4. ULAHINGAN
(1) Agyu and his relatives are the characters in Ulahingan.
A conflict develops between them and their rulers,
usually Muslims, because of a forced tribute and the
killing of the ruler. They flee, guided by a diwata or
spirit, who promises them immortality after they have
overcome various obstacles. They leave behind Mungan,
the wife of Banlak who is Agyu’s brother, because she
has leprosy. Mungan, however, is the first among them
to become immortal. It is she who tells Agyu and the
clan to go to Aruman to await the sarimbar/salsimbar
or magical flyingboat that will take themto paradise.
Characters
Baybayan
Agyu
Banlak
Mungan
Midlimbag
5. (2) When the appointed day comes, Agyu and his relatives
ascend to heaven. A diwata showers them with the oil of
immortality and gives them the betel nut of immortality
to chew. He blesses them, but tells them that the
Midlimbag, the Highest God, sends them to live in
Nalandangan, an earthly paradise, and not in heaven.
That is their reward for enduring and having confidence
in the Midlimbag.
6. (3) However, Baybayan, Agyu’s son, does not join them in Nalandangan.
Three incidents in the past explain his exclusion. He did partake of a
boar which Agyu and his men had killed with the help of a meresen
etew, a heavenly messenger. His withdrawal from the feast signaled that
he would not join them on their trip to paradise. Consequently, he is
tasked to go around the world seven times to gather converts before he
can enter paradise. A similar incident happened in Kituyed, where
Baybayan was absent in the distribution of a dead fish. Agyu again
decrees that Baybayan should circle the world and win converts before
he can join them in heaven. Before Baybayan can start on his journey,
however, Agyu’s grandfather tells him to dance the sa-ut, a circular war
dance. Instead of circling three times as dictated by tradition, Baybayan
circles seven times. The grandfather then declares that Baybayan must
circlethe worldseventimes.
7. (4) In his wanderings, Baybayan encounters many adventures,
converting many peoples, including Chinese and Muslims. He
and his followers would stop journeying every seven days. In one
episode, his followers run out of food and drink. They stop by a
tree laden with fruit. Baybayan performs the first ulahing, and
the fruit falls from the tree and turns into linepet, leaf wrappings
of rice. A bowl of viand appears beside each linepet. Baybayan
and his followers feast on food, which do not run out. After more
wanderings, they are finally lifted to heaven in the salimbar,
where the highest katulusan, a divinity, makes them immortal.
Midlimbag gives them powers of a different nature than those he
has given Agyu, and provides them with another paradise to stay
in. He exhorts Baybayan to inspire mortals to perform the
ulahingso that they may not forget Agyu.
