Rangda

Rangda

The Witch Queen; The Widow; The Demon Queen

ORIGIN:

Bali

Rangda is Bali’s Queen of Witches and Lady of the Night. She is a goddess of occult power, fertility, menstruation, menopause, and death. She is a spirit of chaos, both in its negative sense and as a force that shakes up stagnation, allowing something new to be born.

Rangda plays a prominent part in Balinese barong dance theatre, where she appears as the personification of wickedness. Just like the evil witch-queens in Disney cartoons, Rangda typically steals the show and is the source of much amusement. She is a troublemaker, for instance causing menopausal women to become pregnant. Menopausal women who would like to become pregnant should take note. Rangda is the spirit to approach, although she can be fierce and terrifying. She is not sweet and cuddly, even to those she favours.

Rangda is an angry spirit: she was defamed and oppressed even when alive. After death, she became a queen of witches and the butt of shivery amusement in Barong. Rangda is the mother of Erlangga, tenth century King of Bali. Her husband, Erlangga’s father, ostracized and condemned her because of his disapproval of her occult, shamanic practices.

Rangda has a strong sense of humor and a taste for the absurd. She enjoys overturning conventional wisdom. She is the matron of defiant, unconventional older women and a teacher of the occult arts.

Upon her husband’s death, Rangda amassed an army of spirits against Erlangga. She cast a spell causing his soldiers to kill themselves, not their enemies by stabbing their own bodies with their poisoned daggers. Rangda lost the war, as she always loses in Barong dance. Nevertheless, her spell remains so powerful that even today a weak dancer may injure himself with his dagger.

In Barong, Rangda is always impersonated by a man. Although the performances are also major tourist attractions, they remain sacred dances and an element of spiritual possession is involved. Balinese tradition suggests that if a woman danced Rangda, so much power would be transmitted it could potentially lead to the destruction of Bali.

Because Rangda is potentially dangerous, Cepuk (pronounced “cheh-poo”) cloth is traditionally associated with her. These sacred handmade ikat ritual cloths serve various purposes, including exorcism:

• They keep dangerous forces at bay.

• They purify the participants in magic and healing ceremonies.

• Cepuk protects and empowers individuals during their dealings with the supernatural.

Rangda is a pre-Hindu spirit of Bali, incorporated into the Hindu pantheon as a path of Durga and Kali.

FAVOURED PEOPLE:

Occult practitioners, widows, crones

MANIFESTATION:

Rangda has tusks; big, prominent teeth; and long, pendulous striped breasts. Fire spews from her tongue. She has wild, disheveled hair and long claws.

ICONOGRAPHY:

Rangda’s image is among the most popular Balinese carved masks.

Time:

Night

SEE ALSO:

Durga; Kali and the Glossary entry for Path

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.