This large, hand-painted, cotton cloth is thought to depict three scenes from the poem 'Arjuna Wiwaha'. It an old Javanese classic using characters from the Indian epic Mahabarata, to tell the story of Arjuna's ascension on Mount Indrakila in order to obtain supernatural powers and magic weapons for the ultimate conquest of the Kauravas in the battle of the Kurukshetra War. This story of Arjuna Wiwaha was written by Empu Kanwa in the 11th century, in the kingdom of Kediri, east Java, Indonesia.The right half of the top row, shows Arjuna as a hermit (he is without headgear) with his two cosmic attendants making obesiance to Siva (in halo). A small figure in Siva's hand holds the magic arrow destined for Arjuna.While the left half of the top row, depicts Arjuna on his way to Indra's heaven. He is kneeling in obesiance to Indraparuvata (the mountain on top of which is Indra's heaven) between his two servants. Behind him are two apsaras (beautiful celestial nymphs) sent to tempt him. The lower half of the cloth shows Arjuna kneeling before the gods in heaven. Above him are the gods, all in halo.
