Template:Bayu

Bayu – (Batara) – Mahabharata

Because Pandhu could not make love to his wife Kunthi (he had a health problem), Kunthi invited Bathara Bayu with her magical chants called Sastra Kunta Lepasing Rasa to come down from the heavens to make love to her. This was the moment that the puppet Werkodara was conceived.

Because Bathara Bayu taught Hanoman, the monkey warrior, how to be strong and control his magical forces, Hanoman said that he was his father. Hanoman, Werkudara, Gajah Situbanda (elephant), Garudha Mahambira (gigantic bird), Wil Jajalwerka (Giant), Begawan Maenaka are called kadang Bayu, which means that all of these puppets are the followers of Bathara Bayu.

Bathara Bayu and his brother Bathara Indra were cursed by their father Bathara Guru, and turned into the giants Rukmuka and Rukmakala that lived in the mountain Reksamuka. In the story of Dewa Ruci when Bratasena went to search for Kayu Gung Susuhing Angin in the mountain of Reksamuka, he was almost eaten by the two giants. Bratasena killed the two giants and he and his brother were transformed back into Bathara Bayu and Bathara Indra. Bathara Bayu gave Bratasena a new hair style called Gelung Minangkara to show his appreciation, as well as giving Bratasena the directions on how to attain aji Kasampurnan (to be with the God).

In a set of Wayang Kulit puppets, the gods generally all wear a similar uniform. All of them wear a crown like a king or have a cloth wrap for the head gear. This puppet can also replace the character of Prabu Tuhu Wasesa (Tugu Wasesa) from the Kingdom of Giling Wesi. The difference between Prabu Tuhu Wasesa and Bathara Bayu is that Prabu Tuhu Wasesa did not wear shoes. Prabu Tuhu Wasesa was actually Raden Werkudara when he was a king.

In the play Begawan Palasara Krama (marriage), Betara Bayu comes as a separator of disagreement between Palasara and Sentanu in the fight for glory with the decision that Sentanu chooses glory in Marcapada (world), and Palasara chooses glory in Kahyangan (hereafter). Besides in this play, Betara Bayu also often comes to Marcapada as a dividing line, when there is disagreement.

When the Baratayuda war came closer, the Gods came down to the country of Astina to separate the Gods and Kauravas who were in dispute. Betara Bayu also came down. But all the efforts of the Gods were not successful and finally the war broke out.
In the last war which is commonly called the Sampak War, Wrekodara (Bratasena) generally kills his enemies. Every time an enemy dies, Wrekodara dance and the dance is called Tayungan dance. But if the enemy is the Korawa, the enemy will not die, because the Korawa will die only later in the Baratayuda war. Before there was Wrekodara, this last war was ended by Betara Bayu. Hyang Bayu Dewanya Wrekodara. Wrekodara was also called Bayusuta, because it was collected by the son of Hyang Bayu.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka - 1982