MBAH MARIJAN, the guardian of Mount Merapi

MBAH MARIJAN

when I was several times go to the Kinah Rejo, we and friends are always a guest in the house mbah Marijan (1988), drinking and eating boiled noodles there. Indeed Kinah Rejo is the gateway for climbers who will rise to Merapi. And here they will meet with mbah Marijan who will advise what kind will be found on top later.

For information, that to get to the top of Merapi, has seven mountain slopes stopover or 'stage'.
The main door named Kinah Rejo, followed by a second stage called Srimanganti, then there is the third stage bermana missile, then the fourth stage bermana Kendit, then the fifth stage is called the Bridge of Sand, and the stage is the sixth named Geger Boyo, then the seventh stage called Puncak Garuda.

Each stage has a slope or the uniqueness of the philosophical or mystical meaning. But I did not write it here for now. I continue to write about mbah Marijan.

From past mbah Marijan always said to us, that he is a fool, but he was trusted by the Sultan HB IX as a 'guardian' of Merapi. The guardian here is not a person can arrange Merapi, nor one who can control the Merapi. the Guardian of Merapi, of context here with traditional ceremonies are always held by the palace of Yogyakarta at the Merapi volcano. And as a caretaker, mbah Marijan assigned to prepare everything if the palace ceremony will be held.

Name mbah Marijan known by the public, even across Indonesia since the activity of Merapi in 2006 and it was caused by news of the journalist who frankly overestimated the role mbah Marijan. Especially after Extra Joss mbah Marijan proposed to be a star on his ads, then the name mbah Marijan is increasingly recognized as the guardian of Mount Merapi.

For people who frequently visit the Kinah Rejo, he will be know very familiar figure. His figure is very humble, his figure that does not seek the influence, his figure that does not seek followers, ordinary human figure who delighted to be providing food and beverages for people who will climb to the peak of Merapi

Mbah Marijan are not magic, not the people who have supernatural power. He is a simple man with unwavering principles. He always holds the commitment of his life.

In the past we used to joke together mbah Marijan and asked, 'How living in the mountains like this?'
He replied, 'Urip matine mbah yo nang Kene Iki ( life and my death this here)'

Mbah Marijan not give a counceling anyone else, nor a spiritual advisor in Yogyakarta palace, so it never came out of his words about the solicitation, or the ideas of thought in the offer to be followed.

Part of the wider community outside the community of climbers who know figure mbah Marijan has 'directed' by the media, even the ingredients of a television broadcast which is concocting narrative at Merapi activity in 2006 made mbah Marijan transformed into a magical character in the story merapi.

Outside the news about it all, in the Java community there is the sense of 'happy' when can die in the land where he believes that it is spilled-blood. When we talk about belief, then it can not be said to be 'stubborn', or indeed, that the conviction must be stubborn?

At the time of the devastating earthquake in Yogya, and I was there at that time, my mother told me, "never mind I do not have to run. I live here. Live and dead I'm here"
I tried to understand the way the mother's mind, that it was not willful, but a sense of happiness about his faith.

Mbah Marijan was never instruc to anyone not to leave the Merapi. Conviction for himself. He never had an oration to remain silent and ignore the instructions of danger, so that people trust him and follow him. It had never done him.
When confidence is mbah Marijan for himself and the media do not expose it, then it will become as common as my mother above events. But when it is used as a commodity news to catch up 'rating' of a television, a perception can be directed.

When 'titi-wanci' had arrived, or the 'final frontier' of the lease where we arrived in this world, then none of any kind can obstruct it. And 'titi-wanci' that can come in any form, be it horrible or unpleasant events. It's all just a means only.

For people who are familiar with the movement of conscience, then he will be able to know when 'titi-wanci' had arrived, and with all the consequences of any case, he will be with sincere and welcoming 'titi-wanci' it.

Mbah Marijan ... congratulations to travel further. We all can learn about the meaning of a belief, which seems to often we speak, but we are still afraid to accept the consequences of it. Mbah Marijan has set an example to us, that belief is not something that can be traded, nor things to look for followers as much as possible.

If we were able to hear your voice then, the champion will probably say so, “wis wancine le, aku tak menyang ndisik” ("it's time my son, I go first")

Mbah Marijan in memorian
By
Agung Webe
Book writer & recollectionist