The central story of the epic deals with the conflict between two branches of a family descended from the suprem Gods of Hinduism. One branch of the family, the Korawa, usurps the throne from the rightful heirs, the Pandawa.

The dispute can only be resolved by war, a bloody fraticidal battle which tests the loyalties ans consciences of several generations of the family.

Finally the Pandawa brothersprevail, a victory for justice and the concept of Right.

Despite the more recent introduction of Islam to Java, the philosophical and behavioural values espoused in the Mahabharata remain an important part of the social fabric and attitude to life in Java today.

They have their favourite characters, like Arjuna, the famous Pandawa warrior-lover who is also the essence of the Javanese concept of nobility. Indeed, the Javanese kings sought to enhance their legitimacy by claiming direct descent from Arjuna, and through him back to the Gods of Hinduism. They admirecthe scholarly wisdom and honesty of the eldest of Pandawa, Yudhistira, and the great physical strength and moral will-power of the second eldest, Bimasena.

More on shadow puppets