According to Babad Tanah Jawi, Sunan Katong came from Ponorogo and held the title of Prince Adipati Ponorogo. He was also the grandson of Bathoro Katong, son of Brawijaya V. According to Moelyadi as quoted by Pramono (2006: 4-5), Bathoro Katong was the son of Brawijaya V and Putri Bagelen. Bathoro Katong or Raden Katong or Lembu Kanigoro was the second child of this couple, while his other son, named Raden Lembu Kenanga or Raden Jaran Panoleh, lived in Madura. Raden Katong was sent by his father to Ponorogo and became the Duke there. In line with this version, Raden Katong or Panembahan Raden Bathoro Katong or also known as Jaka Piturun, was the 20th child of Brawijaya V. As for the title Bathoro, it was obtained from two versions. First, the gift from Ki Ageng Prana or Bhre Pandan Alas or also known as Brawijaya IV who ruled Majapahit in 1466-1468 through the ideas he received while meditating at Telaga Ngebel. Second, is a gift from Sunan Kalijaga.

The figure of Sunan Katong cannot be separated from Ki Pandan Aran, who ruled in Semarang. Both Sunan Katong or Prince Adipati Ponorogo and Ki Ageng Mode Pandan (Ki Ageng Pandan Aran) were the sons of Adipati Unus, ruler of Demak II. After his father's death, Demak was led by another son of Raden Patah, namely Sultan Trenggana. This is because Pati Unus is not a biological child, but the son-in-law of Sultan Fatah, so he and his descendants have no right to occupy the throne of Demak. After Sultan Trenggana ascended the throne, both of them chose to broadcast Islam. Apart from brothers, their relationship is teacher and student. It is said that after Ki Ageng Mode Pandan chose to preach and settle on Tirang Island (currently Semarang), Prince Adipati Ponorogo decided to follow and learn from his brother. In the following period, Sunan Katong chose to move to Kaliwungu, in the west of Semarang. This relationship signifies the connection between the history of Demak Bintara and Ponorogo (Wengker), which was once the center of Majapahit power in 1466. At that time, Wengker was controlled by Hyang Purwa Wisesa, son of Prabu Kertawijaya, brother of his grandfather, Bathoro Katong (Rochani, 2015: 10,11,17).

The relationship between Sunan Katong and Ki Ageng Pandanaran grew stronger, when the daughter of Sunan Katong, namely Nyai Ageng Kaliwungu, was married to the son of Ki Ageng Pandanaran, namely Prince Kasepuhan. This Prince of Kasepuhan, became the ruler of Semarang, succeeding his father and was inaugurated by Sultan Pajang on May 2, 1547. Shortly after he was appointed as regent, Ki Ageng Pandanaran left Semarang and moved to Gunung Jabalkat, in the Tembayat area, Klaten in 1553. There, he became a famous Islamic preacher under the name Sunan Bayat. In addition to his brother, Sunan Katong is believed to have studied with Ki Ageng Mirah, a student of Sunan Kalijaga. Ki Ageng Mirah was the son of Ki Ageng Gribig.

The figure of Sunan Katong is also inseparable from the name Kaliwungu. It is said that he was ordered by Ki Ageng Pandanaran Sepuh to depart from Tirang (Semarang) to the west. There, he was tasked with maintaining the stability of the Demak Kingdom from the threat of rebels. One of them was Tumenggung Gondokusumo. The latter figure is suspected of having been exposed to the teachings of Syaikh Siti Jenar about wahdatul wujud or manunggaling kawula gusti. Apart from the teachings of Syaikh Siti Jenar which were considered heretical by the ruler of Demak and the other saints, Tumenggung Gondokusumo who was also known as Wiramenggala or Suramenggala, had the potential to oppose all of Sultan Trenggana's policies, like Sunan Panggung and Ki Ageng Pengging (Rochani, 2015: 29).

On the way to Kendal, Sunan Katong felt tired and rested somewhere, after going through a tiring journey. Guarded by his guards, Sunan Katong lay down under a purple tree located on the edge of a river (kali). From the name kali and ungu, the area where Sunan Katong rested was then named Kaliwungu. While the river near where Sunan Katong slept (sare), was later named Sungai Sarean. In addition to the version above, there is also another version regarding the history of the name Kaliwungu. It is connected with the figures of Sunan Katong and Empu Pakuwaja. Empu Pakuwaja was a very strong enemy of Sunan Katong. The two of them, it is said, were involved in a fierce fight that resulted in both of them dying. The blood of the two figures flowed like flowing river water and was purple (white blood mixed with blackish red blood) (Rochani, 2003: 152).

The fight began with a misunderstanding that began with the anger of Empu Pakuwaja. At that time, one of Empu Pakuwaja's children did not want to obey his orders, and chose to run away and ask for protection from Sunan Katong. Seeing someone dare to protect his son, Empu Pakuwaja challenged him to a duel, without knowing that the person he was challenging was his own teacher, Sunan Katong. Then, Empu Pakuwaja's Keris was pulled out (Sunan Katong's nagasasra keris which was given to his student, Empu Pakuwaja) and stabbed Sunan Katong's body. After realizing his mistake, Empu Pakuwaja prostrated himself and apologized. Next, Sunan Katong pulled the keris out of his body and stabbed it into Empu Pakuwaja's body. Both of them died covered in white blood mixed with blackish red blood (purple) which flowed rapidly like a river (Rochani, 2015: 22-23). 

Regarding the name Astana Kuntul Nglayang, it is also associated with the order of Ki Ageng Pandanaran Sepuh which stated that Sunan Katong must be the palm of a flying heron. This gesture is exactly the same as the Penjor mountains, the Protomulyo burial complex. This is information from Rochani in his book entitled Babad Tanah Kendal (2003: 153). At the western end, which is said to be the location of the egret's head, are the graves of Mataram ancestors from the descendants of Panembahan Djoeminah, such as Panembahan Djoeminah Putra Panembahan Senapati Sutawijaya; as well as the Regent of Kendal, such as: Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Ronggo Hadimenggolo I, Regent of Kaliwungu; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Ronggo Hadimenggolo II, Regent of Kaliwungu; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Ronggo Hadimenggolo III, Regent of Kaliwungu; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Ronggo Hadimenggolo IV, Regent of Kaliwungu; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Ronggo Ronodiwiryo, Regent of Batang; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Hadinegoro, Regent of Kaliwungu and Demak; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Sumodiwiryo, Regent of Kaliwungu; Raden Tumenggung Reksonegoro; Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Hadinegoro, Regent of Demak, and others.

Meanwhile, in the chest area, it is occupied by Kanjeng Sunan Katong, a descendant of Prabu Brawijaya from Majapahit, together with Raden Tumenggung Notohamijoyo, Regent of Kendal; Raden Tumenggung Notohamiprojo, Regent of Kendal; Raden Mas Arinotoprojo, Regent of Kendal; Raden Mas Notonagoro, Regent of Kendal, and others. On the left wing, occupied by, among others: Raden Tumenggung Mandurarejo, Regent of Pekalongan; Kyai Asy'ari or Kyai Guru; and Kyai Puger or Kyai Pakpak or Kyai Papak, and others. The right wing is occupied by, among others: Kyai Haji Rukyatullah; Kyai Haji (guardian) Musyafak; Kyai Haji Musthofa; Kyai Haji Abu Choir; Drs. H. Djoemadi, the 36th Regent of Kendal, and others. At the tail, there is the tomb of Empu Pakuwaja.