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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

Wayang Kulit performances are shadow-puppet performances, which are sacred and form part of many ceremonies in village and family temples.

This ancient form of storytelling featues handcrafted puppets and complex musical styles which originated on the Indonesian island of Java and flourished for more than ten centuries at the royal courts of Java and Bali.

The performances bring together visual art, vocal and instrumental music, drama, literature and dance. There is a screen between the puppeteer and the audience, lit by an oil lamp.

The puppets are made of leather and the stem of buffalo horn. They look great, backlit, perhaps placed against a window.

The Wayang Puppet Theatre was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in November 2003.

Many of the stories are from the Indian epic, the Mahabarata, which is the tale of a dispute between the 5 Pandawa brothers and their cousins, the 99 Kurawa brothers (and one sister), which ends in a great 18 day battle, known as the Baratayuda.

Stories are also from the other Indian epic, the Ramayana.

To order: make sure pop ups are allowed.

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Bambang Somantri



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: He established a great centre of learning and served as a minister in the court of Arjuna Sasrabahu. He killed his brother, the giant Sukasrana, by mistake, when he aimed his weapon at him at the wedding celebrations of Arjuna Sasrabahu.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS6A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS6B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS6C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Nakula



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Nakula is the fourth of 5 princely Pandawa brothers and the twin of Sahadewa. He's known for his horsemanship.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS12A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS12B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS12C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Gatotkaca



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Gatotkaca becomes commander-in-chief of the Pandawa's country, which is called Amarta. He is a great hero and performs courageous deeds. He's intelligent, strong, good, and respects his elders.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS20A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS20B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS20C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Wibisana



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Wibisana is Rawana's brother, but he went over to Rama's side, and was disowned when he advised returning Sita to Rama. He is a noble character.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS21A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS21B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS21C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Bisma



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS33A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS33B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS33C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Jembowati



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS34A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS34B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS34C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Hanuman



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: In the Ramayana epic, Hanuman is Lord of the monkeys, and leads his army against the wicked Rawana, who abducted King Rama's beautiful wife, Sita. After a long and terrible war, he defeats and kills Rawana.

He holds the audience enraptured with his antics and humor and impresses with his devotion to Rama. He is an important Hindu deity.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS39A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS39B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS39C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Sahadewa

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Sahadewa is the fifth of 5 princely Pandawa brothers and the twin of Nakula. He's an expert in mysticism and magic spells.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS40A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS40B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS40C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Kamajaya

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS41A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS41B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS41C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Ciptoning

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS42A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS42B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS42C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Yudistira

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Wayang Kulit performances are used for moral guidance. Yudistira is one character who is frequently invoked. He is the oldest of the 5 princely Pandawa brothers and is semi-divine. He is a model leader, never lying or showing anger. He rules his kingdom with perfect justice. He has no weapon, unlike the other heroes, but he does have the Kalimasada, which is a holy book containing the secrets of religion and the universe.

No showy ornaments, his aristocratic head gently inclined, he is the ideal Priest-King, but he does have a weakness for gambling. He loses his kingdom to his cousins in a game of dice.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS43A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS43B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS43C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Batara Guru

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Batara Guru is the king of the gods. Batara is a title for a high god. He is also the king of the 3 Worlds: the upper, middle and lowest spheres. His 4 arms symbolize great power.

He is represented frontally, with head in profile, and feet turned outward. This is unlike the other puppets.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS44A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS44B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS44C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Arjuna

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: Arjuna is the third of 5 princely Pandawa brothers. His mission is to fight evil and uphold virtue. He is a hero in battle, fearless but refined, attractive to women, and capable of great asceticism. He has many wives and lovers. In contrast to Bima, he represents physical grace and gentleness, qualities the Javanese traditionally prize highly.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS45A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS45B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS45C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Sita

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS46A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS46B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS46C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Rama

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Background: According to the Ramayana, Kausalya gave birth to two sons, Rama and Lesmono. Dasarata was their father.

Lesmono went with Rama and Sita into the forest. He was a determined celibate. Dasamuka's younger sister, Sarpakenaka, fell in love with him but was rebuffed. She persisted and he cut off her nose and ears. She complained to her brother, who saw it as an opportunity to have revenge for the time Dasarata won over the two women he had been interested in.

He sent her husband, Maritja, to assume the form of a golden deer to tempt Sita away. Sita asked Rama to catch the deer. Marjita drew Rama deep into the forest. Sita was worried and sent Lesmono to find her husband, which he did although Rama had forbidden Lesmono to leave her.

Dasamuka appeared as an old ascetic and lured Sita out of the magic circle Rama had put her in. Dasamuka flew off with her to Langka. Rama declared war.

After the war Rama and Sita were reunited and returned to Ayodhya with Lesmono and Hanuman. Baroto, who had been regent, welcomed them back and Rama was crowned.

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS47A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS47B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS47C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Pancawala

Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 31 cm (including stand), width 12 cm
Order Number: PS48A

Medium:

Height 47 cm (including stand), width 15.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
Order Number: PS48B

Large:

Height 69.5 cm (including stand), width 18 cm
Order Number: PS48C

Wayang Kulit (Plain): Kayonan



Material: Buffalo hide, buffalo horn
Style: Java

Small:

Height 45 cm (including stand), width 18.5 cm
Order Number: PS49A

Medium:

Height 65 cm (including stand), width 28 cm
Order Number: PS49B

Large:

Height 83 cm (including stand), width 37 cm
Order Number: PS49C

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