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The name Kamandalu represents an everlasting life and beauty. Its
story awakens memories of a time long ago when the gods and demons
competed for the gifts of the kamandalu holy water for its everlasting
life.
They extracted kamandalu or the holy water from the ocean using
the mountain " Mandara Giri " to stir the deep water.
To ensure the mountain did not sink, Vishnu, the God of water and
the caretaker of nature, supported its base by transforming himself
into a giant turtle name " Bedawang Nala" on which Mandara
giri could rest.
The gods and demons thus engaged in a fierce struggle which the
gods lost.
To retrieve the stolen holy water, the gods sent Vishnu, in the
form of a beautiful woman, to distract the demons, where upon Vishnu
spirited the holy water back to a safe place.
Now that Kamandalu was safe, Surya, the god of the sun, and Chandra,
the goddess of the Moon, distributed the precious substance amongst
the gods, receiving their portion with lotus leaves. All, that is,
except for " Kalarahu", who drew attention to himself
by using a "keladi" (black radish) leaf. Surya and Chandra
recognized this intruder as a demon and shouted a warning to Vishnu,
who used his mighty weapon Cakra Gumilingan to cut off Kalarahu's
head.
That dastardly demon, however, had already been showered with Kamandalu
and the sheer force of its magical powers, so it kept Kalarahu's
head alive, enabling him to escape to the sky.
There he awaits the day when he can seek revenge against Surya and
Chandra for this violent act.
According to Hindu legend that day will come when the sun (surya)
and moon (chandra) eclipse on the same day. In the meantime all
those who believe in the spirit and the power of Kamandalu can have
eternal youth and beauty.
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