Samiaji

He is also called RADEN YUDISTIRA or DARMAKUSUMAH. He is the king of Amartapura and the oldest of five brothers 'PANDAWA LIMA'. He was a very patient king and was never angry, he never told a lie. Having these characteristics, in the world of wayang he said to have 'white blood'. His famous charm is the 'layang kalimusada' which has power to keep enemies away and to save himself. SAMIAJI is a symbol of honesty and patience.

Rama / Sri Rama

In the RAMAYANA classical story which is known through out the world, he was Shinta's Husband. His wife was kidnapped by RAHWANA a gigantic king. With the help of HANOMAN, the white monkey, he released her however he was doubtful whether his beloved was still a virgin. To prove her innocence RAMA granted her request to burn herself, but the fire didn't burn his wife, proving that she is still a virgin. A symbol of a loving husband who takes care of his wife.

Rahwana

RAHWANA was a cruel, immoral giant, his appearance was terrifying. He crushed everybody who was against him. He was very strong, had tremendous magical power, he could not die even his body has been torn apart to pieces, as long as part of his flesh touch the earth. This magical power was called AJI PANCASONA. Even Gods were afraid of him, that's why he was given to marry a Goddess, TARI, but it could not stop his lust for other women. He wanted also SHINTA, the wife of RAMA WIJAYA, a powerful warrior. He kidnapped her and held her until she was saved by Hunaman and Rama.

Mahesa Sura

The buffalo soldeir. Also a symbol used to represent the higher officials or Mayor of a town.

Kijang Kencana

Kijang Kencana : Golden Deer In order to realize his idea, Rahwana commutes one of his followers named Marica to a deer called Kijang Kencana so as to attract Shinta. Being interested in the beauty of the deer, Shinta asks Rama to capture the deer for her. Rama leaves Shinta accompanied by Leksmana and start hunting the deer. After waiting for a long time, Shinta becomes nervous as Rama has not arrived yet. She asks Leksmana to look for Rama. Before leaving Shinta alone, Leksmana draws a magic circle on the ground so as to protect her from any possible danger. As soon as Rahwana notices that Shinta has been left alone, Rahwana tries to kidnap Shinta but he fails because of the magic circle which protects her life. Then he changes to be an old Brahmana. As soon as Shinta gets out from the magic circle to give alms to Brahmana, Brahmana (Rahwana) takes her and fly her to Alengka Kingdom.

Rama shoots at the deer with bow and arrow, but the deer commutes to a giant. A war out breaks between Rama and Marica. The giant is shot dead with Rama's arrow. Later on Leksmana arrives and requests Rama to return to Shinta's place.

Jendral

One of the famous Dutch generals in the stories. His face is red due to the belief it was easy for the Dutch to become sun burnt.

Jakatawang (Antasena)

Jakatawang (Antasena) Bima's third wife was Dewi Urang Ayu, the daughter of Sang Hyang Baruna, a powerful god living under the ocean. Baruna was a very good god, he had helped several kings such as Arjuna Sasrabahu, Rama etc. Urang Ayu gave birth to Antasena, another warrior with strong magical ability. He could kill his enemies by spitting over his poison. In battle or war, he was very dangerous.

He was good and honest, but like Bima he spoke to everyone in Ngoko language, (the lowest level of language, spoke between friends, the refined one is Kromo language, used to respected or elder people). He was very much concern for the victory of Pendawa in Baratayuda. He was advised by his grand-father to ask to Sang Hyang Wenang, the greatest decision-maker of life, the grand-father of Batara Guru. Antasena made an audience to Sang Hyang Wenang and ask him what he supposed to do, to secure Pandawa’s victory. Sang Hayang Wenang told him, that he had to be a Tumbal (spiritual tool to gain something) for Pendawa. In other word, he had to sacrifice his life. Antasena loving his parents very much, had no objection. Sang Hyang Wenang stared sharply, using his extraordinary powerful eyes at Antasena’s face, focused on a spot between his eyes. Astonishingly, Antasena’s body became smaller and smaller, at last he vanished. His soul returned to heaven. Thus, he did not take part in Baratayuda. This puppet is featured in 'Voices of the Puppet Masters".

