THE LEGEND OF KEBO IWA

One day in Bali, there is a man and his wife were praying. They
have been married for a long time but didn't have any child. They
asked God to give them a child. They prayed and keep prayed. God
finally answered their pray. The wife then, got pregnant and gave a
birth to a baby boy. They were very gratefully and happy.

The baby was extraordinary. He was very different from most

babies. He ate and drank a lot. Day after day he ate more and
more. His body was getting bigger and bigger. And by the time he
was a teenager, his body was as big as a buffalo. People then
started to call him Kebo Iwa.

His eating habit make Kebo Iwa’s parents spent a lot of money to
buy his food in large amount. They finally went bankrupt. They gave up and asked the villagers to help
them provide the food.

The villagers then worked together to cook and build a big house for Kebo Iwa. He was like a giant. He
could not stay with his parents anymore because his body is too big. Sadly, after a few months, the
villagers also could not afford to cook him the food. They then asked Kebo Iwa to cook his own food. The
villagers just prepared the raw materials.

Kebo Iwa agreed and as an expression of his gratitude to the villagers, he built a dam, dug wells, and he
also protected the villagers from wild animals and people who wanted to attack their village. He did
those things by himself.

Meanwhile, the troops of Majapahit were planning to attack Bali. They knew about Kebo Iwa. And they
also knew that they could not conquer Bali with Kebo Iwa there. Kebo Iwa was too powerful for them.

Gajah Mada, the Maha Patih (Chief Minister) of Majapahit then planned
something. They were pretending to invite Kebo Iwa to Majapahit to help
them dig some wells. They said that Majapahit was suffering from a long dry
season and needed much water. Kebo Iwa didn't know the plan, so he went
to Majapahit without any suspicion.

When Kebo Iwa was busy digging a very big well, the troops covered the well
with many large boulders. Kebo Iwa had difficulty in breathing and buried
alive. He died inside the well.

After the death of Kebo Iwa, Bali was conquered by Majapahit. Until now,
people still remember Kebo Iwa because he had done a lot for Majapahit and
Bali. The stone head of legendary Kebo Iwa can be found in Pura Gaduh
temple in Blahbatuh, Gianyar.

Kebo Iwa also known as Kebo Waruga or Kebo Taruna.

From: http://indonesianfolklore.blogspot.com/2008/04/kebo-iwa.html
From: https://caritra.tumblr.com/post/137401656390/kebo-iwa

A long time ago in Bali, there lived a wealthy couple. They had been married for a long time but they
were childless. They prayed to God to give them a child, and their prayer was answered. The wife gave
birth to a big, healthy baby boy. They named him Kebo Iwa, which meant “buffalo uncle”. Strangely, the
baby could already eat food for adults. His parents fed him with rice, meat, and vegetables.

As Kebo Iwa grew up, his appetite also increased. In time, his parents’ riches were used up to feed him.
Now penniless, Kebo Iwa’s parents begged the villagers to feed Kebo Iwa.

Years passed. Kebo Iwa became a huge, strong young man. He could dig a well with his large fists. When
he walked, he took large steps. The villagers continued to feed him. In gratitude, Kebo Iwa guarded the
village from bandits. With his enormous body, he could easily defeat anyone who challenged him. The
villagers were fond of Kebo Iwa because he was a kind-hearted and strong young man.

The news of Kebo Iwa’s strength reached the ears of the King of Bali. All this time, Bali was threatened by
the kingdom of Majapahit under Patih (vicegerent) Gajah Mada. In his famous Palapa Oath (Sumpah
Palapa), Gajah Mada swore to conquer all islands of Nusantara (Indonesia), including Bali.

“Perhaps this young man is the answer to our prayers,” thought the king.

The king invited Kebo Iwa to the palace and told him about the problem that the kingdom was facing.
Then he learned about Kebo Iwa’s skills and promoted him to be a vicegerent (patih). Kebo Iwa was
delighted.

“I promise, as long as I live, I will not let Bali be conquered by another kingdom,” he said.

Kebo Iwa was true to his words. Since he became a vicegerent, he would always defeat anyone who
attacked Bali. Soon, Patih Gajah Mada from Majapahit heard of Kebo Iwa’s greatness. Gajah Mada
realized that he would lose if he attacked Bali. Therefore, he proposed peace between Bali and
Majapahit. Gajah Mada invited Kebo Iwa to Majapahit and promised to marry him to a beautiful princess
of Majapahit.

Accordingly, Kebo Iwa came to Java island. Gajah Mada treated him nicely and held a feast in his honor.
As usual, Kebo Iwa ate a lot. Then Gajah Mada began to tell him about the condition of Majapahit.

“We are having a drought. We lack water. I heard you are very powerful. Would you help us and build a
well in a short time?” asked Gajah Mada.

“Of course,” said the unsuspecting Kebo Iwa.

Gajah Mada led him to a vast clearing and told him to build the well there. Seeing a large number of
troops surrounding him, Kebo Iwa began to mistrust Gajah Mada. However, he continued digging the
well with his large punches. When Kebo Iwa was deep inside the well, Gajah Mada instructed his troops
to bury him with rocks.

“Kebo Iwa has died! Now we can conquer Bali!” exclaimed Gajah Mada.

But suddenly he heard a rumbling sound. The rocks flew upward. Kebo Iwa emerged from under the
rocks.
“No, I am not dead yet. Gajah Mada, you traitor! You will receive my revenge!” cried Kebo Iwa.

A long battle followed. Gajah Mada and his troops fought against the mighty Kebo Iwa. In the midst of
the battle, Gajah Mada shouted, “Kebo Iwa, give up! Our intention is to unite Nusantara, not to harm
your kingdom! I promise we will bring advancements to your kingdom!”

Kebo Iwa stopped fighting. He realized that Gajah Mada was not lying. He whispered, “But I promised I
would not let anything happen to Bali as long as I live. If I surrender, that will be forfeiting my promise.
Therefore, I must die.”

“What?” Gajah Mada was astonished that his enemy would give in so quickly.

“Yes, for the good of Bali, kill me. My only weakness is limestone. Take a piece of limestone from a
mountain, and smear the powder upon my forehead. I will become weak, and you can defeat me,” said
Kebo Iwa.

Gajah Mada, who had magical powers, took a piece of limestone from the nearest mountain, smashed it,
and smeared the powder upon Kebo Iwa’s forehead. True to his words, Kebo Iwa became weak. Gajah
Mada defeated him easily.

“Promise me, you will bring good to Bali,” gasped Kebo Iwa before his death.

Gajah Mada promised.

Thus fell the mightiest hero of Bali. Majapahit conquered Bali, and Gajah Mada went on to unite the
islands of Nusantara.