At the airport and in hotels or elsewhere in Bali, you'd definitely see the statue of the Hindu Supreme God, the preserver of the universe, Vishnu with his mount Garuda. The Garuda is a mythical bird, which according to the great epic Mahabharata, promised to become Vishnu's mount in exchange for immortality. That you would see this statue is no wonder because over 90% of Bali's population are Hindus. According to what I read, when the Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293–1520 AD) on eastern Java declined, intellectuals, artists, priests, and musicians came over to Bali in droves. Our guide had a more fanciful tale though. According to him, when Islam was gaining dominance in Java, a priest by the name of Danghyangnirata, forseeing the dark days ahead for Hinduism set sail to Vesaki in Bali with 20 people. All the people who came with him unfortunately died mysteriously. It seemed that Bali at that time was inhabited by spirits who probably were annoyed with the trespassers...
Which is Vishnu and which is Garuda? Clue: Garuda has a white face, red wings,an eagle's beak, a crown on the head and the body of a man...
Traveling Tip: Listen to the tour guide's stories!
Which is Vishnu and which is Garuda? Clue: Garuda has a white face, red wings,an eagle's beak, a crown on the head and the body of a man...
Traveling Tip: Listen to the tour guide's stories!
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