Guwarsa (Sugriwa)

Guwarsa (Sugriwa). The tranquile life of the hermit in Mt. Sukendra was disturbed by Betara/god Surya, who had a reputation to play around with beautiful women. He made a love affairs with the attractive Windradi. He gave a wonderful toy, called Cupumanik Astagina. Through it, all wonders of the world and what was happening in the world, could be seen clearly.Windradi gave the toy to her daughter, Anjani. But her brothers wanted also to have it. They were quarreling noisely for the toy. Resi Gotama saw the toy and he knew what had been happened. He could not control his anger, he cursed his wife to be a stone statue. His two sons became monkeys and also Anjani’s face, hands and feet. Her sexy body remained intact. Resi Gotama did not want to live anymore in this dirty world. With Guru’s consent, he was transformed to be a god and permitted to live in the abode of gods. Windradi, as a punishment had to remain stone statue for several years. Dewi Anjani’s sexy body had tempted Betara Guru himself and a son in the form of a white monkey (Ketek Putih), Anoman was born. In Javanese mystics, Ketek Putih was a name of a powerful Aji-Aji/mantra. It was said that Ketek Putih could be the fastest messenger in the world, doing any task, instructed by the owner. Anjani, after the birth of Anoman, as the wife of Guru, lived in the abode of gods. Resi Subali, was killed by Rama’s arrow, Guwa Wijaya. Prabu Sugriwa, became the king of Gua Kiskenda, the kingdom of the monkeys. He and the whole army of monkeys served faithfully to Rama to free Sinta from Alengka. He married to Dewi Tara and had a son Anggada, who became the chief-warrior of the kingdom.

Ganesha

Ganeshaovercomes obstacles and is a favorite god among the Balinese. He is the son of Siwa, the God of Creation and Destruction, and Parvati. Shortly after conception, the gods went to visit Siwa and Parvati, taking with them a great elephant. Parvati was terrified at seeing the huge beast. The image became so imprinted in her mind, that she gave birth to the elephant-headed Ganesha.

Drupadi

DRUPADI was Samiaji's wife, a woman with a strong personality. In the story she was once at a state celebration and was embarrassed by Dursasana, a king from Astina, who loosened the knot of her hair. She than swore that she would never wear her hair in a knot again until she first washed her hair with Dursasana's blood. Her desire was fulfilled in the BRATAYUDA was after Dursasana had been killed by Bima.

Cakil Gendir perjauh

Evil demon giant that touches his nose with his tongue

Bull (Andini)

In one beautiful afternoon, god Guru & his wife, goddess Uma riding his bull Andini encircling the world. The scenery was very beautiful, god Guru also saw that his wife was also very beautiful. At once, he wanted to make love with her. Despite her rejection that it was not a proper time & place to make love, Guru in the peak of sexual desire forced her. While he reached orgasm, goddess Uma pushed him, freed herself from his strong embrace which was full of lust. Thus, his sperms fell into the sea and became a big bad giant - Kala. So Kala was a mistaken product. Due to mistake, Kala, a son of gods, became an ogre giant who wished to eat only human flesh.

Batara Narada

Narada is Batara guru's advisor. a very wise man and a prominent character in many of the Wayang Golek stories.

Batara Guru

Batara Guru: He is the king of all gods in the wayang classic and Siwa the Destroyer in the Hindu pantheon. Father of Hunaman. Betara Guru or Sang Hyang Manikmaya, the son of Sang Hyang Tunggal, the grand-son of Sang Hyang Wenang was the king of all gods and lived in the abode of gods, Suralaya. He was also assigned by his father as the power holder of the universe.

He was very wise and had a very refined behavior. But sometimes he behaved like ordinary human-beings, he also made mistakes. A Guru (teacher) had to act carefully, politely and wisely, otherwise he could do something which was harmful to others and to himself. For his misdeeds, he had received appropriate punishment. He had no perfect body anymore. He had weak legs, four arms, skin blemish on his neck and a tusk in his mouth as predicted by his father. When he was young Sang Hyang Tunggal had told him that he would had some physical defects if he did not behave in a good manner. He regretted very much his mistakes.Having a tusk lika a giant was a curse from his wife, Dewi Uma, because he could not control his lust. Dewi Uma as a goddess should not curse as it was against the wise teachings. Once he forced to make love with his wife in an unproper place, as the result: a scary god-giant, Kala was born. Kala always disturbed the peaceful life of human-beings.

Other time, he could not stop his desire, seeing a half-naked Anjani bathing in a lake. Anoman, a white monkey was born, luckily Anoman turned to be a wise monkey. Despite his human mistakes, he had done many positive things to preserve a good and correct life in the universe.

Anoman

Anoman, known as the white monkey, was known as the Helper God and he is being loved throughout India. His role in the story was helping Rama find Shinta. He was the one who finally found Shinta and showed her the ring, proving that he was sent by Rama. He was a good character in the story and now became known as a Helper God. He sacrificed his life along with Rama to find Shinta, and rescued her. He is recognized by his talons for hands which he uses for weapons. Nephew to Sugriwa and Subali

