The Legend of Dewi Sri
Long ago, in the heart of Java, there lived a beautiful goddess named Dewi Sri. She was the goddess of rice and fertility, revered by the villagers who depended on her for bountiful harvests. According to legend, Dewi Sri descended from the heavens to bless the land with prosperity. Her presence brought fertility to the soil, ensuring that crops grew abundantly, and the people thrived. However, this divine blessing came with a caveat: the villagers had to honor Dewi Sri by performing rituals and ceremonies to show their gratitude.
Despite their devotion, tragedy struck when the villagers forgot to pay homage to Dewi Sri during a crucial ceremony. Enraged by their neglect, Dewi Sri disappeared, leaving the land barren and the people starving. Desperate to regain her favor, the villagers embarked on a quest to find her. After days of searching, they discovered Dewi Sri hiding in a remote cave, mourning their forgetfulness. Realizing their mistake, the villagers pleaded for forgiveness and promised to honor Dewi Sri faithfully from then on.
Touched by their sincerity, Dewi Sri forgave the villagers and returned to bless the land once more. From that day forward, the people never forgot to honor her, performing rituals and ceremonies to ensure her continued favor. With Dewi Sri's blessing, the land flourished, and the villagers lived in prosperity for generations to come.
Multiple Choice Test:
1. Where did Dewi Sri live?
a) Bali
b) Java
c) Sumatra
d) Kalimantan
2. What was Dewi Sri the goddess of?
a) Water
b) Rice and fertility
c) Sun
d) War
3. How did Dewi Sri bless the land?
a) By bringing drought
b) By bringing famine
c) By bringing prosperity
d) By bringing diseases
4. What happened when the villagers forgot to honor Dewi Sri?
a) She rewarded them with more blessings
b) She disappeared and the land became barren
c) She punished them with a flood
d) She cursed the villagers with eternal suffering
5. Where did the villagers find Dewi Sri hiding?
a) In the forest
b) In a cave
c) Underneath a waterfall
d) On top of a mountain
6. What did the villagers promise to do to regain Dewi Sri's favor?
a) Pay her with gold
b) Build her a temple
c) Perform rituals and ceremonies
d) Offer sacrifices
7. What did Dewi Sri do when the villagers asked for forgiveness?
a) She ignored them
b) She cursed them
c) She forgave them and returned to bless the land
d) She vanished forever
8. How did the land fare after Dewi Sri returned?
a) It remained barren
b) It was plagued by disasters
c) It flourished and the villagers lived in prosperity
d) It became infertile forever
9. What lesson can be learned from the legend of Dewi Sri?
a) The importance of neglecting rituals
b) The power of forgiveness and gratitude
c) The danger of angering gods
d) The inevitability of suffering
10. Why did the villagers depend on Dewi Sri?
a) For entertainment
b) For protection from enemies
c) For bountiful harvests and prosperity
d) For spiritual enlightenment
Key Answers:
- b) Java
- b) Rice and fertility
- c) By bringing prosperity
- b) She disappeared and the land became barren
- b) In a cave
- c) Perform rituals and ceremonies
- c) She forgave them and returned to bless the land
- c) It flourished and the villagers lived in prosperity
- b) The power of forgiveness and gratitude
- c) For bountiful harvests and prosperity
