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Secrets of Bali

by Jonathan Copeland

with
Ni Wayan Murni

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"ONE of my earliest memories is of watching a shadow puppet performance in our village temple in Ubud at night.."

Ni Wayan Murni
The Times, Lombok
October - November 2007

Read the full article - What to Look for in Balinese Shadow Puppets

Balinese shadow puppets are made of leather. The stem is wood, rather than buffalo horn. The height measurement includes the length of the rod.

To order: make sure pop ups are allowed.

Wayang Kulit: Carriage



Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 49 cm, width 42.5 cm
Order Number: BSP1

The Rama and Sita Story

Background: Rama and Sita are reunited after their trials in the Ramayan epic and return to Ayodya. Rama is enthroned. Sita becomes pregnant, but Rama suspects his wife of adultery in Alengka and puts her to trial by fire. She is proved innocent, but he still banishes her to the forest, where she meets the sage Valmki, who helps raise her twin sons. Eventually Rama realises his mistake and tries to find Sita, but she has gone. He takes his sons back to Ayodya and gives them the throne.

This small wayang set portrays that final episode in the story and comprises the puppets for the Kayonan, the Fire, Rama, Sita, , and the wooden stand.

Press Price/Order for enlarged photos of each puppet, but note that they are being sold as a set and not individually:-

Wayang Kulit: Kayonan

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 69.5 cm , width 29.5 cm

Background: The Kayonan is the shadow puppet that opens and closes and remains in place throughout the shadow puppet performance. It comes in 2 forms: the tree of life or the holy mountain, when it is called gunungan.

It is placed right in the center and separates the basically good puppet characters on the right and the basically bad characters on the left of the screen.

The tree also links the upper and lower worlds and its branches extend equally to the left and right.

When the puppeteer opens the performance with a flutter of this puppet, it is a sign that he is climbing the tree to the realm of the gods. He invites the audience to join him.

Wayang Kulit: Fire

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 44 cm , width 19.5 cm

Wayang Kulit: Rama

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 59 cm , width 14.5 cm

Wayang Kulit: Sita

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 49 cm , width 10 cm

Order Number: BSP4

To order The Rama and Sita Story set:

Wayang Kulit: Kresna

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 61 cm , width 14 cm
Order Number: BSP8

Wayang Kulit: Ganesha

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 61 cm , width 15 cm
Order Number: BSP9

Wayang Kulit set for the Sudamala ceremony

Background: Every 210 days is a day called Tumpek Wayang. It is also Kajeng-Kliwon, and a special day for shadow puppets, which are taken out and given offerings by the dalang. It also happens to be very unlucky to be born during that week. Such a child is prone to illness and injury from Kala, the demon god.

To cure the baby an elaborate ceremony called ‘sudamala’ is carried out by a dalang after a day or night shadow puppet performance. It shows the priestly nature of the dalang. He makes holy water for the exorcistic ceremony. He narrates the story of how Kala, a manifestation of Siwa, threatened to eat a pair of twin brothers born during the Tumpek Wayang week. The dalang uses particular puppets for the purpose.

This elaborate ceremony is also performed when someone suffers an unnatural death, for example, a fatal accident. It may also be performed during a cremation, and is used to ensure a person’s health.

This small wayang set comprises the puppets for the Kayonan, Batara Siwa, Tualen, Sangyang Widi Wasa, and the wooden stand.

Press Price/Order for enlarged photos of each puppet, but note that they are being sold as a set and not individually:-

Wayang Kulit: Kayonan

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 69.5 cm , width 29.5 cm

Wayang Kulit: Batara Siwa

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 63 cm, width 16 cm

Wayang Kulit: Tualen

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint Style: Bali
Size: Height 58 cm, width 18.5 cm

Sanghyang Widi Wasa

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 52 cm, width 14 cm

Background: Sanghyang Widi Wasa is the Supreme God.

Order Number: BSP10

To order Wayang Kulit set for the Sudamala ceremony:

Wayang Kulit: Merdah

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 54 cm, width 19.5 cm
Order Number: BSP12

Wayang Kulit: Melem

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 54 cm, width 21.5 cm
Order Number: BSP13

Wayang Kulit: Sangut

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 58 cm, width 21 cm
Order Number: BSP14

Merdah 2

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 44.5 cm, width 16 cm
Order Number: BSP15

Tualen 2

Material: Buffalo hide, wood, paint
Style: Bali
Size: Height 58.5 cm, width 20 cm
Order Number: BSP16

Wayang Kulit 1: Shadow Puppets

Wayang Kulit 2: Shadow Puppets (Plain)

Wayang Kulit 3: Balinese Shadow Puppets

Wayang Kulit 4: Balinese Wayang Kancil

Wayang Klitik Puppets

Wayang Klitik Dupara Puppets

Murni's Collection of Shadow Puppets (to be sold only as a collection)