Unique Cotton Batik Painting of Bali's Jaka Tarub Legend, "Seven Angels"

Gusti Made Sujana depicts a scene from the Jaka Tarub legend in this elegant batik painting. Jaka Tarub hid in the forest, spying on seven angels who were bathing in the river. Jaka hid one of the angels' shawls, not knowing they were magical. When the angels decided to fly back to heaven, the youngest one, whose shawl was missing, had to remain on earth. Her name was Nawang Wulan and Jaka came out of hiding to console her, not revealing his mischief.

He took her home and soon they fell in love, and had a child. Nawang Wulan magically provided Jaka with copious amounts of rice in the granary — something that Jaka had no knowledge of. But one day he disobeyed a simple request by Nawang Wulan, and with that action her magic powers came to an end.

When the rice was gone, Nawang Wulan happened to find her missing shawl, which could restore her heavenly powers. She decided to return to heaven but, before flying back home, she asked Jaka to build a hut next to their home and place their baby girl there so she could come at night and nurse her. Nawang continued to care for her family from heaven.