The Moral Value of the Jonggrang Temple Story

The story of Jonggrang Temple is a popular folktale in Indonesia. It tells the story of a princess named Roro Jonggrang and her encounter with a prince named Bandung Bondowoso. This story is not only entertaining but also carries important moral values that can be learned by readers. One of the moral values that can be derived from the story is the importance of honesty. In the story, Roro Jonggrang's father, the king, promises Bandung Bondowoso that he can marry Roro Jonggrang if he can build a thousand temples in one night. However, Roro Jonggrang does not want to marry Bandung Bondowoso and comes up with a plan to prevent him from completing the task. She orders the villagers to start a fire and pound rice, creating the illusion of dawn. When Bandung Bondowoso realizes that he has been tricked, he becomes angry and curses Roro Jonggrang to become the thousandth temple. This part of the story teaches us that honesty is always the best policy and that deceit will eventually lead to negative consequences. Another moral value that can be learned from the story is the importance of respecting others. Bandung Bondowoso's love for Roro Jonggrang is so strong that he is willing to go to great lengths to marry her. However, Roro Jonggrang does not reciprocate his feelings and tries to find a way to reject him. Instead of respecting her decision, Bandung Bondowoso becomes angry and curses her. This part of the story teaches us that it is important to respect other people's choices and not force our own desires upon them. The story of Jonggrang Temple also highlights the consequences of arrogance and pride. Bandung Bondowoso's arrogance and pride lead him to believe that he can accomplish any task, including building a thousand temples in one night. However, his arrogance blinds him to the fact that he is being deceived by Roro Jonggrang. This part of the story teaches us that arrogance and pride can cloud our judgment and lead to our downfall. In conclusion, the story of Jonggrang Temple is not just a tale of love and deceit, but also carries important moral values. It teaches us the importance of honesty, respect, and the consequences of arrogance and pride. By understanding and internalizing these moral values, we can become better individuals and contribute positively to society.