Legend of Mount Merapi

A long time ago, the island of Java was not balanced. The western side of the island
was higher than the east. It is because there was a big mountain on the western side.
The big mountain was called Jamurdipa Mountain.

The gods were planning to move the mountain to the island’s center. The head of the
gods, Batara Guru, held a meeting with the gods. However, there was one problem.
Two empus, or blacksmiths, lived around where the gods wanted to move the
mountain.

The two empus were Empu Rama and Empu Pamc5adi. They were blacksmiths who
created objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal. They were excellent
at making keris, a traditional weapon with mystical powers. At that time, only the
chosen ones could create keris. Both of them, Empu Rama and Empu Pamadi, were
the chosen ones.

Batara Narada, ordered by Batara Guru, went to persuade the empus to move to
another place. Hearing this, they rejected the suggestion. They said they couldn’t
move to another area, as it would affect their work creating keris. They asked Batara
Narada to find another place to move the Jamurdipa Mountain.

Batara Narada reported that the empus refused to move to another place. Batara
Guru had decided that he would move the mountain, whether the empus would like it
or not.

Then, Batara Guru asked Dewa Bayu, the god of wind, to move Jamurdipa Mountain.
With his power, he placed the mountain on the empus’ houses in a second. The two
empus who were inside the houses died instantly.

It is believed that the spirits of Empu Rama and Empu Pamadi are still in the
mountain. The fireplace inside the empus’ houses is still working. It is also believed
that the fireplace became the mountain’s crater burning heavily. Now, the mountain
was known as Gunung Merapi or the mountain of fire.