I'm writing a story that features the character Barong from Balinese culture. Do the Balinese people believe in Barong still? I'd like a lot of information about the battle between Barong and Rangda.
2007-03-11 17:32:42 · 2 answers · asked by seraphprince78 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Barong is a fictional character in the Mythology of Bali. A protector spirit, he is often represented by a lion,one of five traditional Barong. In Bali each region of the island has its own protective spirit for its forests and lands. A Barong for each region is modeled after a different animal. There is a boar, a tiger, a dragon (or serpent) and the traditional lion.
Rangda is the demon queen of the leyaks in Bali, according to traditional Balinese mythology. 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.
Terrifying to behold, the child-eating Rangda leads an army of evil witches against the leader of the forces of good - Barong.
Within the calonarong, the dancedrama, the barong kills Rangda to restore balance.
Rangda is important in Balinese culture, and performances depicting her struggles with Barong or with Erlangga in that tale are popular tourist attractions as well as tradition.
Bali is a Hindu nation, and it is suggested that Rangda may also be associated with Durga, 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.
I hope it helps with your story, good luck!
2007-03-11 18:59:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't a barong a large knife like a machete?
2007-03-12 01:45:20 · answer #2 · answered by Terry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