Rangda
/ˈraŋ.də/noun
A fearsome witch-queen or demoness figure in Balinese mythology and ritual drama.
Did you know?Rangda is a central figure in Balinese exorcistic dance dramas, where her battle with the protective Barong stages the cosmic struggle between destructive power and order.
Etymological Timeline
Balinese tradition
Balinese
rangda
“A terrifying witch or demon queen in myth and ritual performance”
20th Century
English
Rangda
“A transliterated name used in writing about Balinese mythology and performance”
Modern scholarship
English
Rangda
“The standard English form for the Balinese mythic figure”
Ancient/indigenous background
Balinese
rangda
“A local ritual and mythic designation whose deeper premodern origin is not securely established in widely cited reference works”