Nini Anteh: The Grandma Who Lives on the Moon
Who is Nini Anteh?
Before the age of television and gadgets, families in Sunda often gathered outdoors under the moonlight, sharing stories. One popular tale was that of Nini Anteh, an old lady who, according to legend, lives on the moon with her cat, Candramawat.
In Sundanese, “Nini” means grandma or an old lady, while “Anteh” derives from the word kanteh or nganteh, meaning the yarn or act of spinning cotton for weaving. When you look at the moon, the darker spots are believed to resemble an old woman weaving with her cat beside her.
The story of how Nini Anteh came to live on the moon varies, with three notable versions commonly told.
1. Nini Anteh and Prince Anantakusuma
In the kingdom of Pakuan, Princess Endahwarni was accompanied by her loyal lady-in-waiting, Anteh. They were as close as sisters, having grown up together.
One day, the princess was betrothed to Prince Anantakusuma. However, the prince fell in love with Anteh after hearing her sing in the palace garden.
When the princess noticed the prince’s fondness for Anteh, jealousy overcame her, and she ordered Anteh to leave the palace. Anteh, out of loyalty to the princess, left without protest.
Years later, the princess sought forgiveness and invited Anteh back to the palace. Although Anteh returned, Prince Anantakusuma could not forget her. One night, the prince confessed his love, frightening Anteh. She prayed to the Almighty for help, and a moonbeam lifted her and her cat to the moon, where they lived ever since.
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2. The Oldest Written Version
This version, documented by Dutch author C.M. Pleyte in 1912, tells of a girl born from a magical incident involving a cat. The girl lived with her father, a hunter, and her cat.
After her father remarried, the stepmother mistreated the girl. Seeking solace, the girl and her cat climbed a magical fruit tree by a river. The tree grew so tall it reached the sky, and a golden ladder appeared, leading her to the moon.
There, the moon goddess took care of her, assigning her the eternal task of spinning cotton into yarn. Over time, the girl grew old and became known as Nini Anteh, named after her weaving.
3. Nini Anteh the Astronaut
In this version, Nini Anteh and her husband, Aki Balangantrang, longed for a child but had none. They adopted a three-colored cat named Candramawat.
Nini Anteh loved weaving under the moonlight. One night, she expressed her wish to live on the moon, a place she admired deeply. Using their mystical skill of saepi (a teleportation-like ability), Nini Anteh, her cat, and, in some versions, her husband traveled to the moon.
There, she continued her weaving, occasionally sending fabric down to her husband on earth.
Nini Anteh in Modern Culture
The story of Nini Anteh remains a cherished piece of Sundanese folklore. You can explore her tale at Among Putro SkyWorld Indonesia, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, where she is featured alongside other space-related Indonesian legends.
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References:
- Explore Sunda Folklore: Explore Sunda
- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah: SkyWorld TMII
- C.M. Pleyte’s Work: Indonesian Heritage
