relentlessly chasing Chandra and Surya."
There is something odd about Nina's story, I remember clearly the Kalarau statue when Ajeng and I were in Bali. But I don't remember that there is another statue named Ketu.
"Didn't the giant's body turn into Lesung? You know, the traditional Javanese mortar?"
"I told you Aji, do you want me to tell you about which giant? If Kalarau is the story like that. The characters Chandra and Surya were replaced by Dewi Ratih. As for Batara Kala, it has its own story too. As the son of Shiva and Durga, but I doubt whether it is the same giant who is the embodiment of the eclipse."
The answer to my question turned out to be something complicated. The loss of belief in myths made it difficult for me to find answers to my dreams.
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