Ken Dedes

Ken Dedes was the wife of Ken Arok, the first ruler of Singhasari, Indonesia. A daughter of a Buddhist monk, Mpu Purwa, her beautiful face was famous until Tunggul Ametung, ruler of Tumapel (now Ampel, a district near Surabaya capital of East Java Province, Indonesia) became interested in her.

While her father was gone meditating, Ken Dedes was kidnapped and forced to become Tunggul Ametung's wife. Her father cursed Tunggul Ametung, saying he would be killed because of Ken Dedes' beauty.

The curse became reality when Ken Dedes' clothes were dissaranged and her feet were seen by Ken Arok. A Brahmin, Lohgawe, told Ken Arok that anyone who married Ken Dedes would be a king. Ken Arok was motivated by that to murder Tunggul Ametung.

The prophecy came true when Ken Arok conquered Kertajaya, king of Kediri, and founded his own kingdom, Singhasari. Ken Dedes became his wife, and a statue, Prajnaparamita, was made in her likeness.

Anusapati, Ken Dedes's son from her first husband, murdered Ken Arok and became the second ruler of Singhasari.