Barong and keris dance
Barong is a lion-like creature and character in the
mythology of Bali, Indonesia. 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.
In Balinese mythology, the good spirit is identified as
Banas Pati Raja. Banas Pati Raja is the fourth "brother" or spirit
child that accompanies a child throughout their life, which is a similar
concept to guardian angels. Banas Pati Raja is the spirit which animates
Barong. A protector spirit, he is often represented as a lion. The Barong is
often portrayed accompanied by two monkeys. Barong is portrayed as a lion with
red head, covered in white thick fur, and wearing gilded jewellery adorned with
pieces of mirrors. The shape of lion Barong is somewhat similar to a Pekingese
dog.
Another version holds that Rangda was actually linked to
historical queen Mahendradatta or Gunapriyadharmapatni, a Javanese princess
sister of Dharmawangsa of East Javanese Isyana Dynasty of late Medang Kingdom
period. She was the queen consort of Balinese king Udayana and Airlangga's own
mother. Mahendradatta is known for her devotion to the cult of Durga in Bali.
The story goes that Mahendradatta, the mother of Airlangga,
was condemned by Airlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After
she became a widow (Rangda in old Javanese means: 'widow'), hurt and
humiliated, she sought revenge upon her ex-husband's court and whole of his
kingdom. She summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leyaks and the
demons that caused plague and death in the kingdom. Airlangga face his own
mother to save the kingdom. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic
troops were so powerful that Airlangga had to ask for the help of spirit king,
Barong in order to defeat her. Barong came with Airlangga's soldiers, and the
fight ensued. Rangda cast a spell that made Airlangga soldiers all want to kill
themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests.
In response, Barong cast a spell which caused the soldiers body's to be
resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.
Related link on leyaks:
Barong hilt
A Balinese meteorite keris lurus/straight
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