[1] The recent study provided insights into geothermal heat flow suggesting that Mt.

[3][4] Mount Lawu is the home of the God Parwatarajadewa (also called Hyang Girinatha in the manuscript Serat Centhini).

[5] The name Katong is likely associated with the ruins of Mount Meru, the sacred five-peaked mountain and center of the universe.

One of the earliest account of the worship of Parwatarajadewa is in the kakawin Arjunawiwaha: Inscriptions of the Sukuh temple carved on the statue of the God Nandi also prove the religious significance of this mountain: These inscriptions prove that Parwatarajadewa was a God of great significance for the Javanese and that the mountain was home to a variety of Rsis, ascetics, and was likely a refuge for Hindus completing the life stage called "Wanaprastha and Sanyasin", in which one would resign themselves to a lonely forest in search of Sanyasin or bhiksuka, a stage of life characterized by self-perfection.

[4] [4] The western slopes of Lawu have a number of graveyards - including Astana Giribangun and Mangkunegaran.