Anjani

Anjani : Mother of Hanuman, sister of Sugriwa and Subali he tranquile life of the hermit in Mt. Sukendra was disturbed by Betara/god Surya, who had a reputation to play around with beautiful women. He made a love affairs with the attractive Windradi. He gave a wonderful toy, called Cupumanik Astagina. Through it, all wonders of the world and what was happening in the world, could be seen clearly. Windradi gave the toy to her daughter, Anjani. But her brothers wanted also to have it. They were quarreling noisely for the toy. Resi Gotama saw the toy and he knew what had been happened. He could not control his anger, he cursed his wife to be a stone statue. His two sons (Subali and Sugriwa) became monkeys and also Anjani’s face, hands and feet. Her sexy body remained intact. (see Ramayana).Resi Gotama did not want to live anymore in this dirty world. With Guru’s consent, he was transformed to be a god and permitted to live in the abode of gods. Windradi, as a punishment had to remain stone statue for several years. Dewi Anjani’s sexy body had tempted Betara Guru himself and a son in the form of a white monkey (Ketek Putih), Anoman (Hunaman) was born. In Javanese mystics, Ketek Putih was a name of a powerful Aji-Aji/mantra. It was said that Ketek Putih could be the fastest messenger in the world, doing any task, instructed by the owner. Anjani, after the birth of Anoman, as the wife of Guru, lived in the abode of gods. Resi Subali, was killed by Rama’s arrow, Guwa Wijaya.

Anggada

Depending on which version of the story to be told Anggada is either the son of Vali (Subali) or Sugriwa. In the most popular Indonesian telling Prabu Sugriwa, became the king of Gua Kiskenda, the kingdom of the monkeys. He and the whole army of monkeys served faithfully to Rama to free Sinta from Alengka. He married to Dewi Tara and had a son Anggada, who became the chief-warrior of the kingdom. In more classic stories he is the son of Vali(Subali) and Tara. Sugriwa is asked to care for him when Rama slays Vali with his arrow. He later became the captain of the army which helped saved Shinta. He served under Hunaman and remained loyal to Rama

Bima

Bima : is stupendously strong. He is also unsuspicious, generous, loyal and a ferocious warrior. He moves with abrupt, long steps, his voice scares enemies. His most singular feature is a pair of huge talon-like thumbnails, fearsome weapons in time of war. It symbolized honesty, strictness and bravely but also he is stubborn and sometimes impolite. Father of Raden Gotot Kaca,Antesena, and Antareja. His wife was Arimbi. He is the second of the five famous Pandawa brothers

Arjuna

Arjuna, the third of five brothers 'PANDAWA LIMA'. He is esteemed for his beauty, refinement, intelligence, skills as an archer and warrior. He was married many times and had many lovers. to this day the name Arjuna is tied to a man known as a womanizer.

Semar Son's

In Wayang, the ksatria of Pandawa, especially Arjuna was always accompanied by their loyal servants clown, by the name of Ponokawan. Semar and his sons Gareng, Petruk and Bagong are the servants of kings and ksatrias with good behavior fighting for the truth. Togog and Bilung, on the contrary are serving bad rulers and knights.Although they are only servants with ugly faces and disproportional bodies, but they are very wise and good advisers.

Semar, a very fat man with big belly and enormous buttock has an uncontrollable disposition for farting.

Petruk, a tall man with a very long nose.

Gareng, with his misshapen arms and cross-eyes.

Cepot (Bagong), With a squat body and has very big eyes.

They are joking most of the time and ridicule each other but they reflect wisdom and truth. Ponokawan (pono means clear vision, clever and Kawan means companion, who are clever with clear vision, can give a wise advice.

Semar

Semar or Sang Hyang Ismoyo is the elder brother of the supreme god - Guru. He is assigned to live in the earth to escort ksatrias. Figures of Semar and Ponokawan are purely Javanese Wayang. The words of Semar are from sengsem (to lure) and Marsudi (to search, to do) meaning one is lured to search or do good things. The other names of Semar are : 1. Badranaya : Badra means dark cloud; Naya means face. As a clever man, one has to have a bright face (happy, do not appear with dark face). 2. Bojagati : boja (food) symbolizing knowledge, gati (real, true) meaning a true and correct knowledge. So, it is meant a wise man always teaches a true and correct lesson.

White tufted hair (Kuncung Putih)
Kuncung : tufted of hair above forehead
Putih : white
Semar with kuncung putih indicates that he is a wise man, a perfect meditator.

White face of Semar Symbolizing a teacher with a kind and honest face, his pupils shall follow all his instruction gladly. On the contrary, a teacher with a black face, the pupils shall abide the instruction because they are afraid of him.

One tooth of Semar means A teacher should speak only of the truth.

Black body of Semar Means "Don't do anything wrong to achieve your goals".

Asep Sunandar Sunarya

This is the great Dalang himself. Asep has had one of the greatest influences in the modern state of the Wayang Golek. Asep has been responsible for bringing back the popularity. He has incorporated modern influences with clowns that stick out there tongues and heads that explode. while he has kept many of the old traditions alive he has also brought in his own special sense of entertainment. He has made the performances entertaining as well as educational.

Puppets on the Stage