Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Wisnu Murti Effigy
Counteraction of Mystical Power

Manifold statues you encounter in Bali are not merely functioned as the expression of aesthetic art, but they also have significance and philosophical values in conformity with Hinduism in Bali. In addition, various statues are installed at the crossroads because the community believes that such localities have mystical powers. "Those statues function to counterbalance such a power in order to generate secure ambience for the passers-by," says Wayan Dana, a book writer on statues in Bali.

For example, the statue located at the crossroad of Kediri City (Tabanan), precisely in front of Kediri bus station or some 19 km west of Denpasar. This statue alludes to the greatness of the Lord Wisnu (one manifestation of the Almighty God). It has nine multi-storeyed terrifying countenances. Three countenances look out on the east, two on the south, two on the west and the remaining two on the north.
This white statue is made of reinforced concrete and has eight hands holding weapons. Such weapons function to keep the balance of the unseen world (niskala) of which location respectively in conformity with points of the compass. Chakra wheel follows the north, trident (northeast), thunder-hammer (east), frankincense (southeast), mace (south), sword (southwest), snake-snare (west) and banner (northwest).
According to one of the local inhabitants, the statue describing the shakti power of Lord Wisnu was established in 1996. Its sculptors are from Gianyar. "During the process of construction, they kept silence or monabratha," says a shop owner. "They were convinced that if they were speaking, that their sculpture will not be accomplished."
Also the location of the statue is known to be sinister and therefore the community at its surroundings, mostly shop owners, presented "canang" offerings at that place all the time. "Formerly, when passing by after 2 o’clock in the morning, people often saw something bizarre happening, including traffic accidents without any reason. Today, after the founding of the statue, such incidents almost disappeared," he says.
From the point where the Wisnu Murti stands, you can head for several tourist objects existing in Tabanan regency. Some 11 km in southern direction you can look on the alluring beach view and spectacular sunsets over Tanah Lot Temple, the seat of Bali’s mystical culture. Within 4 km north of this point, you can luxuriate in the amusing behaviour of grey monkeys swinging from one tree’s twig to another within a domestic forest of Alas Kedaton, while before the Alas Kedaton (some 1 km from the effigy) you can stop at Subak Museum at Sanggulan retaining a variety of Balinese traditional farming tools along with its documentation. Towards the west, apart from heading for Java Island, there are some coastal tourist objects coming in the pride of Tabanan Regency such as the Soka, Kedungu Beach and so forth, while in an eastward direction is Denpasar, the capital of Bali Province. (BTN/015)