Balinese Kala Rahu Leyak Carving

Balinese Kala Rahu Leyak Carving
36 x 24 cm (14 x 9.5 inches)

An interesting and fascinating representation of a Balinese Leyak (a spook, ghost or witch) referencing the Kala Rahu myth in which the demon swallows the sun and moon and causes the eclipses (see below).  This is a free-standing sculpture carved in suar (rain tree) wood by the highly-regarded Balinese artist Wayan Asin, who for years has specialized in carving leyaks, spooks and other shamanic subjects.  Very few Balinese would dare to work with Leyak imagery.

It is carved from part of a hollowed-out tree trunk and looks wonderful lit from behind.  The carving is in perfect condition save for a short barely noticeable (stable) hairs-breadth split between the first and second curl from the left.

We were keen to support the work of this artist and this carving is one of several we purchased from him between 1993 and 2005.

When the demon Kala Rahu stole the elixir of immortality from the gods, the sun and the moon saw him. They told Vishnu and he sent a lightning bolt to cut off Kala Rahu’s head.  However, he already had the elixir in his mouth so his head became immortal and his body died.  In revenge the demon’s head chases the sun and the moon around the sky and occasionally catches and swallows them causing the eclipses, and as they pass through the opening at the neck the eclipse ends. The Balinese bang pots and pans during a solar eclipse to frighten Kala Rahu.