Excavating Under Semeru’s Shadow

Many years ago Java was flat. Barren, vacant, and seizing with earthquakes, the island floated freely in the Indian Ocean. That is, until the gods desired to fill Java with people. Shiva ordered Brahma and Vishnu to settle Java. Watching the island tumble and shake they decided to secure the island first. Together the gods nailed Java down using a piece of Mt. Mahameru–the center of the universe–borrowed from India. Java became still and the gods were pleased.

The gods had placed Mt. Mahameru on western Java out of convenience. Shiva approved until he noticed the island began to sink. With the west underwater and the east tilted up, Brahma and Vishnu returned to finish their task. They dragged Mt. Mahameru across Java scattering bits of the volcano along their path until they reached the east and the island balanced perfectly. Shiva was so pleased he made Mt. Mahameru his home. Today we know Mt. Mahameru as Mt. Semeru, Java’s tallest mountain and active volcano.