Mbah Kombong & the 12-Year Santri

A santri from Bagelen, Purworejo, who never left his kombong (sleeping cell) except to study (mengaji) — until he was nicknamed Kombong. He remained unmarried and vowed to serve until death; he was the only santri to die at Bedi and the first to be buried on the Kyai’s private land, which was later endowed as waqf (a religious endowment) for a public cemetery. There was also Mbah Noer of Tamanan, who did not go home for 12 years even though his house was only 1 km away — until his father sold a buffalo to commission a kitab (religious book) written by the Kyai.