THE HISTORY AND LEGEND OF
GARUDA WISNU KENCANA
The Maket of Garuda Wisnu Kencana plaza
HISTORY
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park is designed as a culturally themes park, which differs considerably from the theme park of west. The primary objective in design is to achieve the cultural integrity of Balinese tradition through the visual and performing arts. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana project is provided with an art and cultural hub, which is designed more attractively with its combination of entertainment facilities that will present Balinese legends and performances in the modern expression.
The central feature to the park is the Garuda Wisnu statue. Symbolizing Wisnu, the Hindu-Balinese god of life and peace, astride the godly eagle Garuda. 146 meters above the Peninsula and 283 meters above the Indian Ocean. A technological dream of mythical proportion, built by a son of Indonesia, with technology from Indonesia.
Within a cultural theme park of 230 hectares with complete tourist facilities, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana park will, in the eyes of the world, bears symbol of Bali’s magical past and be the beacon of it’s bright and promising feature. Magnificent panoramas, the maze of steel and cooper forged into a massive shape of a god will combined with facilities to educate, and Balinese cultural events to entertain, will create a unique experience.
The Traditional and Contemporary arts of Bali have become globally recognized and appreciated by the art world at large. Garuda Wisnu Kencana will become the sophisticated forum for international artist. The GWK Gallery, audiovisual center and art library will become the center of planned activities to increase the viability of international dialog to the global art community.
THE
LEGEND OF GARUDA WISNU KENCANA
The establishment of the statue is God Wisnu the Protector God of Hinduism riding on mythical bird Garuda, inspired from Adi Parwa's tale on the episode of Garuda with his loyal and sacrifice to save his mother from the shackles of slavery life, by devoted his life to serve the God Wisnu by being his means of transportation.
Statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Candi Belahan, East Java, was built during the time of Majapahit on Airlangga's reign who ruled over Java and Bali in the 11 century, inspired the development of Garuda Wisnu Statues which could found in many places in Bali.
The tale tells about a whirlpool in a sea of milk created by gods and giants by using Mount Mandara. The whirlpool caused a horse called Oncesrawa to appear, and then the Tirtha Amertha (the water of life). Anybody who drinks the Tirtha Amertha, he will never die because he will never experience being old. He will look young at all times. The gods and giants then fought to get the water, but finally the gods prevailed and took the water to keep in heaven.
Based on the tale, the Garuda eagle, the son of Goddess Winata, fought hard to get the Tirtha Amertha to free his mother from 1,000 dragons, the sons of Goddess Kadru, which had made his mother a slave. The Garuda eagle, accompanied by his parents' prayers, fought his best to beat the gods in the heaven to get the Tirtha Amertha. After a long fight, finally they made an agreement that the gods would hand over the Tirtha Amertha on one condition, i.e. that the Garuda eagle would serve God Wisnu. Garuda was very pleased with the offer because he knew that he would be able to free his mother.
Garuda eagle then took the Tirtha Amertha to the 1,000 dragons, which wanted to have eternal lives. His mother safe and free. Then Garuda told the dragons," You are all only allowed to drink the Tirtha Amertha after having a bath." The dragons soon went to bathe in the nearby river and left the water unattended. None of them realized that the water should never be left unattended. Finally, God Indra came and took the Tirtha Amertha and returned it to the heaven.
The Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is hoped to stimulate the dynamic of physical and spiritual values, and the balance between skala and niskala (the real and unreal worlds) so that harmony on the earth can be created. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue is the symbol of the mission of environmental safeguard and the world savior.
PLAZA WISNU
The
22 meter high Wisnu statue which is a part of the whole height of Garuda Wisnu
Kencana Statue, has been earlier exhibited in welcoming the third Millennium
New Year's Eve of the Year 2000.
For the time being, the Wisnu Statue situated on one of the planned corners
point of the pedestal tread called Plaza Wisnu.
The Wisnu statue is established as the anchor point of the 5% Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana first open which will be as its first socialization in building up the area and strongly expected to create a parameter that is able to be foundation of the further development.
Coincidentally, on the top of limestone hill, was found spring water source sacred as the holly water by the people surrounding which gives special spiritual senses, effects and meanings particular for the Garuda Wisnu Kencana area itself.
A place and named Balai Bengong was built on this area to relax while enjoying then Plaza Wisnu. The Wisnu Statue which will be situated in this Plaza is a tangible token where the Garuda Wisnu Kencana and its pedestals as a whole; will be established in the future.