Posted on 10/28/2010 10:45:45 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
For 33 years, Maridjan spoke to Mount Merapi, believing he could appease its unpredictable spirits by throwing offerings of rice, clothes and chickens into the volcano's gaping crater.
Many villagers took his word — not that of government officials or seismologists — as the last on when it would erupt. And the 83-year-old did appear to predict the volcano's latest eruption — which killed 33 people this week — but did not heed the warning himself.
As Merapi began spewing 1,800 degree Fahrenheit (1,000 Celsius) gases and thousands of villagers streamed down the mountain's slopes, Maridjan refused to budge, and more than a dozen people stayed, and perished, with him.
His rigid body was found Wednesday, prostrate on the ground in the typical Islamic prayer position and caked in heavy white soot.
On Thursday, high-profile politicians, soap opera stars, singers and hundreds of family and followers flocked to his funeral on the slopes of the mountain that had been entrusted to his care by a late king. Televisions crews and reporters jostled for position with family and friends, who reached their hands through the crowds for a chance to touch the coffin as it was carried to the grave.
Mourners kneeled by the open grave to pray as his body was lowered into the ground. They then covered the body with soil and piled cut orchids on the mound.
"I never thought he was going to leave us in such a way," said Prabukusumo, the brother of the sultan in the nearby court city of Yogyakarta who is now tasked with choosing his successor. "He's lived through so many, much bigger eruptions. I'm still in shock."
But a friend said Maridjan seemed to be expecting his death.
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Ok, I admit...he called me before I hedged my bet.
Wait! He’s dead..never mind.
I did not have phone-relations with that man.
I know an Indonesian who would be up for this job. Throw him in to appease his god - Allah.
Wonderin’ if the rest of those that stayed with him were also too old to run like “H”.
You're fired!
Let the UN find someone to fill this position. They managed to find a UFO Ambassador, I’m sure they can do this too.
I need to apply for a grant to start a Unicorn Ranch somewhere.
Was he Islamic, or a Volcano worshiper or both?
A lot of Indonesians are SYNCRETISTIC in their religion. They see no conflict in trying to please every single possible god out there (just in case).
It’s a hard lesson to learn: There are some volcanoes you just can’t appease, no matter how hard you try.
Or send them plenty of orange soda./ obscure movie reference
Yes, indeed. I’m hoping that toward the end of next week, there may be an someone willing to do a job that Americans won’t do.
Epic Fail.
And always remember to travel with those trunks.
muslim into typical muslim nonsense, voodoo style no less.
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