Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

Balinese mythology is not a distant topic that Balinese children study in school and promptly forget.  How could they? it’s all around…  After just a few days here, we have zero grounding to talk authoritatively about the individual actors in the complex cosmology, except to observe that there is a cast of characters who are the interface between mere humans and gods.These creatures, represented in stone carvings near every temple and shrine, and it seems in people’s homes too, are pretty scary looking.  Yet, they are not demons in traditional terms, as they can, we are told, play a positive role in the protection of the household, in certain circumstances.For now, we can only open this topic with a wink at a more learned set of observations down the road. Suffice to say that with the scary depictions of these demi-gods, it is perhaps not surprising that the Balinese to this day continue to make offerings at frequent intervals.Who would want to anger one of these guys?

Temple guardian covered in moss at the Sacred Monkey Forest.

Check out the fangs on this demon: a very surprising finding is that the Balinese routinely have teeth filing ceremonies to file down pointy teeth which are associated with animals and demi gods.

Temple creature: not kissing baby, but about to devour baby.

This 3D carved stone frieze depicts lions about to be released to eat the men tied to the trees.

This 3D frieze, on the walls of a temple in the Sacred Forest depicts  women being ravaged by animal demons.

The serpent/dragon/creature sits atop the balistrade of the stairs in the forest.

Scary looking female sculpture guarding entrance to a temple.

Any doubt that these creatures are meant to be the portrayers of all things evil?

The ugly demon inside all of us…