Rangda
Rangda
Rangda gets its name from the Old Javanese word "randa," which means widow. The word "widow" is mentioned by the Tri Wangsa group, namely Wesya, Ksatria, and Brahmana, whereas the word "widow" is mentioned by the Sudra nation as "Balu," which is Rangda's subtle Balinese language. In its evolution, the term "Rangda" for widows is becoming increasingly rare for fear of creating an unfavorable impression due to Rangda's terrible and scary form, which is synonymous with people who have evil knowledge.
According to Balinese Hindu belief, Rangda is the embodiment of Ratu Ayu Sakti, or Goddess Durga Sakti of Lord Shiva, who has magical value, a supernatural and spiritual power for yogis and their devotees who emit negative spiritual energy. According to the Bhairawa Sect, Rangda was the main deity worshiped at Pura Dalem as the ruler of the graves in ancient times, and was estimated to have been in Bali from the 14th to 16th centuries AD. "There is an inscription that is believed to have been that the king of Dalem Waturenggong was preserving culture (Calonarang) in the 14th to 16th centuries, but perhaps Rangda's existence existed before that." Calonarang is a folklore with a large influence because it contains many elements that tell us about Rangda itself.
The Myth Of Rangda
Rangda is the Balinese mythology's queen of leaks. This terrifying creature is said to kidnap and eat small children and lead an army of evil magic followers against Barong, a symbol of good power. Narrated by Rangda is the 11th century Javanese queen Mahendradatta or Gunapriyadharmapatni, a Javanese princess and Dharmawangsa's sister from the Isyana dynasty of East Java at the end of the Medang Kingdom. She is the mother of Airlangga and the consort of Balinese King Udayana. Mahendradatta is well-known in Bali for his devotion to the Durga cult; he was exiled by the king of Udayana after being accused of witchcraft against the two kings' consort. According to legend, he exacted his vengeance by murdering half of the kingdom, which he later inherited with his son Airlangga, whom he later defeated by the saint. According to another interpretation, Rangda is a candidate for the legendary magician who wreaked havoc on ancient Java during Airlangga's reign in the late 10th century. Calon Arang is said to be a widow who has mastered the art of black magic, which frequently damages farmers' crops and brings disease. She has a beautiful daughter named Ratna Manggali, but she can't find a husband because people are afraid of her mother. Calon Arang is enraged by his daughter's difficulties and plans to exact revenge by kidnapping a young girl. He brought the girl to the Death Temple to be sacrificed to the goddess Durga. The next day, a massive flood hit the village, killing many people.
When King Airlangga learned of the problem, he directed his advisor, Empu Bharada, to handle it. Empu Bharada then arranged for his student, Empu Bahula, to marry Ratna. The two were married in a lavish seven-day and seven-night celebration, and life returned to normal. Candidate Charcoal possesses a book of magical spells. This book was discovered one day by Empu Bahula, who gave it to Empu Bharada. Calon Arang became enraged when he discovered the book had been stolen and resolved to fight Empu Bharada. Calon Arang was defeated because he was overcome by emotions and lacked the power of the goddess Durga. Calon Arang's black magic is no longer a threat to the village since he was defeated. Rangda is linked to the legend of Calon Arang, as well as the legend of the exiled Javanese queen, Mahendradatta, who was divorced.
Rangda is an important figure in Balinese mythology. His battles with Barong and Airlangga are frequently depicted in ballet. This ballet is very popular and is an important part of Balinese culture. Rangda is described as a woman with long, unkempt hair and nails, a long, protruding tongue, and long breasts. His face was frightening, with long, sharp fangs.
Types of Rangda
It is extremely difficult to identify the various types of rangda that grow in Bali. This is due to Rangda's general form being the same. There are other forms of Rangda in the Calonarang story, such as Rarung and Celuluk, but these are the Calonarang's henchmen, and their role is more in stories that are not sacred. Rangda's form can be distinguished by the shape of his face (prerai in Balinese), which is as follows :
Nyinga : Rangda's face is shaped like a lion and protrudes forward slightly (in Balinese it is called munju). This Rangda's nature is fierce and savage.
Nyeleme : Rangda's face resembles a human face and is slightly widened (in Balinese it is lumbeng). Rangda's form in this form demonstrates his authoritative and haunted nature.
Giant : Rangda's face shape resembles a giant form, as we commonly see Rangda in general. Rangda is usually frightening.
Not every terrifying object, such as Rangda, is referred to as a sacred Rangda. This is determined by whether or not a sacralization process occurs during the yadnya ceremony. The sacralization process is important because the embodiment of Rangda will reveal its magical value, allowing those who carry it to feel closer to Rangda and gain holiness and spiritual life. Despite the fact that the tapel and papayas have been installed, they are not yet considered sacred objects. He is an inanimate object, but he will be brought to life through the Utpeti (purification) ceremony.
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