“Water of life, a dragon, and a quest?”
The Dewa Ruci Statue stands before us. It is more than just concrete. It embodies a tale of courage and self-discovery. Many Balinese people call this statue Bima. Others know it as the Simpang Siur Statue.
Built in 1996 the Dewa Ruci Statue has become an icon. I Wayan Winten is the artist who created the Dewa Ruci Statue. He chose concrete for its durability. He foresaw a time when wood would be scarce. Concrete also allows greater freedom in design.
The Dewa Ruci Statue depicts a story from the Mahabharata. It tells of Bima’s search for Tirtha Amerta. This is the water of life. Bima was a member of the Pandavas. The Dewa Ruci Statue shows Bima’s struggles.
Bima met a dragon named Naga Neburwana. Bima fought the dragon. He then met Dewa Ruci, a small figure resembling himself. This meeting inspired Wayan Winten. The Dewa Ruci Statue includes Naga Baruna, waves and Sang Hyang Acintya. A fountain shows the meeting occurred at sea.
Dewa Ruci ordered Bima into his left ear. Inside, Bima saw a vast world. Dewa Ruci revealed the water of life. It is within oneself. Bima achieved perfection through respect, humility and alertness.
This spot is often called “simpang siur” because of its many intersections. The Dewa Ruci Underpass was opened in 2013. It eased traffic from Ngurah Rai Airport to Sunset Road.
The Dewa Ruci Statue features Bima wrapped by a dragon. There is also the figure of Acintya. He is identified as Dewa Ruci. The lower part shows waves. This represents Bima’s fight with Naga Neburwana.
The top figure is Sang Hyang Acintya. The human statue is Bima. The Naga Baruna is in an angry form. The waves symbolize the ocean sound. The statue of Dewa Ruci stands in a pond. A green garden surrounds it. Dragon head motifs and stone statues decorate the area. It is a cool place for photos and relaxation.
Remember Bima’s journey. The Dewa Ruci Statue reminds us that the water of life is within.