Colonarang has special place in Balinese daily life
Colonarang has special place in Balinese daily life
By Putu Suasta and Intan Petersen
DENPASAR (JP): "The witch hobbles forward, clutching her stick in both hands, doing a cramped, old woman's dance, taking one step with one foot drawn up, bending forward with stiff neck and back, moving in half-circles with curious jerky steps. She totters to and fro, glancing around with dull eyes, and clutches her shawl over her chest as she zig-zags in slow movements up the stage, to the vibrating drum and flute."
That's how Balinese most famous witch, Calonarang, is described on stage. She never fails to astonish her audiences, who watch her with a mixture of joy and horror. Some children cover their eyes with their hands and others hold their parents' hands tightly.
The play Calonarang is always performed at night, when magic effects are believed at the strongest. Its climax should be reached about midnight. Generally it takes place near a graveyard, preferably outside the Pura Dalem (temple for the dead).
The character known as Calonarang has a special place in Balinese daily life, not only for people who are concerned with black magic but also for those who aren't. It is a story about witches or leyak in Balinese. No other story in the Balinese dance-drama has a stronger plot than Calonarang in describing black magic or witchcraft. The story is also very interesting because of its mystical quality. This is due to its setting in the middle of a big sacred tree, the banyan tree, usually near a graveyard. A true Calonarang performance is generally given only in remote villages in connection with religious ceremonies. Calonarang is also presented to tourists at five-star hotels, but these hotel performances bear very little resemblance to the original ones.
Harmony in Balinese cultural life is determined by dualism: good-evil, black-white, up-down, hot-cold and dark-light. This is outlined in the Samkhya (teachings about harmony and balance). Therefore it is believed that the evil spirit is absolutely needed to harmonize the dynamics of Balinese culture. Thus leyak or witches play a very important role in the development of Balinese traditional culture.
The Calonarang story is based on a historical event which was later adopted into the Balinese dance and play. The historical event itself took place during the reign of Erlangga, who was king of Java in the 11th century. Erlangga's mother was Mahendradatta, a princess from Java, and her husband was Dharmodayana, a Balinese ruler.
In Balinese lontar Durga Purana Tatwa, it is written that Mahendradatta became a witch because her husband betrayed her and took many mistresses. She then went to Bhatari Durga (goddess of evil) and asked Durga to teach her black magic in order to kill her husband's mistresses. She turned into a witch, and together with her followers she went on a rampage, pouring down disease, destruction and death on East Java. To maintain her magical power, she often needed the bodies of death babies, and her daughter and followers would be sent to cemeteries on grisly errands. King Erlangga tried to destroy her, but her magical power was too strong. The king then sent a holy man, Empu Bharadah, to destroy Calonarang. The Calonarang play is the story of the final episode in her life when the Empu Bharadah tries to destroy her.
The story shows that black magic is born out of jealousy and injustice. And this is still passed on from generation to generation. Balinese people have their own names for people who practice black magic and also for people who can cure it. The character who practices black magic by causing harm and sickness to other people is called Balian Pengiwa. Unless cured by another character, Balian Penengen, the person will die.
Many Balinese people talk about this matter openly and admit the existence of the Balian Pengiwa and Balian Penengen, particularly in remote villages. A Balian Pengiwa is very powerful and everyone in the village is afraid of him. All try not to become his enemy because when they do they may be harmed or get sick and no physician may be able to diagnose their sickness.
"Balinese people place great importance on Calonarang because it is connected with their belief, not with their religion", said Prof. Ngurah Bagus, a prominent Balinese cultural anthropologist.
"The Balinese feel that Rangda is their protector from misfortune. Besides, they enjoy the beauty of good and evil in drama", he continued. "The character Rangda in the Calonarang story is a conflicting character. Mahendradatta, who latter became a rangda (a devil), also became a protector to people who presented her talisman for protection against misfortune. In real life, people believe a talisman can protect them from the spell of black magic or help one vent one's vexation, jealousy and vengeance", he added.
Ngurah Bagus said that in this modern era people still depend to some extend on the Balian, although less so than in the old days. Formerly, older Balinese often went to the Balian when they were sick because they believed that most sicknesses were caused by black magic.
"But nowadays people see a doctor when they are sick", he said "Still, many people continue to visit a Balian Pengiwa or Balian Penengen. Those who go to a Balian Pengiwa usually wish to cause misfortune to their enemies due to jealousy, vexation, unfair treatment, and suchlike."