Editing Mount Merapi (section)

===Spirit ''Kraton'' of Merapi===
The Javanese believe that the Earth is not only populated by human beings, but also by spirits (''makhluk halus''). Villages near Merapi believe that one of the palaces (in [[Javanese language|Javanese]] ''[[Kraton (Indonesia)|kraton]]'') used by the rulers of the spirit kingdom lies inside Merapi, ruled by Empu Rama and Empu Permadi. This palace is said to be a spiritual counterpart to the [[Yogyakarta Sultanate]], complete with roads, soldiers, princes, vehicles, and domesticated animals.
Besides the rulers, the palace is said to also be populated by the spirits of [[ancestor]]s who died as righteous people. The spirits of these ancestors are said to live in the palace as royal servants (''abdi dalem''), occasionally visiting their descendants in dreams to give [[Prophecy|prophecies]] or warnings.<ref name="Triyoga1">{{cite book|title=Merapi dan Orang Jawa: Persepsi dan Kepercayaannya|last=Triyoga|first=Lucas Sasongko|year=2010|publisher=Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia|location=Jakarta|language=id|pages=56–60}}</ref>