Ivory Hulu

A. G. Maisey · 10th October 2021, 06:07 AM

OK, it becomes clear.

As a general observation, when we come across these motifs with swirling vines and an overall feeling of vegetation, what we are seeing is a lung-lungan motif.

"Lung" means a shoot, tendril, sprout, young growth of vines. So a lung-lungan motif is a motif that uses representations, either natural or abstract, of vines. We encounter it frequently in batik and in furniture, and as fill motifs in monumental carving.

There are a couple of ways that we can interpret the symbolic meaning of this motif, it can refer directly to growth & fertility, or it can be a reference to the lower slopes of Mount Meru, which are covered in vines and undergrowth and which in turn is a reference to Bhoma, son of Dewa Wisnu & Dewa Pertiwi. Bhoma is the protective force that guards a Balinese temple gateway, and is thought of as representative of the the entire plant world, which is a reference to fertility generated by rainfall penetrating Mother Earth.

If we think of the lung-lungan motif as referring to Bhoma, we have protection in a very broad sense because protection is generated by production of food, which comes from rainfall & the earth.

Bhoma is frequently confused with Kala, both are represented in a similar way.

What we sometimes think that we are seeing is not always quite as straightforward as it might appear to be.

10th October 2021, 06:07 AM	#15
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	OK, it becomes clear. As a general observation, when we come across these motifs with swirling vines and an overall feeling of vegetation, what we are seeing is a lung-lungan motif. "Lung" means a shoot, tendril, sprout, young growth of vines. So a lung-lungan motif is a motif that uses representations, either natural or abstract, of vines. We encounter it frequently in batik and in furniture, and as fill motifs in monumental carving. There are a couple of ways that we can interpret the symbolic meaning of this motif, it can refer directly to growth & fertility, or it can be a reference to the lower slopes of Mount Meru, which are covered in vines and undergrowth and which in turn is a reference to Bhoma, son of Dewa Wisnu & Dewa Pertiwi. Bhoma is the protective force that guards a Balinese temple gateway, and is thought of as representative of the the entire plant world, which is a reference to fertility generated by rainfall penetrating Mother Earth. If we think of the lung-lungan motif as referring to Bhoma, we have protection in a very broad sense because protection is generated by production of food, which comes from rainfall & the earth. Bhoma is frequently confused with Kala, both are represented in a similar way. What we sometimes think that we are seeing is not always quite as straightforward as it might appear to be.