The Legend of The Holy Stone-Papua

From Papua’s legend, there was a holy stone in Gunung Kamboi Rama, Yapen Island, Papua. In front of Kamboi Rama Mountain, there were 2 small villages. The name of that villages were Kamboi Rama and Aroempi. In Kamboi Rama village was inhabited with villagers meanwhile, in Aroempi village fulled with sago’s plant. That sago’s plants were Iriwonawani’s assets. From this village also the legend of the holy stone.

For complied their daily need, Kamboi Rama’s men hunted animals meanwhile, Desa Kamboi Rama’s women found sago in Aroempi. Before they found sago in Aroempi, villagers usually did worship to Iriwonawani God.

Iriwonawani God Angry

Along the time, sago in Aroempi village decreased because, Kamboi Rama’s villagers continually picked up sago without plant sago’s plant again. Iriwonani God was angry. The God also moved his sago’s plants to another place. Kamboi Rama’s villagers felt scare. On the orders of tribal chief, they moved to the seashore. They built new village on seashore. That village named Randuayaivi village. All villagers moved except a couple of husband and wife which name Isoray and Irimiami.

One day, after they went home from field, Irimiami took a rest while was leaning against a tree meanwhile, Isoray took a rest with sit on a big stone. A few time after that, Isoray felt his butt became hot then, he shouted because, the heat of that stone.

Isoray shouted “Why this stone be very hot.”. Irimiami said “My husband, this stone is very hot” Isoray pointed to a stone that she sit before.

Irimiami felt curious then, she hold to that stone with her hand. She pulled her hand because, she felt hot. Then, Irimiami took deer’s meat. She put that meat on that stone. Shortly after that, deer’s meat became cooked. Saw that moment, they felt scare, and prayed to Iriwonawani God in order to didn’t become forest fires because fire that looked out from that hot stone. Fortunately, Iriwonawani God blessed their wishes.

The next day, they visited again that stone. They did experiments with put dried leaves in front of that stone. Shortly after that, the grasses also leaves dried because heat then burnt. Both of them panic and prayed to Iriwonawani God for extinguishing the fire. But this time, Iriwonawani God didn’t bless their wishes. Fire became bigger. That fire looked out from Randuayaivi village which located on seashore.

            Randuayaivi’s villagers were shouting “There is wildfire…there is wildfire…”

The villagers automatically hurried up to Kamboi Rama’s village to extinguish the fire. Finally because helps from villagers, fire succeed was quenched. After calm situation, Irimiami told about that hot stone. Then, the villagers tried to put meat on that stone. Shortly after that, the meat cooked.

The legend of holy stone’s tradition party

Irimiami suggested for every year that held tradition party on that stone. Randuayaivi’s tribal chief agreed. Until now that stone is the holy stone for the local people.

The next day, the villagers brought some foods to that stone. They would cook the foods on that stone. They held party around that holy stone. During the party was held, Irimiami and Isoray told all moments that had been to that holy stone.

Until now, Yapen island’s villagers still conserve that culture. They often gather in front of holy stone to conserve the culture which started by their ancestors, Irimiami and Isoray while intertwined their relationship.