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SINGOSARI
 There
are numerous temple remains from the period of Singosari, which
lasted throughout the 13th century. The dynasty traces its origins
to the colourful figures of Ken Angrok and his chillingly beautiful
queen, Ken Dedes.
Javanese historical records tell of a Buddhist monk, whose daughter
was reputed to be the most beautiful girl in the region. One
day, while her father was away meditating in the forest, she
was visited by the local ruler of Tumapel, who kidnapped her
and took her back to his palace. It is said that this ruler,
named Tunggul Ametung, loved Ken Dedes deeply and made her his
principal queen. When she was about 3 months pregnant, she was
taken by her husband on a relaxing excursion to the garden of
Boboji. On descending from her carriage, however, her skirt suddenly
parted of itself to reveal a blinding light issuing from between
her thighs. All this happened directly in front of the young
Ken Angrok, who fell immediately under the woman's spell and
determined, by fair means or foul, to take Ken Dedes as his wife.
Little did the young man know that all these events were pre-
destined and had been decreed by the gods. For whoever married
Ken Dedes, it was said, would become a king of kings and rule
over the whole of Java.
Legend has it that Ken Angrok was born from the union of his
mother with the god Brahma. Yet from what is told of his childhood
and youth, he does not seem to have been a likely candidate for
the Javanese throne. Abandoned in a graveyard at a young age
and subsequently adopted by a thief, the boy began his life as
a notorious gambler, running up debts to the point where both
his mother and stepfather were forced into slavery. He then took
to thievery himself and ended up in so much trouble that on several
occasions Brahma himself had to intervene when he feared for
the boy's life.
Ken Angrok's fortunes changed when he eavesdropped on the gods
while they discussed the future of Java. He learned that it was
his destiny to become king and shortly afterwards, on his divine
father's recommendation, he was formally appointed heir to the
throne. From that point on he sought for a way to take Ken Dedes
as his queen and murder her husband. Killing Tunggul Ametung,
however, was not an easy task, since the ruler possessed considerable
supernatural power (kesakten). It required the forging of a special
keris (Javanese double edged sword), which would be capable of
piercing the victim's protection. Ken Angrok approached a well
known metal smith named Mpu Gandring, who agreed to make the
weapon if given a year in which to complete it. Ken Angrok, however,
insisted that it be finished in five months, and went on his
way.
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