Gatotkaca

Gatotkaca, son of Bima, the strongest of the Pandawas, and the giant princess Arimbi (Mahabharata). Gatotkaca is the ultimate warrior, and represents bravery, loyalty, honesty, and strength in battle, and additionally possesses the power of flight.

In the Mahabharata, Bima summons Gatokaca to help him during the Pandawa’s exile, and in the great war between the Pandawas and their cousins the Kurawas, Lord Krishna calls upon Gatotkaca to fight Karna, the greatest of the Kurawas and Bima’s halfbrother. Lord Krishna does this knowing that Karna plans to kill Arjuna with a magical lance given by the god Indra that can kill any living creature but may only be used once—because of Gatotkaca’s fierceness, Karna is forced to use the lance to kill him instead, sparing Arjuna’s life.

While Arjuna, who represents the ideal man through his grace and refinement, was once the favorite among wayang characters, Gatotkaca with his coarseness and military prowess has since become one of wayang’s most important heroes, and is often associated with the young men who fought for Indonesian independence.

Image: 46cm (69cm with handle) x ~25cm; water buffalo hide, wood, pigment.