Photostream : Funeral ceremony of Mbah Maridjan, the spiritual guardian of the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi

Residents pray at the tomb of the spiritual guardian of Mount Merapi, Mbah Maridjan already buried today in Srunen Hamlet, Village Glagaharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (10/28/2010). Photo : KOMPAS IMAGES/KRISTIANTO PURNOMO

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral ceremony the spiritual guardian of Mount Merapi, Mbah Maridjan conducted on Thursday (10/28/2010) in Srunen Hamlet, Village Glagaharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (10/28/2010). Photo : KOMPAS IMAGES

The bodies of Mbah Maridjan, the spiritual guardian of Mount Merapi is inserted into the grave. Mbah Maridjan already buried today in Srunen Hamlet, Village Glagaharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (10/28/2010). Photo : KOMPAS IMAGES/KRISTIANTO PURNOMO

Mbah Maridjan ("Grandfather Maridjan") was the spiritual guardian of the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi. He was killed at the age of 83 by a pyroclastic flow that hit the village of Kinahrejo during the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi. Maridjan was the son of the previous guardian. He was appointed to the palace staff of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, in 1970 and was given the title of Mas Penewu Suroksohargo. He replaced his father as gatekeeper in 1982

Mbah Maridjan, Mount Merapi guardian buried on its slope

Mbah Maridjan ("Grandfather Maridjan") was the spiritual guardian of the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi. He was killed at the age of 83 by a pyroclastic flow that hit the village of Kinahrejo during the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi. Maridjan was the son of the previous guardian. He was appointed to the palace staff of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, in 1970 and was given the title of Mas Penewu Suroksohargo. He replaced his father as gatekeeper in 1982

October 28, 2010 (KATAKAMI / THE JAKARTA POST) --- Mbah Maridjan, the caretaker of Mount Merapi who died after refusing to abandon his ceremonial post when the volcano erupted Tuesday, was buried around noon Thursday  in Srunen hamlet, in Cangkringan, Yogyakarta.

Hundreds of relatives and local people were present at the funeral.

The funeral was also attended by Yogyakarta Governor and Sultan of Yogyakarta Hamengkubuwono X first daughter Gusti Pembayun and former President Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid” daugther Alissa Wahid.

Maridjan, 83, had been entrusted by the highly respected late Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX to watch over the volcano's spirits. For years he led ceremonies in which rice and flowers were thrown into the crater to appease its spirits. Maridjan had angered officials in the past by refusing to evacuate during Merapi’s eruptions.

“[His refusal to evacuate] was because of his responsibility as caretaker of Mount Merapi,” Hamengkubuwono said Wednesday.

Maridjan was among tens of people killed by hot ash spewed by Merapi on Tuesday in Kinahrejo hamlet, where he was born in 1927, which is located 4 kilometers from the volcano.

Famous for his convictions about his position, Maridjan was reportedly found in a praying position, kneeling facedown on the floor.

Indonesia : Mbah Maridjan, Mount Merapi guardian’s death confirmed

Ki Surakso Hargo (Mbah Maridjan)

October 27, 2010 (KATAKAMI / THE JAKARTA POST) --- Presidential special staff for disaster mitigation Andi Arief confirmed Wednesday the death of Mount Merapi guardian Ki Surakso Hargo or Mbah Maridjan.

Andi said that as of 10:15 a.m., the Tuesday’s eruption had claimed 26 casualties and injured 13 people. Mbah Maridjan was among 19 casualties that had been identified.

Mbah Maridjan was found dead at his house in Umbulharjo village, Cangkringan of Sleman, on Wednesday morning, in form of sujud (kneeling with a face down on the floor during praying) and covered with collapsing walls and trees.