Rangda "The Enemy Of Barong"

After I Tell You About Barong, Now i will tell you about Rangda the strongest enemy of Barong...

Rangda is the demon queen of the Leyaks in Bali, according to traditional Balinese Mythtology. Terrifying to behold, the child-eating Rangda leads an army of evil witches against the leader of the forces of good —Barong. The battle between Barong and Rangda is featured in a Barong dance which represents the eternal battle between good and evil.Rangda is a term in old Javanese that means: "widow"

Rangda is important in Balinese culture, and performances depicting her struggles with Barong or with Airlangga in that tale are popular Tourist Attraction as well as tradition. She is depicted as a mostly nude old woman, with long and unkempt hair, pendulous breasts, and claws. Her face is traditionally a horrifying fanged and goggle-eyed mask, with a long, protruding tongue.

Bali is a Hindu island, and it is suggested that Rangda may also be closely associated with Durga. She has also been identified with the Hindu mother warrior goddess, and Kali, the black mother goddess of destruction, transformation and protection in Hinduism.

While Rangda is seen as fearsome and by many as the personification of evil, she is also nevertheless considered a protective force in certain parts of Bali, much like Kali is seen as a benevolent mother goddess in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam and Kerala. The colors associated with her — white, black and red — are identical with those associated with Kali. Her iconography is similar to that of both Kali and Chamunda, who are closely related.

Rangda was linked to the legend of Calon Arang and also the legend of divorced and exiled Javan queen Mahendrada.

from : Wikipedia

Barong Dance

 

Hello, you know bali has so many culture, arts, and traditions. This time i will tell you one of culture of bali, Barong Dance.

Barong is a lion-like creature and character in the mythtologi of Bali, Indonesian. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda, the demon queen and mother of all spirit guarders in the mythological traditions of Bali. The battle between Barong and Rangda is featured in Barong dance to represent the eternal battle between good and evil.

Barong is probably the most well known dance. It is also another story telling dance, narrating the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into one reality.

The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.

Somebody can die or get seriously injured in a Barong dance. It is said that if Rangda's spell is too strong, a weak soldier may not be able to resist it, even with the help of Barong. He may end up hurting himself with his own keris.

The masks of Barong and Rangda are considered sacred items, and before they are brought out, a priest must be present to offer blessings by sprinkling them with holy water taken from Mount Agung, and offerrings must be presented. 

from : Wikipedia , Indo.com