The Legend of the Sacred Stone

According to folklore from Papua, there is a sacred stone on Mount Kamboi Rama, Yapen Islands, Papua Province. On top of Mount Kamboi Rama, there are two small villages called Kamboi Rama Village and Aroempi Village. Kamboi Rama Village is inhabited by humans while Aroempi Village is filled with sago plants belonging to the landlord with the title Iriwonawani. From this village the origin of the sacred stone legend.

To fulfill their daily needs, the men of Kamboi Rama Village hunt animals while the women look for sago in Aroempi Village. Before looking for sago in Aroempi Village, the villagers used to worship Lord Iriwonawani.

Dewa Iriwonawani Angry

Over time, the sago in Aroempi Village became less because it was continuously taken by the people of Kamboi Rama Village. Dewa Iriwonawani became angry. The god then moved his sago palm to another area. The people of Kamboi Rama Village were terrified. On the orders of the chief, they immediately moved to the coast. They established a new village in the coastal area with the name Randuayaivi Village. All the villagers moved except for a husband and wife named Irimiami and Isoray.

One day, coming home from the fields, Irimiami rested leaning on a tree while Isoray rested sitting on a large rock. Some time later, Isoray who sat on the rock felt his ass hot then screamed hot.

"Oh, why is this rock so hot." shouted Isoray. "Husband, this rock is very hot." Isoray pointed to the rock he was sitting on.

Irimiami was curious and then held the stone with his hands. He immediately withdrew his hand because he felt hot. Irimiami then took the venison. He placed it on the rock. Not long after that the venison was cooked. Seeing this incident, they were both terrified, then prayed to Dewa Iriwonawani so that there would be no forest fire because the fire could be seen coming out of the hot stone. Luckily, Dewa Iriwonawani answered their prayers.

The next day, they both came back to the stone. They experimented with placing dry leaves on top of it. It didn't take long before the grass and leaves dried up because of the heat and then caught fire. They both panicked and prayed to Lord Iriwonawani to extinguish the fire. But this time Dewa Iriwonawani did not answer their prayers. The fire was getting bigger and bigger. The fire can be seen from the village of Randuayaivi which is located on the beach.

"There was a fire ... there was a fire ..." shouted the villagers of Randuayaivi.

The residents immediately rushed upstairs to Kamboi Rama Village to extinguish the fire. Finally, with the help of the residents, the fire was extinguished. After the situation calmed down, Irimiami told about the hot stone. The residents then tried to put the meat on the stone. Not long after that the meat was cooked.

The legend of the sacred stone in the Yapen Islands

"My story is true." said Irimiami. Irimiami suggested that once a year a traditional party be held at the stone. The customary leader of Randuayaivi Village agreed. The stone is now considered a sacred stone by the local people.

The next day, the community brought various kinds of food to the stone to be cooked together. They held a party around the sacred stone. During the party, Irimiami & Isoray told all the events that happened regarding the sacred stone.

Until now, the people of Yapen Islands still preserve this culture. They often gather at Batu Keramat to preserve the culture started by their ancestors, Irimiami & Isoray, while building brotherhoods.

More folklore on Papua:

• The Legend of the Sacred Stone
• Towjatuwa and the Magical Crocodile