[2] It refers to a good spirit, that takes the form of an animal as the guardian of the forest (compare to bear worship).

[3] Barong is portrayed as a lion with a red head, covered in white thick fur, and wearing gilded jewelry adorned with pieces of mirrors.

Its origins could be from animist worship, before Hinduism appeared, when villagers still believed in the supernatural protective power of animals.

Rangda is known as a demon queen, the incarnation of Calon Arang, the legendary witch that wreaked havoc in ancient Java during the reign of Airlangga in the tenth century.

It is said that Calon Arang was a widow who had mastered the art of black magic, who often damaged farmer's crops and caused disease to come.

Because of the difficulties faced by her daughter, Calon Arang was angry and she intended to take revenge by kidnapping a young girl.

King Airlangga, who had heard of this matter, then asked his advisor, Empu Bharada, to deal with this problem.

After she became a widow (Rangda in old Javanese means: 'widow'), hurt and humiliated, she sought revenge upon her ex-husband's court and the whole of his kingdom.

A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were so powerful that Airlangga had to ask for the help of the spirit king, Barong to defeat her.

Rangda cast a spell that made all of Airlangga's soldiers feel suicidal, pointing their poisoned keris into their stomachs and chests.

In response, Barong cast a spell that caused the soldiers' bodies to be resistant to the sharp keris.

[1] [5] The lion is the popular one, as it comes from the Gianyar region, where Ubud (the home of tourist's Balinese dance ritual viewing) is located.

In traditional Barong dance performances, he is portrayed in his struggles against Rangda, it is the popular part of Balinese culture.