Rangda & Barong's omake – WIP

18 Comments

1. Your attention to detail is incredible. I am always stunned by the next piece I see of yours.

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   • How very kind of you to say

2. I’m really captured by the Buddha head in the first one … but it may be too capturing as a bg.

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   • if it gives me any problems, I can always tweak it…

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3. I liked the images of the sketch, the second one and the image without the background.

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   • I am glad so many of them were able to please you

4. You make me research about Randa and Barong. Thanks, never knew this.

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   • I know very little about them, and have taken many liberties in this piece

     • I know nothing like “Jon Snow” now I know something. This is what good in this kind of sites.

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       • Game of Thrones quote for the win!

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         • Haha… miss the guys actually, specially the whitewalkers… ha!

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5. I really appreciate your appreciation for Rangda & Barong and creativity for enriching its existence, but maybe need an input too…

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   • if you have any suggestions for me, I’d be thrilled to hear them!

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     • Actually, what I mean input up there is your consideration, thought, or reason. But because you asked for suggestions, a little input below might be useful.

       In this context, historically, Rangda most likely is the queen of Mahendradatta who lived on the island of Java and Barong (who was the king of good spirits) as an embodiment of Airlangga, from the Hindu kingdoms. Likewise as philosophical symbols of Balinese Hinduism and one of several mythologies that Barong and Rangda are described as having balanced power. Both are also endowed with immortality, resulting in endless battles. Because they are equally strong, both of them continue to fight without one of the parties losing.

       The story of this eternal battle is then raised in barong dance. Barong dance has many versions. One simple and short version is the barong rangda dance (which is performed regularly on the amphitheater stage of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex). This dance is an introduction for ordinary people to understand the concept of Bhakti Bheda which is part of the life principle of Balinese people. Even more frightening is what is often shown by high Balinese Hindu priests in a mystical ceremony of war between the two.

       In the spiritual belief of Balinese Hindus, there is a concept of rwa bhineda which literally means two differences that run harmoniously. In more depth, this concept explains that the universe was created by the Almighty in conditions of pairing but has the opposite nature. Like goodness, pair with bad, man and woman, black with white, and so on.

       The pair of characters who are different from each other in the Hindu concept is seen as having to co-exist with each other. Both do not negate or negate each other. Rwa Bhineda teaches that the two opposing things actually balance one another so that life goes hand in hand. For this reason, Balinese people view differences, not as obstacles that must be eliminated, but made to be in harmony.

       If you need references to some Hindu temples in Bali, here are some of them: Gunung Kawi Temple, Tebing Tegallinggah Temple, Uluwatu Temple, and Besakih Temple, but indeed if you want to use Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal or Padangtegal Great Temple of Death, it would be scarier.

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       • Generally in the Hidnu religion, these equally balanced forces are understood to be aspects of a greater whole (which is the real reason why one can’t defeat the other) is this the same case here?

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         • That applies the same here.
           If I emphasize Hinduism here, I just want to say that although historically both characters have originated from Java, both are more rooted, developed, and popular in Balinese Hinduism. So, maybe as a background, the atmosphere that you can build is with that nuance.

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6. Very interesting pieces!!!!.

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   • I am glad to hear you say so