Parapat Stone
Once, in a rural village next to Lake Toba North Sumatera, there lived a husband and a wife with
a beautiful daughter named Seruni. Not only was she beautiful, Seruni was also very diligent in
helping her parents in the field. Every day this family worked in this field on the edge of Lake
Toba, and the outcomes were used for their daily needs.
One day, Seruni went to the field alone, because his parents went to a neighboring village. Seruni
was only accompanied by her beloved dog named Toki. Arriving at the farm, she didn’t work but
she just sat there looking at the natural beauty of Lake Toba as if she had solved a difficult
problem. While the dog, Toki, came sitting next to her, staring at her face as if he knew what
Seruni thought. Once in a while the dog barked to distract Seruni, but she was not teased.
The last few days Seruni looked glum. She was very sad, because she was given in marriage by
her parents with a young man who was his cousin. Though she had chosen his loved man and she
had promised to live together with him. She was very confused. On the one hand she did not
want to disappoint her parents, and she could not afford to part with her love. Because of being
unable to bear the heavy burden, she was getting hopeless.
"Yes, Lord! I am not able to live with this burden, "complained the Seruni.
A few moments later, Seruni moved from his seat. With tears, she walked slowly toward the
Lake Toba. Apparently she wanted to end his life by jumping into the lake's and Toki, followed
his master from behind while barking.
With a mind raging, Seruni walked toward the cliffs of Lake Toba without paying attention to
the road in its path. Unexpectedly, she suddenly fell into a hole. The rocky ground that made the
hole was getting dark. Seruni girl is very scared.
"Help.. Help.. Help.., Toki! "Seruni voice asking for help to her beloved dog.
Toki understood if Seruni required his help, but he could not do anything except just barking at
the hole. Seruni screamed several times for help, but Toki really could not afford helping her.
Finally she was getting desperate.
"Ah, I'd rather die than live a long time to suffer," Seruni resigned.
1
Rock walls were moving ever closer.
"Parapat...! Parapat Parapat ... "ordered Seruni to press her body with the stone.
Being unable to help Seruni, Toki immediately ran home to ask for help. Arriving at the master's
house, he immediately went to Seruni parents.
"Auggg ...! auggg ...! auggg ... "Toki's barking while clawing at the ground to tell the parents that
the Seruni in danger.
"Toki ..., where is Seruni? What happened to her? "Asked the father to Seruni’s dog.
"Auggg ...! auggg ...! auggg ...! "he continued barking and ran back and forth to invite them to a
place.
"Sir, it looks like Seruni in danger," said the mother of Seruni.
"Mom was right. Toki invites us to follow, "said the father of Seruni.
"But how do we get there? "Said the mother.
"You prepare a torch! I'll be looking for help to neighbors, "cried the father.
Soon, the whole neighborhood had gathered in front of house of Seruni's father, carrying the
torch. After that they followed the Toki to the scene. Once they were in the field, the Toki
directly toward the mouth of the hole. Both parents of Seruni immediately approached the mouth
of the hole.
What a surprise when they saw a hole big enough rock on the edge of their field. In the pit was
heard the faint sound of a woman: "Parapat ...! Parapat Parapat stone ...! "
"Sir, listen to that voice! That voice is of our child! Seruni’s mother cried frantically.
"Yes, ma'am! That sounds Seruni! "Replied the father panic.
"But, why would she shout: Parapat, parapatlah stone?" Asked the mother.
"I do not know, mom! It seems like there's something wrong in there, "said the father anxiously.
2
A Farmer was trying to light up the hole with a torch, but the bottom of the hole was so deep that
it can not be penetrated by torchlight.
"Seruniii ...! Seruniii ...! "Cried the father of Seruni.
"Seruni ... my daughter! The mother and father came to help you! "Her mother shouted.
Several times they yelled, but they did not get a response from Seruni. Only voice drifted Seruni
who sent the stone closer to squeezing.
"Parapat ...! Parapatlah stone ...! Parapat! "
"Seruniiii ... my daughter!" Once again the mother screaming and crying hysterically Seruni.
People in attendance at the place were trying to help. One held ropes to the bottom of the hole,
but the slap was not touched at all. Seruni's father increasingly concerned with the state of her
father. He also decided to follow her foray into the rock pit.
"Mom, hold the torch!" Command of the father.
"Where do you want to go?" Asked the mother.
"I'm following the Seruni into the hole," he replied firmly. "No dad, it's dangerous!" Prevent the
mother.
"Yes sir, the hole was very deep and dark," said people.
A moment later, suddenly heard a roar. The earth shook violently as if to an end. Rock hole
suddenly closes itself. The cliffs at the edge of Lake Toba was falling. Seruni's father and mother
and all the people ran thither to escape. They left the mouth of the hole the rock, so that poor
Seruni could not be rescued from the crush of rock. Some time after the earthquake stopped,
suddenly appeared a large rock that resembles a girl's body and as if hanging on the wall of the
cliff at the edge of Lake Toba. Local people believe that the stone is the embodiment Seruni
oppressed in the hole. By those stones were then given the name "Hanging Rock". (BATU
GANTUNG)
3
A few days later, fame spread the word about the events that befall her. The people flocked to the
scene to see the "Hanging Rock" is. Residents who witnessed the incident told other people that
before the hole was closed, a voice: "... Parapat Parapat parapat stone ...!"
4