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.