The Tale of Toba Lake
Once upon a time, in a small village in North Sumatra, there lived a young man named Toba. Toba was a humble and hardworking farmer who spent his days tilling the land and fishing in a nearby river. One day, as he was fishing, he caught a giant fish unlike any he had ever seen. Its scales sparkled like gold, and its eyes were full of kindness and wisdom.
Toba was amazed and decided to take the fish home. However, when he reached home and placed the fish on the ground, a miraculous thing happened. The fish transformed into a beautiful woman named Samosir. She revealed to Toba that she was actually a goddess who had been cursed. Touched by her story, Toba fell in love with Samosir, and she agreed to marry him on one condition: he must never reveal her secret to anyone.
Toba promised, and they lived happily for years, eventually having a son whom they named Togar. Togar was a mischievous boy who often caused trouble in the village, frustrating his father. One day, after a particularly frustrating incident, Toba lost his temper and, forgetting his promise, shouted, "You’re just the son of a fish!"
As soon as he uttered those words, Samosir’s curse was reactivated. She tearfully told Toba that he had broken his promise, and she had to return to the water. Suddenly, the earth began to shake, and a great flood poured over the village. Samosir disappeared into the water, and the land sank, forming a lake. Today, this lake is known as Lake Toba, with a large island in the middle called Samosir Island, named after the goddess.
Who was Toba?