The Mythological Creature
Mythology of Java and Bali (Charcoal candidates)

Calon Arang is a figure in Javanese and Balinese folklore from the 12th century. It is no longer known who made up this story. A very important copy of the Latin text is in the Netherlands, namely in the Journal of Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-en Volkenkunde 82 (1926) pages 110-180.

(Acts

It is said that Calon Arang was a widow of the ruler of black magic who often damaged the crops of farmers and caused the arrival of disease. She had a daughter named Ratna Manggali, who, though beautiful, could not find a husband because people were afraid of her mother. Because of the difficulties faced by his daughter, Calon Arang was angry and he was intent on taking revenge by kidnapping a young girl. She took him to a temple to be sacrificed to Goddess Durga. The next day, a great flood hit the village and many people died. Disease also appeared.

King Erlangga who knew of this then asked the help of his advisor, Empu Baradah to overcome this problem. Empu Baradah then sent a student named Empu Bahula to be married to Ratna. The two married massively with a party that lasted seven days and seven nights, and things returned to normal.

Candidate Arang has a book that contains magic. One day, this book was found by Bahula who handed it to Empu Baradah. When Candidate Arang found out that her book had been stolen, she became angry and decided to fight Empu Baradah. Without the help of Goddess Durga, Calon Arang also lost. Since he was defeated, the village was safe from the threat of black magic Calon Arang.

Story development

Prolog Editing

At first the atmosphere in the Kingdom of Daha (Kadiri) was very peaceful. The king of Daha was named Erlangga. There lived a widow, named Calon Arang, who had a beautiful son, named Ratna Manggali. They both lived in the village of Girah, in the territory of the Daha Kingdom.

Although beautiful, many men in the kingdom are not willing to ask for it. This is due to the actions of his mother who likes to wait. This caused the anger of Charcoal Candidate. That's why he recited a plague spell, so that a terrible disaster struck the village of Girah, and in the end struck Daha. The plague caused many residents of the area to get sick and die. Because the plague hit Daha, then King Airlangga was angry and tried to fight. But the power of the King can not match the power of Calon Arang, so the King ordered Empu Baradah to fight Candidate Arang.

Empu Baradah Consultation Edit

To defeat Candidate Charcoal, Empu Baradah took a strategy. He ordered his disciple, Bahula, to propose Ratna Manggali. After becoming the son-in-law of Candidate Arang, then Bahula get the ease to take the spell book Candidate Arang and given to Empu Baradah.

Editing Epilogue

After his book was obtained by Bahula, Calon Arang was conquered by Empu Baradah.

Analyzers

Often in the world of this story is only highlighted about the cruelty and crime of Candidate Arang. In the historical perspective, the character of Calon Arang or Rangda is associated with the figure of Mahendradatta, the queen of Bali from Java, as well as the mother of king Airlangga. Candidate Arang is described as a witch who has a scary face. However, today comes analyses that are more in favor of Charcoal Candidates. He was a victim of the patriarchal society of his time. The story of Candidate Arang is a picture as well as a criticism of women's discrimination.[1]