Batara Guru

Batara Guru is the supreme deity of Javanese and Balinese mythology, ruling the divine realm known as kahyangan, and is understood as a Javanese avatar of the Hindu god Shiva who grants revelations, gifts and powers to mortals and lesser gods. His consort is Dewi Uma, and their divine offspring include Batara Sambu, Batara Brahma, Batara Indra, Batara Bayu, Batara Wisnu and Batara Kala, the last already recorded on this atlas. In wayang shadow puppet theater he is portrayed with distinctive features, including four arms, pointed canine teeth, a blue neck and legs that face forward rather than to the side, and he is shown riding the cow Nandini. Tradition holds that he and his two brothers, Sang Hyang Antaga and Sang Hyang Ismaya, hatched from a single divine egg; while his brothers descended to live among mortals, Batara Guru remained in kahyangan as leader of the gods, overseeing the cosmic order.