Located near the city of Yogyakarta, Central Java, the mount Merapi (in Javanese, Meru for mountain, and Api for Fire) is a stratovolcano, which summit elevation is 2911m (7.54 S, 110.44 E). A week ago, the volcano showed heightened activity, spewing dust from its crater and occasionally sending out streams of lava. An eruption is imminent, and the people living in the volcano slopes are getting ready to flee their homes. The Merapi, located in the famous “ring of fire”, is one of the most active and dangerous volcano in the world. One of Merapi’s deadliest eruptions was in 1930, killing 1.300 people. It erupted again in 1954, 1961, 1994 and 2001.
Living near a volcano not only has negative aspects… Javanese people deeply respect the mount Merapi since it generously gives tremendous fertility to the land. Always the same dilemma: what degree of vulnerability do we accept to live in?
Below is a tale on the mount Merapi (found on internet, apparently posted by a “Barrie”): one of the many legends of my dear Indonesia.
The tale of ‘Plawangan Guard and why the lava of Merapi never flows to the South’
‘Once upon a time, Panembahan Senopati lived as an ascetic in somewhere that is now called Ngilipuro village, near Bantul. Having lived as an aesthetic he was asked by Ki Juru Martani, “What did you get during your ascetism?”
“I got venus in Ngilipuro” answered Panembahan Senopati.
“Can you rely upon it to avoid disasters?” asked Ki Juru Martani.
And then Ki Juru Martani said “Live as an ascetic once more and wash away some wood in a river with you riding on it. After reaching Segara Kidul you will meet Ratu Kidul”
Penembahan Senopati carried out what he was told. He washed some wood away and rode on it along the river. The wood drifted straight to Segara Kidul. There he met Ratu Kidul.
When he arrived home he was asked by Ki Juru Martani, “What did you get from your ascetism?”
“You are right. I did meet Ratu Kidul’ he replied.
“So, what did you get and bring home?” asked Ki Juru Martani.
“She gave me Jayeng Katong oil and Endog (egg) Degan”, he answered.
“Give the egg to Juru Taman” commanded Ki Juru Martani.
He carried out his command to give Juru Taman the egg. As soon as Ki Juru Taman ate the egg, he changed his form into a big and horrifying giant.
Based on Ki Juru Martani’s suggestion, Panembahan Senopati commanded the giant to live in Mount Merapi. His duty was to guard the mountain. His place of guarding was Plawangan. If there was disaster caused by Mount Merapi, he should guard and sustain it in order that it doesn’t spread out to the south toward the Palace of Yogyakarta (Kraton). That is why if Mount Merapi erupted, its lava never flowed to the south. So the south area will always be safe and free of disaster.
Panembahan Senopati was commanded to throw the Jayeng Katong oil but it must be tried out first. It was rubbed into two children. They were a boy and a girl who happened to be close by. The two children suddenly disappeared. The boy was then called Nyi Kaso. Both of them were given the duty of guarding Beringin Putih (White Banyan tree) in the north of the Mosque, in the south of the street. Up to now, they are still there….’
Living near a volcano not only has negative aspects… Javanese people deeply respect the mount Merapi since it generously gives tremendous fertility to the land. Always the same dilemma: what degree of vulnerability do we accept to live in?
Below is a tale on the mount Merapi (found on internet, apparently posted by a “Barrie”): one of the many legends of my dear Indonesia.
The tale of ‘Plawangan Guard and why the lava of Merapi never flows to the South’
‘Once upon a time, Panembahan Senopati lived as an ascetic in somewhere that is now called Ngilipuro village, near Bantul. Having lived as an aesthetic he was asked by Ki Juru Martani, “What did you get during your ascetism?”
“I got venus in Ngilipuro” answered Panembahan Senopati.
“Can you rely upon it to avoid disasters?” asked Ki Juru Martani.
And then Ki Juru Martani said “Live as an ascetic once more and wash away some wood in a river with you riding on it. After reaching Segara Kidul you will meet Ratu Kidul”
Penembahan Senopati carried out what he was told. He washed some wood away and rode on it along the river. The wood drifted straight to Segara Kidul. There he met Ratu Kidul.
When he arrived home he was asked by Ki Juru Martani, “What did you get from your ascetism?”
“You are right. I did meet Ratu Kidul’ he replied.
“So, what did you get and bring home?” asked Ki Juru Martani.
“She gave me Jayeng Katong oil and Endog (egg) Degan”, he answered.
“Give the egg to Juru Taman” commanded Ki Juru Martani.
He carried out his command to give Juru Taman the egg. As soon as Ki Juru Taman ate the egg, he changed his form into a big and horrifying giant.
Based on Ki Juru Martani’s suggestion, Panembahan Senopati commanded the giant to live in Mount Merapi. His duty was to guard the mountain. His place of guarding was Plawangan. If there was disaster caused by Mount Merapi, he should guard and sustain it in order that it doesn’t spread out to the south toward the Palace of Yogyakarta (Kraton). That is why if Mount Merapi erupted, its lava never flowed to the south. So the south area will always be safe and free of disaster.
Panembahan Senopati was commanded to throw the Jayeng Katong oil but it must be tried out first. It was rubbed into two children. They were a boy and a girl who happened to be close by. The two children suddenly disappeared. The boy was then called Nyi Kaso. Both of them were given the duty of guarding Beringin Putih (White Banyan tree) in the north of the Mosque, in the south of the street. Up to now, they are still there….’
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