Wayang Lemah (Daylight Puppet)

Bali Personal Drivers - Wayang Lemah is one of the three kinds of sacred wayang in Bali. These wayang is Wayang Sapuh Leger, Wayang Suddhamala and Wayang Lemah. The third wayang has the same function namely : "ngruat" (baptism). Wayang Sapuh Leger has a special function for "marisuddha" -baptize a person who are born on "wuku wayang" (month on Balinese calendar), while Wayang Suddhamala and Wayang Lemah has a more general function which is to accompany the Panca Yadya ceremony.

As the name implies Wayang Lemah should be performed during the day parallel with the "Yadnya" (religious ceremonies) which its accompanied, because its main function is to accompany the Panca yadnya namely Manusa yadnya, Pitra yadnya, Dewa yadnya, Bhuta yadnya and Resi yadnya. But if the yadnya its accompanied be done at night, Wayang Lemah can also be performed at night (in conjunction with the course of yadnya). Wayang Lemah in some places also called Wayang Gedog.
Wayang Lemah staged without the use of kelir or screens and blencong light. To play its wayang, the Dalang propped its wayang on the three stacking "benang tukelan" (yarns), and each of which unbiased with "11 pis kepeng" (holy money). The yarns has a length of about half to one meter were tied to "dapdap" (a type of tree in Bali) wooden sticks anchored on gedebong on both sides of the Dalang.
Supporters of this show is the smallest, of 3 to 5 people consisting of a puppeteer and one or two pairs of gender wayang musicians. Wayang Lemah using accompanist gamelan, gender wayang were barreled slendro (five-tone). As a ceremonial art, Wayang Lemah usually take place around where the ceremony was held and did not use the stage that is specific in its performances.

Upakara or bebanten (offerings) which essential for staging Wayang Lemah, is suci asoroh sareng guling bebek, ajuman putih-kuning, canang gantal, lenga–wangi buratwangi, Daksina Gede sarwa papat, sarma 8100 kepeng, Segehan Gede, Pedupaan and tetabuhan arak berem. Ingredients for the holy water used is similar to used in Wayang Sapuh Leger. Prayed after staging Wayang Lemah completed, this holy water then sprinkled by yadnya leaders or by the Dalang himself to the what is consecrated. For example :
.:. When staging Wayang Lemah in a series of ceremonies Manusa yadnya, namely "telu-bulanan, then the holy water will be sprinkled to the baby consecrated.
.:. When staging Wayang Lemah in a series of ceremonies Dewa yadnya, "melaspas sanggah pemerajan, then the holy water will be sprinkled to the Pelinggih (shrine) consecrated.

The story that was delivered is generally derived from the Mahabharata epic adapted to the type and the degree of the ceremony are accompanied. For example :
.:. To accompany the ceremony Dewa yadnya, story is sourced from the story of Dewa Ruci or Maha Bharata (Parwa), namely Wana Parwa whose contents is containing the idioms that the gods are enforcement the truth and the justice.
.:. As for accompany the Manusa yadnya, Pitra yadnya, Bhuta yadnya, Resi yadnya, story is sourced from the story of Maha Bharata (Asta Dasa Parwa), Bhima Suarga and Dewa Ruci. Generally, Wayang Lemah have a short duration in its staging that is about 1 to 2 hours.

In some villages, Wayang Lemah show also called "ngiring pedanda" (follow the priest) that is : when the priest finished his mantra prayer echoes (mepuja) then the Wayang Lemah show also finished, even though the story is not completed. The structure of the Wayang Lemah show is sequentially, starting with Tabuh Petegak, Pemungkah, Gilak Kayonan, Rundah, Angkat-angkatan, Rebong, Bapang Delem, Pesiat and recently closed with Tabuh Gari.

Reference : babadbali.com, photoblog.janumedia.com
Photo : photoblog.janumedia.com