Rangda

"RANGDA" (WIDOW) IS THE "WITCH GODDESS OF BALI" AND THE "QUEEN OF SORCERY "AND A SYMBOL OF DARKNESS. SHE IS THE ANCIENT WIDOW WHO DANCES OVER GRAVES. SHE IS A SOURCE OF SUPERNATURAL POWER, AND IS DEPICTED AS A NUDE OLD WOMAN WITH LARGE BREASTS, LONG AND TANGLED RED HAIR (REPRESENTING WILDERNESS), SHARP TEETH, AND FLAMES SPEWING FROM HER MOUTH. SHE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEA...WHICH MOST BALINESE FEAR. SHE POSSESSES RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE AND DRIVES THEM TO SINFUL BEHAVIOR. SHE IS THE MODEL OF UNTAMED FERTILITY THAT CAN BECOME DANGEROUS.

SHE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF EVIL WHO POSSESSES RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE AND DRIVES THEM TO SINFUL BEHAVIOR. ALTHOUGH SHE IS CONSTANTLY DEFEATED BY THE FORCES OF GOOD. RANGDA ALWAYS TURNS TO BATTLE AGAIN. SHE IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDIAN GODDESS, "DURGA", AND MAY ALSO BE LINKED TO KALI, THE DARK MOTHER OF DESTRUCTION, TRANSFORMATION, AND PROTECTION IN HINDUISM.

YET, WHILE MANY MAY SEE HER AS FEARSOME, IF TREATED WELL, SHE IS ACTUALLY TO BE CONSIDERED A PROTECTIVE FORCE IN SOME PARTS OF BALI, AND IN THIS FORM, SHE IS SOMETIMES DESCRIBED AS BEAUTIFUL. HER COLORS ARE BLACK, WHITE, AND READ. THE BALINESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BY INCLUDING "RANGDA" IN RITUAL DRAMAS, THEY HOLD THE DANGERS OF CHAOS IN CHECK.