In a previous article I mentioned the importance of Mount Agung for the Balinese people. Adding to the significance of Mount Agung is the importance of water, when blessed by a priest. In mythology, every ancient country has mythology as part of its history, be it an old wives’ tale or an herbal remedy to cure unwanted blemishes or a cure for a major disease. Bali is no exception as a powerful myth has endured in its history, driving and protecting the Balinese for over 1000 years.
This Myth is the ancient ritual of the Barong dance, probably the most powerful dance in the history of Bali, it is known as the Barong dance. Barong is a purveyor of good as it is a story of good and evil, heaven and hell, black and white magic.
During the s. X there was a king of Bali or sultan, as perhaps it should be called, King Erlangga. Now he had a mother, Rangda, and a father, the father who committed his wife to damnation, as she was a great follower and portrait painter of the black arts, sinister magic, over time, Rangda joined all that it’s evil. Soon Rangda was widowed, after which he summoned all the evil spirits from the jungles of Bali. His only plan was to harm King Erlangga, his own son, as he believed that he was behind much of the reduction of his evil magic.
And so the story was born: for King Erlannga, the power of her unrestrained evil spells and her army of demons was so intense that he became powerless against her and would soon be overwhelmed. Had it not been for Barong, as he quickly took a breath and prayed for Barong’s help, the spirit of all good. Barong quickly marched to King Erlangga’s side bringing with him King Erlangga’s army of loyal troops, troops who now found courage in Barong’s shadow.
The intense battle began and a fight between good and evil, Rangda, an emissary of evil in Bali, faced Barong. Two immortal beings thrown into battle, demons against the mortal troops of King Erlangga. An evil and treacherous spell was soon cast, as each of the troops had a Keris in which to attack the demons and bring order to the kingdom of King Erlangga, preserving the lives of the Balinese, freeing them along the paths of evil. However, Rangda had little intention of going without a fight and soon cast her sinful spell on King Erlangga’s troops, causing them to take her poison-tipped Keris and plunge it deep into their stomachs; with the full intention of killing each and every one of them. Had it not been for Barong’s quick action, the mythology might well have taken a different course. Barong moved to cast an additional spell that freed the troops from danger by enhancing his immune system so that he became resistant to poison and actually enhanced his strength and skill.
Barong the king and host of all good spirits gives power to his fourth brother Banas Pati Rajah, a boy himself who is tasked with protecting children and to this day Banas pati Rajah is said to exist in all regions from Bali and takes a different form, he can be portrayed as a lion or a boar depending on where he is within the paradise island. The high priest is said to enhance the abilities of these prodigies by sprinkling the holy waters of Mount Agung on his mortal appearance.
And so to this day the dance continues, protecting the Balinese from the evils of the devil, evils or Rangda!
