The Ramayana (the way, path or journey of Rama) is the massive sacred 5th century BCE Indian Hindu 24,000 verse epic, one of the largest ancient epics in existence and considered the Adi-kavya (first poem). Attributed to the poet Valmiki, it was written down during the first century A.D., although it is based on oral traditions that go back six or seven centuries earlier. It is a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day. It follows Prince Rama’s journey to rescue his treasured wife Sita from King Ravana who kidnapped her and brought her back to his palace in Lanka. Rama enlists the army of monkeys to aid him in this effort. The Ramayana is an important component of all aspects of Indian, Hindu and Balinese and culture as it is a social and moral code for how Hindus should conduct themselves and follow their spiritual goals and existence. It discusses topics that include the duties one has in relationships: how to be an ideal father, servant, brother, husband or king, contains teachings of Hindu sages and covers critical philosophical, ethical, and allegorical ideas. It is a source for Hindu religious art, theater and dance and the reference for Indonesian mask theater and dance productions. Indonesia was formerly part of the larger Hindu Mahapajit Empire (1293-1527), and Bali remains a Hindu majority. Majapahit bas relief friezes include Ramayana references.
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Rare vintage Balinese mask of Jatayu used in performances of the Ramayana. Jatayu is the Hindu mythical vahana (vehicle) of Vishnu, one of the triad of principal Hindu gods. On a museum quality stand.
Influenced by Islam for centuries, Javanese theater in Indonesia is stylized, didactic and full of central characters said to be cultural and historic icons of morality. Mask drama theater (Topeng Wayang) in Java is dominated by the conservative central Javanese palace courts (kraton) of Surakarta, Solo and Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta) which have long supported mask makers,…
This Dalem is a traditional folk-art and ethnic mask (topeng) from Bali made from pulai wood of a Hindu king (Dalem). He stares directly at the viewer while his high cheeks help express his poise and the ability to remain cool in a crisis. This is a fine example of a gifted carver able to…
This ethnic and folk-art Bali legendary court minister (topeng patih) is performed in a special mask dance named Topeng Panjegan, as only one dancer interprets five different characters wearing full face masks preventing speech. Patih manis (Sweet Minister) is often the first solo dance after a gamelan orchestra introduction, and this patih keras (strong minister)…
All ethnic mask (topeng) dances in Bali are accompanied with music from a gamelan percussion orchestra as are dramas and other entertainments considered as offerings to honor, please and attract the favor of the gods and ancestral spirits. In the west dancers put on masks to pretend they are someone else. Balinese dancers become the…
Court ministers (patih) in Bali, Indonesia are danced in mask (topeng) performances named Topeng Panjegan where a single dancer interprets 5 legendary characters wearing full face masks, cannot speak and much portray them only through gestures and body language and positions. Patih manis (literally sweet, a good natured, diplomatic minister) is often the first solo…
This is Kebo Taruna mask a powerful historical Balinese minister (patih) from the 14th century. Considered a folk-art, Hindu-cultural-and-ritual-art, ethnic art and offerings to the gods, masks are danced in a historical drama with the music of a percussion orchestra (gamelan). Balinese-masks are carved using a light durable wood called pulai that enhances pigments and…
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