Folklore And Fairy Tales

The Origin of Mount Merapi

One day the gods in Kahyangan were gathering to decide the fate of Java Island. The island of Java, which at that time was inhabited by many living things, turned out to be tilted. The gods intended to make the island not slanted. At the meeting, they then decided to set up a large and high mountain in the middle of Java Island as a counterweight. As a result they agreed to move Mount Mushroom located in the South Sea to a flat land area located on the border of Sleman Regency and Magelang Regency.

However, in the area where Mount Jamurdipa will be placed there are two masters who are making magic cherries. They were named Empu Rama and Empu Pamadi. Both of these masters were famous for having high magic. The king of the gods, Batara Guru then sent Batara Narada and Dewa Penyarikan along with a number of guards from the Kahyangan palace to advise the two masters to immediately move to another place so that they were not hit by the mountain to be placed in that area.

Arriving at that place, the messengers of the gods immediately approached the two masters who were busy forging an iron bar. The Second Empu's devotion was later witnessed by Batara Narada and the God of Sorting as they forged smoldering iron bars with their hands and thighs. Their fists were like very hard steel hammers. Every time their fists smashed at the smouldering iron bars it was seen sparks of light emitting.

“Sorry, Empu! We messengers of the gods want to talk to the two Empu,” greet the God of Filtering.

The two masters immediately stopped their work and then allowed the two messengers to sit down.

“What's the matter, Pukulun? Can anyone help me?” ask Empu Rama.

Batara Narada replied “We came here to convey the request of the gods to Empu.”

“What is that request?” ask Empu Pamadi with curiosity, ”Hopefully that request can we fulfill.”

Batara Narada also explained the request of the gods to the two masters. After hearing that explanation, the two masters immediately rejected it. They felt that the request of the gods was very heavy.

“Pardon me, Hitamun! The servant did not intend to refuse the request of the gods. But, need to know that making magic keris should not be done carelessly, including moving places,” explained Empu Rama.

“But Empu, this situation is already very urgent. If Empu both do not immediately move from here Java Island the longer it will be tilted,” said Dewa Penyarikan.

Although it had been promised a better place, the two masters still did not want to move from that place.

“Sorry, Swallow! We have not been able to fulfill that request. If we move, while this work is not finished, then the keris we are making is not as good as expected. After all, there is still a lot of flat land that is better to put Mount Jamurdipa it,” said Empu Pamadi.

Empu Narada and the God of Filtration who had begun to lose patience were forced to threaten the two masters to immediately move from the place.

“God, Empu Rama and Empu Pamadi! Do not force us to expel you from this place,” said Batara Narada.

The two masters were not afraid of the bluff because they felt they were also carrying out tasks that needed to be completed. As both sides remained firm in their respective positions, there was finally a dispute between them. The two masters remained undaunted even though what they were facing was the messengers of the gods. With the power they have, they are ready to fight to defend the place. No doubt, even a fierce fight is inevitable. Despite being besieged by two gods and their balatents, the two masters managed to win the fight.

Batara Narada and the God of Filtering who lost the fight immediately flew to Kahyangan to report to Batara Guru.

“Ampun, Batara Guru! We failed to persuade the two masters. They are very powerful mandraguna,” reported Batara Narada.

Hearing the report Batara Guru became enraged.

“Basic is indeed stubborn of the two masters. They must be taught a lesson,” said Batara Guru.

“God of Bayu, immediately you blow up Mount Mushroompipe it!” yang Batara Guru's.

With his power, the Bayu God immediately blew the mountain away. The blast of the God Bayu like a typhoon managed to fly Mushroom to hover in space and then fell right on the fireplaces of the two masters. The two masters who were in that place were also crushed by Mount Jamurdipa to death instantly. According to the story, the spirits of the two masters then became the mount's guardian. Meanwhile, the fireplace where the two made the cherry turned into a crater. Because the crater was originally a fireplace, the gods changed the name of the mountain to Mount Merapi.