UMAR MAYE

[brekele]

Hi …Good Morning
Some years ago when first time I came to Lombok Island, I heard some local mitos story kind of Datu Brenge, Ine Leme, Umar Maye and some others.
But one of mitos that stil hard to find out more informations about it was mythical local lombok story about Umar Maye.
Sometimes lombok peoples used this figure as their keris hilt motif or carved on their cundrik’s sheath etc.

Here finally I had pic of him carved on cundrik’s sheath.
(You guys might seen this figure before)
But as I said sometimes this figure can find in Lombok-Bali keris hilt.

Hmm...Who is Umar Maye ?






Brekele.

[Alam Shah]

More pics of Umar Maye here... but I don't know anything about his story.

http://gallerykeris.fotopic.net/c1548441.html

http://gallerykeris.fotopic.net/p52102843.html

[David]

They do bear an interesting resemblance to Makara hilts.

[Rick]

A figure from the Wayang perhaps ?

[brekele]

Originally Posted by Rick

A figure from the Wayang perhaps ?

Rick, I was also think this figure also as wayang figure but until now stil not 100% sure about it, because stil don’t find yet a book that explain about this figure.
I did asked one man from Lombok who is a Keris collector about Umar Maye, and what I can get information from him is that Umar Maye is a symbol of a smart (astutely) and strong person in Lombok mitos. Umar Maye also have magic bag that made of bamboo called “ Gandek”.
This man said that Umar Maye can see many thing in this world only from inside his Gandek bag.

Some links that Alam showed to us was perfect pics that shown how Umar Maye figure really look like with his Gandek bag. Thanks Alam.

[Alam Shah]

You're most welcome. Thanks for sharing.
If you''ve more info, do feel free to add...

[kulbuntet]

Maybe Ganesha.. lombok and bali have great Hindu influences.

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by kulbuntet

Maybe Ganesha.. lombok and bali have great Hindu influences.

Yes, Lombak and Bali does have Hindu influence... however, imho, I don't think it's Umar Maye = Ganesha...

[kulbuntet]

To Alam Shah..

Can you tel us why? If i look at it i can see the curled elefant nose. Are there in wayang Elefant figures? Or is there an other explanation?

Regards Michel

[A. G. Maisey]

I do not know who or what umar maye is or represents.

I do not know the meaning of the name, nor the individual words.

My understanding is that this character is a part of the folk lore of Lombok. However, I do not know if this character is from Sasak folk lore, or Lombok/Bali folk lore, or the folk lore of one of the other cultural groups who comprise the population of Lombok.

The way to understanding is to research to folk lore of Lombok, the way to understanding is not to engage in speculation based upon superficial characteristics.

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

... The way to understanding is to research to folk lore of Lombok, the way to understanding is not to engage in speculation based upon superficial characteristics.

Agreed... I have no knowledge of folklore of these regions, hence ignore my earlier speculative comment.