Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Balinese Folklore

Long ago, in a land called the Island of the Gods, there lived a sage called Resi Kasyapa. The wise and wise sage had two wives. The first wife of Rishi Kasyapa was named Kadru and the second wife was named Winata. Kadru has a child Naga, while Winata has a child named Garuda. Although Resi Kasyapa has been fair to his two wives, the first wife (Kadru) always harbors envy and envy towards the second wife (Winata).

Once upon a time, Kadru, who had hatred for Winata, wanted to try her best to get Winata to fall. When the Gods were stirring the ocean to find Tirta Amartha, came a flying horse named Ucaihswara. Tirta (water) Amartha is believed to be the water of immortality, where the water will give immortality if someone drinks it, even if only a drop. When Ucaihswara's horse was crossing the ocean, Kadru asked Winata to guess the color of the horse. Kadru's real intention was to get Winata out of the family circle of Resi Kasyapa.

"Winata, I heard that there was a Ucaihswara Horse that crossed the ocean. Can you explain the color of the horse?” Kadru asked Winata.

"I don't know the color of the horse yet, O my sister Kadru," replied Winata.

"In that case, okay. How about we do a challenge to guess the color of the horse? whoever loses, she will become a slave and always obey the orders of the winner, “explained Kadru.

Guessing the Color of Ucaihswara's Horse

According to Balinese folklore, they finally guessed the color of the Ucaihswara Horse that would cross the ocean. Kadru guessed the color of the horse was black, while Winata guessed the color of the horse was white.

Kadru, who had wanted to make Winata a slave for a long time, finally failed. According to Naga (Kadru's son), it turns out that the color of the horse is white. Because the horse had not yet appeared in front of them, Kadru's cunning sense arose.

"I don't accept if I lose to Winata. My dignity will fall if I become a slave of Winata. My Son, I sent you to spray poison on the body of Ucaihswara Horse to make it look black!” Kadru's orders to the Dragon.

The dragon finally obeyed his mother's orders to be cunning against Winata. The horse turns black after being sprayed with poison by the dragon.

Seeing this fact, Winata finally lost. Winata is finally willing to be Kadru's slave for the rest of her life. Kadru laughed arrogantly when she got victory from Winata, although in a sly way.

Garuda and Dragon Fight

After hearing about the defeat of his mother, Winata, Garuda did not accept it. He senses that something is wrong with the challenge his mother and Kadru are doing. Garuda's disapproval of his mother's defeat eventually led to a fight between himself and the dragons (Kadru's son). Garuda always fights with the Dragons, both day and night. The fight is always a draw. Despite the draw, the Dragons eventually put forward conditions.

“Garuda, I will give you conditions. If you can bring Tirtha (water) Amartha to us, then your mother (Winata) will be freed," said the Nagas.

"Okay then, I will take Tirtha Amartha for my mother's freedom!" replied Garuda.

Although Garuda does not know the whereabouts of Tirtha Amartha, he still tries to find the water of immortality.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

In the search for Tirtaha Amartha, it turns out that Garuda meets Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu turned out to be carrying Tirta Amartha which contained kamendalu and was tied with weeds. Garuda finally asked Tirtha Amartha to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu gave the Tirtha Amartha, on the condition that the Garuda would be his vehicle (his mount).

"Well Lord Vishnu, I am willing to be your mount to save my mother from the clutches of Mrs. Kadru," said Garuda firmly.

Thus, the Garuda was eventually known as Garuda Wisnu Kencana. Because the Garuda became the mount of Lord Vishnu.

On the way home to free his mother from the clutches of Kadru and the dragons. It turned out that the Tirtha Amartha brought by Garuda was taken by Dewa Indra who happened to be passing by. Finally, Garuda only brought a rope of weeds which was the container for Tirtha Amartha.

“Dragon, I only brought the weed rope which is the container of Tirtha Amartha. Because, Tirtha Amartha has been captured by Lord Indra on the way home. However, Tirtha Amartha's water droplets are still left on this grass," said Garuda at length.

"It's okay, we can lick it on the grass. Because Tirtha Amartha can have the function of giving immortality, even if only a drop!” said the Dragons.

The dragons finally licked the drops of Tirtha Amartha on the weeds. The sharp weed grass ended up hurting the tongues of the dragons. The dragons' tongues finally split in two. So that the dragon and his descendants have their tongues split in two.

Winata, who is Garuda's mother, was finally freed from slavery. Garuda is very happy to be able to free his beloved mother.

This time, the story that will be shown comes from the Bali area. The story is titled Garuda Wisnu Kencana. In the story of Garuda Wisnu Kencana, we will meet several characters, including Resi Kasyapa, Kadru, Winata, Kuda Ucaihswara, the Dragons, and Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

Such is the Balinese folklore entitled Garuda Wisnu Kencana. Garuda's exemplary attitude should be an example for us as a good and devoted child to his mother. The eagle as the symbol of the Indonesian state has a philosophy of the persistence of the struggle of the natives (Indonesian people) in resisting the grip of the invaders, so that they can liberate the land of the motherland. I hope this story is useful.

More folklore from Bali:

• The Story of Calonarang
• The Legend of the Origin of Trunyan Village
• Kebo Iwa Story
• The Origin of the Bali Strait