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Mithological question

 
 
ciarconn
21:53 / 16.12.02
I am bringing here an inquiry from chaos-worldwide:


Hello all

Wondering if anyone can help me. I have run myself around in circles
trying various "strings" re a Google search for this...

Few days ago I picked up a very old mounted black and white screen
print of a demon/god (probably Balinese) in the op-shop where I work
as a volunteer. Everyone seemed quite relieved when I took the
picture away. They all thought it quite frightening. Suits me fine -
they let me buy it for 50 cents

The figure (male) with a somewhat grotesque face, has an elaborate
collar, head-dress and skirt. Long hair flows down his back (just
visible). Eight monkeys surround him - two on his thighs, two on his
arms, two on his shoulders, one on his right hip and the last - wait
for this - in his mouth. At first glance this demon/god appears to
poke out a long tongue but closer inspection reveals that it is the
lower half of a monkey.

Now this ain't Hanuman in my opinion. But who is it?

Can anyone help me here?

Su
 
 
grant
13:19 / 17.12.02
Hmmm.

In Indonesia, I had a chance to see what they call the Ramayana Ballet, a dramatic reenactment of the events of the Ramayana - where Rama the Hunter goes on a quest to win his wife back from the demon that stole her. Along the way, he enlists the help of Hanuman and his army of monkeys... by agreeing to help the Monkey King (Sugriwa, who tells Hanuman what to do) win *his* wife back from the demon that stole *her*.
It's complicated.
Anyway, there's a scene with the monkey army surrounding the baddy and rescuing Rama's wife and her handmaid.

That part of the story is the basis for the "Kecak Dance" of the Indonesian island of Bali. The "dance" involves a huge circle of chanters surrounding a central figure in concentric rows. They say "chak-chak-chak" - a monkey noise - in a complicated polyrhythm, such that if you're doing a three "chak" cycle, the guy on one side of you is doing five and the guy on the other is doing seven. I think there's a one and a nine as well, so that no one around you is doing the same chant as you. It's quite an effective cacophony - you definitely get the sense you wouldn't want to be surrounded by these little guys. They say the kecak is more for tourists than locals, but it comes from the Ramayana all the same.



Here's more information on it. And there are audio samples here (I don't think you need RealAudio or anything to play 'em, but they don't have the "chak" part.)

Anyway, if there are a lot of monkeys surrounding a scary-looking guy, that's probably the demon Rawasa. He's probably eating one of the monkey army.

Although Balinese figures are *all* a little scary, the long hair makes me think it's Rawana.

Does this look familiar?
 
 
ciarconn
20:26 / 18.12.02
Here's what Sulien answered
Eureka! No doubt about it. This picture that I brought home has to
represent Rawana (identical image) - or I shall become a monkey's
uncle (grins).

Thank you very much indeed

Su

But another question was asked by Michel Nau:

What island was this on? Only reason I ask is that Su's image may not
be
Hindu in origin. Great photos; was the music traditional or indian
influenced? I love Java. Free Pramoedya's house!
 
  
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