The Arjunawiwaha epic tells the story of one of the Panca Pandawa knights named Arjuna, who was asked by his brothers to meditate on Mount Mahameru and ask gods for a powerful weapon that would ensure the Pandawa family's victory in the Bharatayudha war against the Kauravas. When Arjuna was meditating on Mount Mahameru, the gods didn't give him the weapons he asked for so easily. In fact, the gods tempted Arjuna by sending seven beautiful angels to Arjuna's hermitage, two of whom were called Supraba and Tilottama. However, the seven angels eventually failed to break Arjuna. Then a king of giants, Newata Kawaca, found out that Arjuna was meditating on Mount Mahamera, and summoned Momosimuka, a giant with a pig's head, to turn into a giant pig and destroy Mount Mahamera. Arjuna decided to leave his hermitage. At that moment Lord Indra came disguised as a hunter. Together with Arjuna, the hunter then killed the giant pig sent by the giant king Newata Kuwaca. Arjuna triumphed in the war that followed. Due to Arjuna's prowess and determination, Lord Shiva and Lord Indra obtained the gift of a powerful weapon to defeat the Kauravas and maintain balance in the universe.
Nonverbal.
About the theatre:
Sanggar Paripurna Theatre was founded on 1st April 1990 by the multi-talented artist I Made Sidia in the village of Bona, about 50 km from Bali's capital Denpasar. His work involves various artistic disciplines such as puppetry, wayang, percussion, dance, acting, carving and other. Sanggar Paripurna is a centre for the preservation, development and creation of Balinese art and culture. Currently, the studio has approx. 600 members of different ages and professions. Thanks to the ingenuity of I Made Sidia, Sanggar Paripurna produces creative and innovative works of art based on the traditional values of Balinese culture that I Made Sidia upholds. Sanggar Paripurna is the most internationally prominent Balinese puppet theatre company. It has won numerous awards and is considered a contemporary platform for the development of puppetry and related arts in Indonesia. The visit of the ensemble gives Central European audiences a unique opportunity to experience the art of Balinese puppetry in its original form.
