- On February 18, I got a reply comment from Jim, who writes the blog: RoadToParnassus. His last post was: Happy Snake Year, in regard to February 10, the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
- Jim is always showing the most interesting oriental collections and this time it was all about snakes.
- My comment in regard to his last picture was about the Hindu Deity Hanuman, or Hanoman in Indonesian.
- We do have two Hanuman statues in wood and they both show this Hindu God fighting a snake. You can find a link about: {Our Veranda} below this post.
- He suggested I show a photo of our statue. So this is in reply to his request.
- What better way to start with our Indonesian Foster Daughter Anita, with the tall wooden Hanuman statue from Bali to the left.
- Husband Pieter did receive this heavy 'Iron' wood statue from our boss in Indonesia in the 1970s. Iron wood is derived from the Metrosideros excelsa. Images of iron wood (click)
- Hanuman is a Monkey God in the Hindu religion, believed to be an albino, a white monkey.
- He fought evil and won. Symbolic, Pieter did give them good advise so the problems in their mushroom business went away.
Found the best description at Week-end à Maurice - J2 on Noushka's blog: 1000 PATTES - WILDLIFE GATEWAY
- That's how we got our first Hanuman (Sanskrit language).
- Below this post you find several links for reading more.
- COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Tekening voorstelling Hanuman in gevecht met een slang
- From the Collection of the Dutch Tropical Museum drawing representation Hanuman in fight with a snake
- The Dutch did colonize Indonesia for some 350 years so they do have lots of art in their TROPENMUSEUM.
Blogger friend Jim did write about: Happy Snake Year where his last photo looks like another Hanuman
- Okay, now let's look at our Hanuman statues.
- First I show you the smaller one we got, from Bali in May of 1983 when I went for the very first time to Indonesia. In Ubud, Bali we found this at the workshop of a wood carver with 10 children!
- Did bring them outside, near our pond against the big semi-evergreen oak tree.
- This is Lord Hanuman fighting the serpent. It is biting in his foot...
- You clearly can see the serpent/snake wrapped all around him...
- This is the back side and the snake is wrapped up around his tail...
- From the side, you also see Lord Hanuman's loin cloth draping down.
- Those Balinese wood carvers are such great artists!
- This is the tall and very heavy IRON wood Hanuman statue that was to the left of our Anita.
- It resides in our veranda and it looks a lot lighter out in the bright daylight.
- Above the loin cloth of Lord Hanuman you see the snake...
- This is from the side...
- Snake around his waist...
- With one hand he is holding the snake that is around his waist...
- Clearly the snake head in his throat...
- Closeup...
- Again, very intricate wood carving!
- Okay Jim, let's hope this did satisfy your request for showing a photo of our Hanuman statues.
- Both of us sat through such a Ramayana play with dance and beautiful costumes.
A different culture but very exotic!
Hope you enjoyed this info about our life in Indonesia.
{Our Veranda} | previous post by me
CHRISTIE'S FOUR BALINESE IVORY CARVINGS | Two carvings of Hanuman subduing naga (serpent)
Bart Laurens - Hanuman | in Dutch showing statue of Hanuman fighting with a snake
Hanuman | Story about Hanuman
The Mystery of Hanuman - Inspiring Tales from Art and Mythology | Interesting read
Lord Hanuman About the Simian God of the Hindus | Good information
Interesting post by blogger friend Rosemary: Temples, Tea and Forever England where she shows Hanuman as well.
very detailed. i normally like oriental artwork, but these are quite scary. i'm not sure i'd enjoy having them. (but i can be pretty wimpy when it comes to scary stuff.)
ReplyDeleteDear Mariette,
ReplyDeletethank you for showing us your interesting carvings! They are very detailed and tell quite a story. Of course in Indonesia, snakes would get this large and be very frightening! Thank goodness, we live in a temperate climate where snakes stay relatively small, although still very dangerous if venomous! They are beautiful and mythical carvings.
Thank you for sharing!
Hugs, Karen xoxo
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedas ist sehr interessant und aufschlussreich.
In Liebe
Elisabeth
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, snake year and my late brother would have had 60th anniversary (birthday) this year which is very important for us Japanese.
Foster Daughter Anita looks really lovely♡♡♡; for the pictures I have kind of scary feeling.
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Hi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteVery detailed pictures, lovely wood carving on these.
Enjoy your weekend
Mariette, wunderschöne Holzchnitzereien. Ich habe mir von meinen
ReplyDeleteAsienreeisen auch eine Anzahl dieser Figuren mitgebracht - allerdings
in klein.
Einen wunderschönen Samstag wünscht
Irmi
Hello Mariette, I never expected such a spectacular response to my request! Your statues do appear to be depicting the same story as my carved block. Probably these stories change slightly over time and as they travel from place to place. Your statues are boldly carved, and show the iconography quite clearly.
ReplyDeleteOften statues that look frightening are really meant to be protective and reassuring. Yours is displayed as part of a charming tableau, especially when Anita is visiting and part of the picture.
--Road to Parnassus
Wow these wood statues are beautiful! Carving is so detailed. I think I've seen this monkey god somewhere but didn't know it was called Hanuman and believed to be albino. I love learning other culture and religion!
ReplyDeleteDearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI has first time look those Balinese wood carvers are such great artists.
Iron wood Hanuman statue that was to the left of our Anita!
The snake around his weist is around in waist in the snake head in the wood carving from Bali to the left your Pieter has receive iron wood statue from your boss in Indonesia 1970S.
Thank you for sharing.
Hugs and love to you always!
Michiko
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletereally interesting, thank you for telling us :O)
Have a woncerful Easterweek,
Love and hugs
Claudia
Hi there, first of all, thanks for sharing these pictures. Although, I never seen Lord Hanuman in this form, this is something new for me to know and learn up on. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteDear Mariette - I found this a very interesting read - there is so much that we do not know or understand about these Asian religions, that every bit of information helps us in trying to comprehend more about them.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly I shall be showing the Grey Lanka Laguar monkeys that you mentioned here on my next post, and I am now aware that they too are linked to Hanuman as a result of reading this post. I know that his monkey tail was set on fire by King Ravana of Lanka who I mentioned in my post, and who abducted Sita, the wife of Lord Rama.
Such detailed and intricate artwork!
ReplyDeleteThe Balinese are a talented lot.