Journey to Bali (5): Garuda Wishina Kencana
14. 01. 2019Garuda is historically perceived as a creature that reminds a bird. It is respected by the religious directions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It is often displayed at the same time as God Vishnu. Ten is then (together with God Gray) one of the most prominent Hindu gods. He has many adherents who consider him the supreme and the only true God.
An analogous symbolism can be seen in Japanese dragons who served their gods or in the Mayan feathered serpent Kukulkan.
We were encouraged to visit a natural park in Bali Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK), which was built a few years ago near the capital Denpasar on the southern part of the Bali peninsula in a place known as the Ungasan. Natives regard it as their local pride, so I was very curious about what it looks like.
As said - Garuda is legendary mythical bird. Wisnu then in Indonesian is the same thing in Czech Vishnu and the word Kencana has an important meaning in indigenous languages transport.
The sculpture is made up Mr. Vishnu controlling the mythic bird Garudu. It is a manifestation of wisdom and a conscious path to lasting divinity. A pedestal with a statue surrounds huge gardens (cultural park) occupying an area of more than 2,5 km2. It features rectangular rock formations and smaller versions of the central sculpture. There is also a smaller statue of a statue of several centuries (perhaps even a millennium), which has become the model for the modern version of the vast sculpture.
I have to say that to me personally, this enormous magical looking thing did not leave a deep emotional impression. I felt more like a tourist attraction than a holy place. Just a cultural and tourist experience, of which it was easy to breathe the glory of time gone by the romantic nature.
(09.01.2019 @ 07: 37 Bali)