CIOUS 9 ART & Traditional Markets in Bali , | Page 69

Photo by Dejuli A.Putra

Calonarang is probably the darkest and the
strongest character ever told in Balinese history. She
was a widow, lived under the Daha Empire with her
beautiful daughter. Between a mother who cared about
her virgin daughter and her bad reputation on the village
for all damaged farmers’ crops and caused disease,
Calonarang could never find someone who would want
to be a husband for her girl. Everybody were too afraid
of the mother, Calonarang was angry and she intended
to take revenge by kidnapping a young girl. She brought
the girl to a temple to be sacrificed to the goddess
Durga. The next day, a great flood engulfed the village
and many people died. Disease also appeared.
King Airlangga, who had heard of this matter, then

Photo by Dejuli A.Putra

Photo by Dejuli A.Putra

asked for his advisor, Empu Baradah, to deal with this
problem. Empu Baradah then sent his disciple, Empu
Bahula, to be married to Ratna. Both were married with
a huge feast that lasted seven days and seven nights,
and the situation returned to normal.
Calonarang had a book that contained magic
incantations. One day, this book was found by Empu
Bahula, who turned it over to Empu Baradah. As soon
as Calonarang knew that the book had been stolen, she
became angry and decided to fight Empu Baradah.
Without the help of Durga, Calonarang was defeated.
Since she was defeated, the village was safe from the
threat of Calonarang’s black magic.
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