Saturday, 17 April 2021

The Origin of Mount Merapi: A Javanese Folktale for Kids

The Origin of Mount Merapi A Javanese Folktale for Kids

Chapter 1: A Mountain for Java

Long, long ago, the Gods in heaven looked down at the island of Java. The land was not even at all. There were high hills, low plains, deep valleys, and steep ravines. The island wobbled and leaned to one side.

The Gods gathered to talk about it.

Batara Guru: "Java is uneven. If we do not balance it, the island will tilt more and more."

Dewa Bayu: "What shall we do, Batara Guru?"

Batara Guru: "We will place a great mountain in the middle of the island. Mount Jamurdipa will keep the land steady."

Mount Jamurdipa stood far away on the South Coast at that time. The Gods chose a new place for it, right at the border of Sleman, Boyolali, and Klaten.

Chapter 2: Two Mighty Masters

But that place was not empty. Two very powerful masters lived there. Their names were Empu Rama and Empu Parmadi.

They made magical keris, but not like ordinary blacksmiths. They had no hammers and no metal anvils. They shaped the glowing metal with their own bare hands, and they used their strong thighs as the base for forging.

Day after day, sparks flew from their forge as they worked.

Chapter 3: A Polite Request

The Gods knew that the mountain would crush the two masters if they stayed. So they sent Batara Narada and Dewa Panyarik to warn them.

Batara Narada: "Greetings, Empu Rama and Empu Parmadi. A great mountain will be placed on this very spot."

Dewa Panyarik: "We are afraid it will crush you both. Please, move away from this place."

Empu Rama shook his head politely.

Empu Rama: "Thank you for coming, honored Gods. We are sorry, but we cannot move."

Empu Parmadi: "That is right. If we leave our forge, our keris may not turn out well."

Batara Narada: "But if the mountain is not placed here, Java will tilt even more."

Still, the two masters would not change their minds.

Chapter 4: The Great Battle

Batara Narada and Dewa Panyarik tried once more with kind words, but it was no use. At last, their patience ran out.

Dewa Panyarik: "If you will not listen, we must make you move!"

Empu Rama: "Then we shall defend our home!"

A fierce battle began. The ground shook and the sky rumbled. But the power of Empu Rama and Empu Parmadi was much greater than the Gods' power. In the end, Batara Narada and Dewa Panyarik were pushed back.

They returned to heaven empty-handed.

Chapter 5: The Anger of the Gods

The Gods were very angry when they heard what had happened.

Batara Narada: "Batara Guru, they refused to move. They even defeated us!"

Batara Guru: "They are both very stubborn! They do not care that Java will tilt if the mountain is not moved. All right, Dewa Bayu, hurry! Blow Mount Jamurdipa to the place where Empu Rama and Empu Parmadi live!"

Dewa Bayu: "As you command, Batara Guru!"

Chapter 6: The Birth of Mount Merapi

Dewa Bayu took a deep breath and blew with all his might. Whoosh! Mount Jamurdipa flew across the sky and landed in its new home.

The mountain came down right on top of the forge of Empu Rama and Empu Parmadi. The two masters were crushed beneath it. Their forge lay in the very middle of the mountain, and it became the mountain's crater.

That is why Mount Merapi is one of the most active mountains today. Its crater is full of power, and it always sparks fire, just like the old forge of the two masters.

This is a folktale from Yogyakarta.

Ready to play? Join the Gods on their quest to move Mount Jamurdipa and see how Mount Merapi came to be!

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