"Barong Randa Dance" From Bali

In Balinese Hindu mythology, Rangda is a leader for the leak in fighting the figure of Barong. Rangda is portrayed as a woman with long, tangled hair, wide eyes, large fangs, long hooves, protruding tongue, and long breasts.

Literally, the word "rangda" means widow. This meaning is in accordance with the origin of the story which tells the Queen Mahendradatta who took revenge for being exiled by King Dharmodayana. The former queen then avenged her heart by killing half of the people in the kingdom.

Barong is considered the king of good spirits which is shown as a long-toothed lion with dense blonde hair. In one of his mythologies, Barong is described as accompanying King Airlangga, heir to the throne of King Dharmodayana, to defeat Rangda.

In other mythologies, Barong and Rangda are described as having balanced strength. Both are also endowed with eternity, so there is an endless battle. Because they are equally strong, the two continue to fight without one of the losing parties.

The story of this eternal battle was later raised in the barong dance arts. Barong dance has many versions. One simple and short version is Rangda barong dance which is staged regularly on the amphitheater stage of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex. This dance is an introduction for ordinary people to understand the concept of rwa bhineda which is part of the life principles of Balinese society.

In the spiritual beliefs of the Balinese Hindu community, the concept of rwa bhineda is known which literally means two differences that run harmoniously. In more depth, this concept explains that this universe was created by the Almighty in pairs but has opposite characteristics. Like goodness paired with ugliness, men with women, black with white, and so on.

The pairs of characters that are different from each other in the Hindu concept are seen as having to be side by side. Both do not negate or negate each other. Rwa said that teaching the two opposite things actually balances each other so that life goes harmoniously. For this reason, Balinese people see differences not as a barrier that must be removed, but made to be in harmony with each other.

This concept of balance is manifested in the mythology of the relationship between Barong and Rangda. The eternal feud of Barong and Rangda symbolizes goodness and ugliness which are essentially side by side. Both bad and good, they cannot be completely removed from human life. Goodness exists because of the evil or evil that is the comparison. Vice versa. Something is considered an ugliness because there is goodness which is the comparison parameter.