Mount Merapi which is still release a volcanic ash, is not only known as the most active Indonesian volcano, but also has a few myths in it. A resident named Suswanto managed to get a unique photo in the Mount Merapi.
He got a photo of a cloud that has a shape like Petruk. In the story of Wayang, the ksatria of Pandawa, especially Arjuna was always accompanied by their loyal servants clown, by the name of Ponokawan. Semar and his sons Gareng, Petruk and Bagong are the servants of kings and ksatrias with good behavior fighting for the truth. Petruk is a tall man with a very long nose.
Suswanto told that he took the photographing of Mount Merapi just because he likes it, but after see the picture he just realizes that the clouds of Mount Merapi have a unique shape.
The photos were taken by Suswanto on October 26 in the morning, before the Mount Merapi erupted. (Read: Merapi Volcano Activity Continued to Increase) The distance between Mount Merapi and his home is around 13 km.
Suswanto and other residents believe that the picture on the photo is Mbah Petruk, the “guardian” of Merapi same like Mbah Maridjan (Read: Mount Merapi and Mbah Maridjan), but different in form, Mbah Maridjan is a human while Mbah Petruk is such spirit. They think its presence is “sign” for all residents that major disaster will come from Merapi
Another resident, 54 year old man, Diwur also said the same thing. According to him Mbah Petruk presence is a warning to residents who live near Mount Merapi, if the disaster will come.
Mbah Petruk is a legend which is still trusted by the people, especially the resident who live around Mount Merapi. The legend based on the history of the Hindu Majapahit and Islamic Demak transition.
