Bali Dogs in Mythology – Blang Uyang & Blang Suun

Hildred Geertz imparts a mythological tale in his book Story Telling in Bali about the hunting dogs of the King of Kungklung. 

The King’s dog’s names were Blang Uyang and Blang Suun.   These dogs were remarkable hunters; no jungle animal was safe from them.  This made the other animals of the jungle alarmed and angry.  They called a meeting to ask ‘How can we kill these two dogs’.  The Anteater said ‘If you make me the King of all the animals I will kill them dead’.  All of the animals are happy to hear this and agree with his request. 

The Anteater climbs to the top of the royal pavilion whilst the King is dining.  Blang Uyang and Blang Suun are seated at the King’s feet.  They both see the Anteater and in protection of the King they jump up to attack him, in so doing they knock over the King’s dinner.  The King is furious; he jumps up and cuts off the heads of both of his dogs and two of his servants.  Other servants come running and try and put the heads back on.  In their haste they put the wrong heads on the wrong bodies.  The heads of the dogs are placed onto the bodies of the humans. 

This is why every full moon the dogs of Bali mourn.  They see shadows of dog’s heads with a human body and that makes them sad.   The story says that because of this happening, Bali Dogs are permitted to eat offerings, because they were correct when they tried to protect the King.

​Ida Bagus Made Togog (1911 – 1989)
http://sydney.edu.au/heurist/balipaintings/10891.html