Once upon the time in East Javanese kingdom of Daha lived a Brahman named Sidi Mantra. He was known as an exemplary person, purifying himself by long periods of meditation.

Gods acknowledged Sidi Mantra’s devotion by rewarding him with a beautiful wife and wealth. However his happiness was not complete since he still had no child. He prayed and meditated until after many years of longing, his wife gave birth to a son whom they named Manik Angkeran.

Manik Angkeran was a charming boy, given well-formed body with handsome face. But actually he had an evil streak in his nature which was ruined him. He liked to gamble very much. Every time he gambled, he often got lost and more lost. He even gambled away everything his parents owned.

After everything was gone, in his desperation, Manik Angkeran begged his father to do something to pay his debts. In his disappointment, Sidi Mantra who his love to his son was still greater than his disappointment, promised him to do whatever he could to help his son.

Sidi Mantra then meditated and prayed for days to the gods for a way out of his difficulties. One day in the middle of his meditation he heard a voice calling his name and told him to go to the east where there was a volcano called mount Agung. He would find a hidden treasure hoard within its crater, guarded by a dragon named Naga Besukih.

He prepared and set off at once to Mount Agung. He faced dense forest, ravines, streams and rapids, wild beasts, but he kept going on to find what th voice had told him. He climbed the mountain to the top and when finally he got there, he looked down while ringing the cowbell that he brought with him. He mumbled mantras to call Naga Besukih. Suddenly the huge dragon Naga Besukih appeared and Sidi Mantra told him the reason his visit to Mount Agung. Naga Besukih understood and politely moved his body in such a way that gold and precious stones fell from his scales. He said that Sidi Mantra can take home as many of the jewels as he wanted. Sidi Mantra took leave of the dragon with profuse thanks. At home he gave the jewels to Manik Angkeran to pay all his debt.

Unfortunately, Manik Angkeran could not stop gambling and the debts piled up as before. Sidi Mantra again made his journey to Mount Agung and asked the dragon to help him. He went home with a treasure hoard.

In his curiosity, Manik Angkeran asked his father how and where he had acquired such treasure. His father adamantly refused to reveal his secret. But one day, Manik Angkeran heard from one of his friends that his father was often went to Mount Agung , holding a cowbell in his hand. Manik Angkeran decided to leave for Mount Agung at night and brought his father’s cowbell which he stole while his father was sleeping. After a long journey, he climbed up and shook the cowbell so long and so hard. Not long, dragon Naga Besukih appeared and asked Manik Angkeran what he wanted from him. A bit fearfully, Manik Angkeran told the dragon why he visited the mountain. He spoke so charmingly and convincingly to evoke the dragon’s interest as well as his sympathy.  Naga Besukih finally was willing to give the jewels to Manik Angkeran on condition, “You must retract your evil ways, such as gambling. Gambling can cause you and those who love you great sadness and misery. Never forget the law of karma, that every single thing you do in life influences what happen to you in the future. Do you promise to change your way of life, Manik Angkeran?” Naga Besukih asked. Manik Angkeran replied firmly, “Yes!”

However when Naga Besukih had brought him jewels, fascinated by the sparkling precious stones, Manik Angkeran who apparently possessed by evil desire pulled out his keris and cut the edge the dragon’s tail. In pain, Naga Besukih tried to catch Manik Angkeran who ran away with the jewels, but then stopped. He used his magic power to punish Manik Angkeran by licking Manik Angkeran’s footprints. Suddenly at the very moment, Manik Angkeran burst into flame.

At home, Sidi Mantra who was wondering what had become of his son, realized after he could not find his cowbell. He assumed that Manik Angkeran must have gone to the Mountain Agung. Soon he left for Mountain Agung and as before after mumbling with mantras, dragon Naga Besukih came forth. The dragon told Sidi Mantra what had happened to his son.

In his sadness Sidi Mantra begged Naga Besukih, “Naga Besukih, you must understand how I feel. You have destroyed my son, but I am sure you can use your magic power to bring him back. Will you do so?”

“What about my tail. Manik Angkeran had cut it off, can it be brought back as before?” replied Naga Besukih. Sidi Mantra recited necessary formula and prayed for Batara to bring the dragon’s tail back. It was done in a moment. The tail was there.

In return, Naga Besukih pronounced the magic words to bring back Manik Angkeran to life. And it was done too. Manik Angkeran bowed low before his father and Naga Besukih begging for forgiveness and promising to a good life from that day forward.

“Manik Angkeran,” Sidi Besukih called his son,”You will begin your new life in a new place.” At the very moment Sidi Mantra disappeared, and between the land on Manik Angkeran stood and the land from where his father had vanished, a great pool of water appeared, flowing and deepening until it became a sea. Sidi Mantra had split open with his staff the ground on which he walked, and the grooves had immediately filled with water. This was the BaliStrait, which to this day separates Java from the island of Bali.

(Balinese Folk Tale)