CHAPTER I.
Before the heavens and earth were created, there existed Sang yang Wisésa (the all-powerful). This deity, remaining in the centre of the universe, inwardly and earnestly desired of the Almighty Ruler to grant a wish that he had. A dreadful conflict of the elements ensued, in the midst of which he heard a repetition of sounds, like the rapid striking of a bell. On looking up he saw a ball suspended over him, and on his laying hold of it, it separated into three parts: one part became the heavens and earth, another became the sun and moon, and the third was man, or mánek máya.
All having made obeisance to the Sang yang Wisésa, he addressed himself to Mánek máya, and said, "Hereafter thou shalt be called Sang yang Gúru; and placing entire confidence in thee, I give up the earth and all that is attached to it, to be used and disposed of according to thy will and pleasure." Having spoken thus, Sang yang Wisésa vanished.
The earth being in great distress, unfixed and liable to be driven to and fro by every gust of wind, anxiously petitioned of Sang yang Wisésa that its situation and condition in the universe might be fixed. The sun, moon, and sky, deeply affected with the distress in which the earth was, all came to lend their assistance; a violent hurricane at the same time arose, and, by their united influence, the earth became still and fixed, the contending waters then receiving their saltness and disposition to turbulence. The continual presence of the sun and moon occasioned perpetual day. Sang yang Gúru, empowered by the deity, then directed that those two luminaries should show themselves alternately, relieving each other by turns; the sun dispensing light and heat during the day, and at the close thereof entering into the bosom of fire; the moon continuing to light the earth by night, for fifteen days in a month, and descending in due season into the bosom of the waters.
At the request of Sang yang Gúru, the deity granted that he should have nine male and five female children born unto him, without the assistance of a mother.
One of the sons, called Mahadéwa, being furnished with one of the daughters, called Mahadéwi, as a wife, was sent to preside in the east. He was, moreover, provided with a fort and palace of silver, a sea of cocoa-nut milk, and a white pári bird. His letters were ha, na, cha, ra, and ka, (the five first letters of the Javan alphabet), and his day, légi (which signifies sweet).
The second son, Sang yang Sámbu, was sent to preside in the south: the daughter allotted to him for a consort was Sangyána. His kráton was of copper; his bird was a bhramána kite; his sea was of blood; his letters were da, ta, sa, wa, and la; his day páhing.
The third son, Sang yang Kamajáya (the most beautiful), was sent to preside in the west: the daughter allotted to him for a wife was Dewi Ratéh (which signifies the most beautiful female). His kráton was of gold; his sea was of honey; his bird was a kapádong, or yellow minor; his letters were pa, da, ja, ya, and nia; his day was pon.
The fourth son, Sang yang Wísnu, was sent to preside in the north: the daughter allotted to him for a wife was Sri. His day was wágé; his kráton was of iron; his sea was indigo; his bird was gága, or crow; his letters were ma, ga, ba, ta, and nga.
The fifth son, Sang yang Báyu, was appointed to preside over the centre of the earth: the daughter allotted for his wife was Dewi Súmi. His kráton was of bell-metal; his day was klíwon; his letters were ga, lang, nia, ma, ma, la, pa, ya, and a; his sea was of hot water; his bird was a gogek.
The four remaining sons were appointed to preside in the north-east, north-west, south-west, and south-east quarters, respectively.
The god of the north-east was Sang yang Pretanjála, and the letter attached to him was named b'ya.
The god of the south-east was Sang yang Kwéra, and the letter attached to him was named narasúnya.
The god of the south-west was Sang yang Mahayákti, and the letter attached to him was named gandéa.
The god of the north-west was Sang yang Séwa, and the letter attached to him was named norwíti.
These arrangements being made, Sang yang Gúru went under the earth to put things to rights there. The earth consisted of seven regions, one under the other, like so many folds. In the first region he appointed the goddess Déwi Pratiwi to preside; in the second region, a god named Sang yang Kusíka; in the third region, a god named Sang yang Gáng'ga; in the fourth region, a god named Sang yang Sindúla; in the fifth, Sang yang Dasampálan; in the sixth, a god named Sang yang Manihára; in the seventh region, a god named Sang yang Anta Boga, and who was head over all the others.
Then Sang yang Gúru returning from under the earth, and observing that it was depressed towards the west, and elevated towards the east, summoned all the deities to a consultation respecting what might be the cause of this inclination. The deity of the west said that it was in consequence of a large mountain that was towards the west, and whose weight bore down the earth in that quarter. Sang yang Gúru then directed that the mountain should be removed from the west and placed in the east, so as to preserve the earth in due balance. All the deities were accordingly forthwith dispatched to effect the same.
Sang yang Gúru, at the same time, got Sang yang Wisésa to create him a Vulcan or Empu, whose name was Ramádi. Of this Vulcan, his mouth served to supply fire, his right and left hands served respectively to hold and beat his work, while his knee answered the purpose of an anvil.