Javanese ancient mention that “Rangda” came from the word “Randa” = Widow. Rangda usually use by noble to mention a widow which is no longer a wife to a husband. Written in Mpu Baradah Sanskrit, once upon a time there was a young pretty girl named Nyi Sadya who able to attract King Erlangga, King of Daha. Erlangga brought Nyi Sadya to the palace and became wife of Erlangga. When pregnant, Nyi Sadya wants to be provided with seven human hearts from various classes of dynasty. Because of this impossibility request, then Erlangga decided to banish Nyi Sadya to the forest of Girah. Then officially, Rangda Girah became a widower of King Erlangga.

Nyi Sadya’s magic figure was came from the studied of Pragolan bible, from this bible, Nyi Sadya also got her black magic knowledge. Because revenge sense due to being isolated by the King of Daha, then Nyi Sadya began to spread a terror and disaster to people all around Kingdom of Daha. Nyi Sadya’s magic was very known to mention her as a witch lady and the queen of black magic, and she was titled as Rangda Girah or Rangda Dirah which is meant a widow from Girah. Terror and disaster caused by magic of Rangda Dirah was annoying King Erlangga, and he was try looking for ways to stop his peoples night mare.
When Rangda Girah daughter, Ni Diah Ratna Menggali, grown up into a beautiful girl. Many boys were trying to attract her, but fearing of Rangda Dirah magic was made them scared to purpose Ratna Menggali. Peoples also react to isolated Ratna Menggali, which was made Rangda Dirah revenge sense and angriness became stronger, Rangda Dirah raised the intensity spread of terror and disaster to peoples of King Daha. However, the effort of blocking all black magic from Rangda Dirah was begun to found when Mpu Baradah, spiritual and religious leader, dispatch his student, Mpu Bahulu to attracted Ratna Menggali. Ratna Menggali falls in love with Mpu Bahulu, then all the black magic secret of Rangda Dirah being known by Mpu Baradah which caused Rangda Dirah being surrendered by Mpu Baradah.

Rangda Dirah folklore is very famous among Balinese people. Story contain of a mystic is being transform into mystical beliefs in ancient and modern Bali. Rangda Dirah as a queen of black magic was illustrated as scary woman who has a long hair like shown in this article pictures.
In Balinese Hindu society, mystical beliefs are still remaining until now, proved by Rangda’s attribute which is found in the temple all over Bali. In particular period will be performing Rangda & Barong dance as media to give spiritual understanding to Rangda’s folklore. Rangda Dirah figure that will continue to spread a terror and disaster to people will be destroying by Barong as a figure of Mpu Baradah, the embodiment of goodness.

Bali, island surrounded by sense of mystics and has a magnetic attraction, Island of God with so many culture and tradition that still exist until now. Equilibrium between vertical and horizontal nexus already contribute and taking role on every side of Balinese community. What could be a reason why Bali always exists as a traditional community and always has a visitor from modernization flow outside of Bali almost every year? Believe the answer is Balinese community trustworthy to the matter that they always called harmonization relationship between a human and God as a creator, protector, and executor of this universe. This is also became a reason why religion in Bali has a harmonic rhythms with its traditional culture. Hindu community in Bali believe that three avatar of God as a creator, protector, and executor had bring so many phenomenon in life, where one of those is law of nature between good and evil, wrong and right, beauty and beast and many differences in this universe and became appear also in traditional mythology of Bali. One of those is “Barong” that represent in Barong & Rangda Dance, this triumphant dance is very popular not only for Balinese people but also for viewers around the world.

Actually, Barong is a form of Bali pre Hinduism inheritance, being transformed to a figurehead or mask of an animals or ancient human which has magical forces. Mystic of Barong mask came from its wood material which taken on cemetery area. Could be in the year of being created, Barong mask has so many different type, nowadays there are several being known, for example: Barong Ket, Barong Gajah, Barong Asu, Barong Landung, Barong Bangkal, Barong Brutuk, Barong Kedingkling until Barong Sai. Barong character in Balinese mythology is reflected of spirit in a human itself, where in Balinese Hinduism believe that a human has a”guardian sibling” when being born in the nativity process, the guardian elements are blood, placenta, and fetal membrane. All these elements will always protect and guard a human all through the process of life till being reunited again with the universe. Barong as a king of spirit is one of those elements as “guardian sibling” and has a power to protect human from any evil through the interaction process of life.

How of good and evil became law of nature happened on every human kind being presented in the procession of theatrical Barong & Rangda dance, story from Mahabrata epic is a conceptual theme for these dance to reflected Barong as a symbol of protector and king of spirit having a battle with Rangda as a symbol of death and queen of evil. Have been written through all a colorful and graceful dance movements that good spirits taking a victory against evil. Where evil always exist and creep the universe in every nightmare, always forced and pushed a human to go to the edge of black hole is reflected on the last part of the dance performance, and again Barong will appear to giving a protection so a human will be shield with a good spirits.

Performance of Barong & Rangda dance bring us to the reflection of how we suppose to live, good and bad spirit on every human on this universe will always be a substance in law of nature, always existing in all circumstances.

Barong Bali is not just only a reflection of traditional mythology, isn’t it?