Testing the Heart: The Pool That Cuts False Promises
Within the scenic diversity of the Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Gardens), the Kolam Gunting (Scissors Pool), located near the main entrance, is a spot of serene beauty, yet it is utterly central to a profound and cautionary local myth. The very name, “Scissors,” hints at a division or a final cut, and the “air” (water) within this pool is reputed to possess a sacred, binding power, particularly concerning matters of the heart and truth.
The Legend of the Broken Vows
The most popular and enduring carita (story) directly involves couples who visit the Kolam Gunting. The myth asserts that if a pair of lovers walks around the pool and either makes a promise that they do not intend to keep or, more dramatically, makes a “sumpah palsu” (false oath) of eternal love or fidelity, the powerful, mystical energy of the water will immediately intervene. The consequence is severe: the spiritual force of the pool will instantly cause their relationship to fail, often dramatically and painfully, serving as a swift form of spiritual retribution.
The Spiritual Function:
- The Truth-Teller: The pool functions, in spiritual terms, as a magical truth serum for human bonds. It is a profound, if frightening, spiritual test of the sincerity (katulusan) of love.
- The Symbolic Cut: The name “Scissors” (Gunting) symbolizes a clean, sharp, and final separation. The water is spiritually empowered to “cut” or sever any relationship that is built upon lies, insincerity, infidelity, or manipulation. This binding spiritual power makes the pool a highly respected place, particularly by older generations who emphasize honesty (jujur) and sincerity in all personal dealings.
The Cultural Context: Pamali and Spiritual Justice
This myth serves as a critical example of a pamali (taboo) in Sundanese culture, a piece of folklore designed to regulate social and ethical behavior:
- Moral Policing: The taboo strongly encourages honesty (jujur) and sincerity in personal and romantic bonds, which are core virtues in the cohesive Sundanese community structure.
- Sacred Water’s Purity: The water is believed to have been sacral (sacred) since the time of the Pajajaran Kingdom. Its spiritual purity means it cannot tolerate the taint of lies or broken promises. The consequence is not delivered by human justice, but by a natural, powerful spiritual force.
While modern, younger visitors may sometimes treat the pool playfully, the pervasive cultural knowledge ensures that the site maintains its deep aura of seriousness and spiritual consequence. The power of the water is universally seen as a force of natural, inevitable spiritual justice.
The Underlying Wisdom: The myth of the Kolam Gunting is a strong, powerful moral lesson. It teaches the community that one must always be jujur (honest) in all matters, especially those of the heart, because the consequences of dishonesty can be severe, even supernaturally enforced by the sacred elements of nature in Bogor’s spiritual landscape.
The Kolam Gunting, with its peaceful, beautiful setting, remains a critical place where love, promises, and the profound, binding power of Bogor’s mystical waters are tested under the silent gaze of the Gardens.
