Once Upon a Mountain High
Long, long ago, high above the lush green canopies of the Yapen Islands in distant Papua, stood a majestic mountain named Mount Kamboi Rama. Nestled on its misty peak were two very special villages.
The first was Kamboi Rama Village, a cozy hamlet where kind-hearted villagers lived happily together. The second was Aroempi Village, an enchanted grove filled with towering, golden sago palms. These sago palms belonged to the powerful guardian spirit of the mountain, Lord Iriwonawani.
The Angry Forest Guardian
As seasons passed, the villagers grew comfortable and gathered more and more sago every day. Slowly, the lush groves of Aroempi Village began to wither. Lord Iriwonawani watched as his beloved forest emptied, and his heart grew heavy with anger.
"They have taken too much and forgotten to treasure the land," whispered the wind in Lord Iriwonawani’s voice.
With a wave of his mighty hand, the deity magically swept every single sago palm away to a distant land! When the villagers arrived the next morning, they gasped in horror. The fields were completely bare!
Trembling with fear, the village chief announced, "We must leave the mountaintop at once and move down to the safety of the seashore!"
The frightened villagers packed their belongings and hurried down to the golden sands, where they built a lovely new home called Randuayaivi Village. However, one gentle husband and wife—Irimiami and Isoray—could not bear to leave their beloved mountain home. They decided to stay behind, caring for the quiet forest.
A Sizzling Discovery
One warm afternoon, after working in the garden, Irimiami and Isoray stopped to rest under the shade of a leafy tree. Irimiami leaned his tired back against a sturdy trunk, while Isoray sat down upon a smooth, dark stone.
Suddenly, Isoray leaped into the air with a startled squeak!
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! My goodness!" cried Isoray, rubbing her backside. "Husband, come quick! This stone is as hot as a burning ember!"
Irimiami chuckled softly, thinking his wife was playing a trick. "A hot stone? Surely you are mistaking the warm sunlight for magic, my dear."
He reached out to touch the smooth rock—and instantly pulled his hand back with a gasp!
"Mercy! It really is scorching hot!" Irimiami exclaimed, staring in wide-eyed wonder.
Curious, Irimiami placed a piece of raw deer meat from his hunting pouch directly onto the flat stone. Sizzle, sizzle, pop! Within minutes, a mouth-watering aroma filled the air. The meat was perfectly cooked!
Seeing wisps of smoke dancing off the magical stone, the couple grew worried that the forest might catch fire. They knelt together on the mossy ground and prayed deeply: "Oh, great Lord Iriwonawani, please protect our forest from the fiery heat of this stone!"
Lord Iriwonawani listened kindly to their pure-hearted prayer and kept the magical warmth safely contained within the rock.
The Great Spark and the Flaming Canopy
The next morning, curiosity got the better of the gentle couple once more. "What if we test the stone's heat just a little bit more?" Irimiami wondered aloud.
They gathered a handful of dry leaves and twigs and laid them gently atop the stone. In a flash—CRACKLE!—the dry grass withered, turned brown, and burst into bright, dancing orange flames!
Panic struck! The fire spread rapidly to neighboring bushes, climbing higher and higher into the trees. Irimiami and Isoray dropped to their knees, praying frantically:
"Lord Iriwonawani, we were foolish! Please extinguish these roaring flames!"
But this time, the forest remained silent. Lord Iriwonawani did not answer. The fiery glow grew larger and larger until a bright column of smoke towered into the blue sky, visible all the way down at Randuayaivi Village on the beach.
"Look! Smoke on the mountain!" shouted a coastal villager. "Fire! Fire in Kamboi Rama!"
Bearing buckets of water and woven palm mats, the coastal villagers raced up the mountain trails as fast as their legs could carry them. Working together in a grand human chain, they splashed water and beat the flames until the fire was finally extinguished!
The Sacred Gathering
Once the air cleared and everyone caught their breath, Irimiami stepped forward to explain what had happened. He led the astonished villagers to the glowing stone and demonstrated its power by placing fresh meat on its surface. Once again, the meat cooked to perfection in moments!
"I speak the truth, my friends," Irimiami said softly. "This stone possesses a sacred power. Let us gather here once every year to give thanks, share food, and honor the harmony between our people and the mountain."
The village elders happily agreed. From that day on, the stone was honored as Batu Keramat—the Sacred Stone.
The very next morning, the villagers returned with baskets filled with fruits, tubers, and fresh meats. They held a joyous feast around the Sacred Stone, singing songs, dancing under the trees, and listening as Irimiami and Isoray retold the story of their magical discovery.
A Legacy of Harmony & Unity
To this very day, the warm-hearted people of the Yapen Islands continue to preserve this wonderful tradition. Whenever they gather around Batu Keramat, they remember the valuable lessons of their ancestors, Irimiami and Isoray: to treat nature's gifts with respect, to live in gratitude, and to cherish the everlasting bonds of brotherhood.
Give it a try! Follow Irimiami and Isoray's discovery of a magical stone, all the way to becoming the Sacred Stone still honored by the people of Yapen.
References:
Agni, Danu. (2013). Children's Stories of a Thousand Islands (Cerita Anak Seribu Pulau). Yogyakarta: Buku Pintar.
Komandoko, Gamal. (2013). The Best Collection of 100+ Indonesian Folktales (Koleksi Terbaik 100 plus Dongeng Rakyat Nusantara). Jakarta: PT Buku Seru.
- The Legend of the Sacred Stone: A Magical Papuan Folktale from Yapen Islands
- Towjatuwa and the Magical Crocodile: A Traditional Papuan Folktale
No comments:
Post a Comment