Pandu (Pandu Dewanata), foster father of the Pandava brothers
Place of OriginTegal, Central Java, Indonesia
Dateperhaps 1800-1900
MaterialsWood, cloth and mixed media
DimensionsH. 24 in x W. 7 1/2 in x D. 4 1/4 in, H. 61 cm x W. 19 cm x D. 10.8 cm
Credit LineFrom The Mimi and John Herbert Collection
Object number2023.73
DepartmentSoutheast Asian Art
ClassificationsTheatrical Arts
On View
Not on viewCharacters from the Mahabharata: The Great Chronicle of the Bharata Dynasty
These rod puppets (wayang golek) depict characters from the Mahabharata, an Indian epic involving the battle between the Pandava (Pandawa) brothers and their cousins the Kaurava (Kaurawa) brothers. The Mahabharata has been known for centuries in Indonesia and has been adapted and embellished there with the addition of new characters and episodes. The jesters Semar, Cepot, Petruk, and Togog are purely Javanese creations.
Note: The characters’ Indian names are followed in parentheses by their Indonesian names.
perhaps 1800-1900
perhaps 1800-1900
perhaps 1800-1900
perhaps 1800-1900
perhaps 1800-1900