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."