The Magical Lake

Video extract from 'The Birth of Rahwana' a wayang performance given at the British Library on 29 May 2008 by dhalang Matthew Isaac Cohen, accompanied by members of the Southbank Gamelan Players with pesindhen Esther Wilds.

The three children of the sage, Resi Gotama, have been quarrelling. Resi Gotama chides them, and they show him an amulet they have found, which is a cupu, or magical locket, belonging to their mother.

Resi Gotama calls his wife to him. In his anger he (accidentally) curses her and she turns to stone.

The extract starts at this point. Still angry Resi Gotama flings the amulet from him and tells his children that whoever can find it, can keep it.

They run off to begin the search and come upon a lake. They dive into this - and are turned into monkeys. Resi Gotama subsequently renames his children Sugriwa, Subali and Anjali and instructs them to do harsh devotions to achieve nobility.

This extract was taken from the dhalang's side of the screen. From the shadow side the waving kayon helps to create a magical underwater scene.