LEMBUSWANA MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS

Crowned, but not a king. Trunked and tusked, but not an elephant. Winged, but not a bird. Scaled, but not a fish. Spurs like a rooster, yet not a chicken. What kind of creature was this?

                             LEMBUSWANA

Lembuswana was a mythical creature in the ancient folklore of the Kutai people, which existed since ancient times. It later became a symbol during the era of the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia — the Kutai Kingdom — and continued to be used in the era of the Kesultanan Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura. Lembuswana was considered sacred by the local people, believed to be the mount of the God Vishnu. The name “Lembuswana” came from Sanskrit: Lembu meaning "cow" and Svarna meaning "gold".

Lembuswana had a golden body and the form of a bull or cow wearing a crown on its head. It had a trunk and tusks like an elephant, wings like Garuda, claws and spurs like a rooster, and a body covered in scales like a dragon. People believed Lembuswana served as the mount of Batara Guru to deliver wisdom and guidance, and also as a spiritual vehicle of King Mulawarman, who ruled the Kutai Kingdom around 1,500 years ago or around the 5th Masehi.

Lembuswana carried the philosophy of Paksi Liman Jonggo Yokso, which meant a person should have noble qualities as a protector of the people. This creature was believed to have incredible power, capable of living on land, in water, and in the air. The crown on its head symbolized the power and authority of a king, while the trunk represented the god Ganesha, the god of wisdom. Lembuswana was believed to guard the Mahakam River from danger and ensure the river remained clean and pure. It also helped fishermen by giving signs for where to catch fish.

The legend of Lembuswana’s appearance was often linked to the birth of Princess Karang Melenu. It was said that the creature rose from the depths of the Mahakam River at the same time the princess was born. The princess later married King Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti, who ruled between 1300–1325, and gave birth to the royal heirs of the Kutai Kartanegara dynasty.

Lembuswana was better described as a mythological animal than a methodological one. It was a blend of local Dayak beliefs, Hindu influences from India, and the culture of the Kutai Kingdom. Lembuswana represented cosmic power that maintained natural balance and legitimized the authority of Kutai’s kings. Though its description sounded ambiguous and fantastical, it remained an important part of the identity and cultural heritage of Kalimantan, especially East Kalimantan.

— Group II :

1. Andin Auliya

2. Anggita Nindya

3. Salsya Arina Mackenzie

4. Santi

5. Siti Afiefa Nur Hidayana