Mrapen
Encyclopedia
Mrapen is the name of eternal flame
that came out from the soil (stone). This natural phenomenon
is located at Manggarmas village, Godong, Purwodadi Grobogan
district, Central Java
, Indonesia
. This eternal flame was created through natural geological phenomena; the leaking of natural gas
from the ground and it was ignited by the fire a long time ago. It was unknown since when the gas leakage was ignited, but the Mrapen flame is already known since 15th century Demak Sultanate era. It was mentioned that the sacred kris
heirloom dagger of Demak Sultanate were forged in Mrapen flame. The flame never extinguished although in the middle of rain or winds.
The Mrapen eternal flame is considered sacred in Javanese culture, and it is used in annual Waisak
Buddhist ceremony to be brought to Mendut
and Borobudur
temple together with sacred water from Umbul Jumprit spring. It was also used for several torch relay for multi sport events held in Indonesia. The first time it was used in GANEFO
sport event held on 1 November 1963. Later every Pekan Olahraga Nasional
(Indonesian National Sport Week) always used Mrapen flame, followed by 1997 Southeast Asian Games
, 2008 Asian Beach Games
and 2011 Southeast Asian Games
.
Eternal flame
An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns day and night for an indefinite period. The flame that burned constantly at Delphi was an archaic feature, "alien to the ordinary Greek temple"....
that came out from the soil (stone). This natural phenomenon
Natural phenomenon
A natural phenomenon is a non-artificial event in the physical sense, and therefore not produced by humans, although it may affect humans . Common examples of natural phenomena include volcanic eruptions, weather, decay, gravity and erosion...
is located at Manggarmas village, Godong, Purwodadi Grobogan
Purwodadi Grobogan
Purwodadi Grobogan is a is capital and a district in Grobogan Regency, Central Java. It is located in the south east of Semarang, the capital of Central Java, Indonesia. I It is also well known for delicate tauco soya bean sauce and swikee....
district, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. This eternal flame was created through natural geological phenomena; the leaking of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
from the ground and it was ignited by the fire a long time ago. It was unknown since when the gas leakage was ignited, but the Mrapen flame is already known since 15th century Demak Sultanate era. It was mentioned that the sacred kris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
heirloom dagger of Demak Sultanate were forged in Mrapen flame. The flame never extinguished although in the middle of rain or winds.
The Mrapen eternal flame is considered sacred in Javanese culture, and it is used in annual Waisak
Vesak
Vesākha is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia...
Buddhist ceremony to be brought to Mendut
Mendut
Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple, located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple is located about three kilometres east from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line...
and Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
temple together with sacred water from Umbul Jumprit spring. It was also used for several torch relay for multi sport events held in Indonesia. The first time it was used in GANEFO
GANEFO
The Games of the New Emerging Forces were the games set up by Indonesia in late 1962 as a counter to the Olympic Games. Established for the athletes of the so-called "emerging nations" , GANEFO made it clear in its constitution that politics and sport were intertwined; this ran against the...
sport event held on 1 November 1963. Later every Pekan Olahraga Nasional
Pekan Olahraga Nasional
The Pekan Olahraga Nasional is a multi-sport event held every four years in Indonesia...
(Indonesian National Sport Week) always used Mrapen flame, followed by 1997 Southeast Asian Games
1997 Southeast Asian Games
The 19th Southeast Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 11 October to 19 October 1997. It was opened by President of Indonesia names Suharto...
, 2008 Asian Beach Games
2008 Asian Beach Games
The 2008 Asian Beach Games, the inaugural Asian Beach Games, was held in Bali, Indonesia from 18 October to 26 October 2008. The opening ceremony was held in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana memorial park in Nusa Dua, Badung.- Bidding process :...
and 2011 Southeast Asian Games
2011 Southeast Asian Games
The 26th Southeast Asian Games was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on 11 until 22 November 2011. Indonesia's fourth time to host the SEA Games, it last hosted the Games in 1997...
.