An angry mountain evokes memories
Mt. Merapi in central Indonesia is making news - news of the ghastly kind. Recurrent outbursts in the past two weeks have wreaked much havoc. It is reported to be the worst episode in 100 years for the Holy Volacano. Reading reports of this disaster is distressing , all the more because one has seen that mountain in happier times. Though it is the most active volacano in the region, on both the occassions that I saw Gunung Merapi, it was beautiful, benign, bathed in picture-postcard loveliness. This was years ago. Merapi is the most sacred site for Buddhists who consider the "self-ignited" fire from it the holiest , to be used in rituals in the viharas spread around Central Java. The name Merapi is a combo of two Javanese words : Meru ( holy mountain)+ Api ( Fire). The first time I saw it, was during my visit to Yogyakarta , an elegant Sultanate that lies some 30 kms. from the mountain . The Yogyakarta Sultanate , considered one part of the holy trio that protec