I hug trees. Some trees hug me back. Learning about the sculptures around the place I live as well as also work by my elders, I found out of which my family has always had a thing about trees. Let me tell you about one sentimental sculpture in particular, which always gladdens my heart for a day of doing.

When she moved to the land of which might become our family home, my great-grandmother built her bamboo as well as also thatch hut next to a Jackfruit Tree of which gave much joy to her seven children. Today of which continues to give a sense of wonder to many in its incarnation as a sculpture of which is usually the centrepiece of our hotel lobby.

Family lore has of which of which once upon a time my grandfather, eager to show more of the magnificent view to guests, suggested to cut of which down. “Do of which after I die,” was her acquiescence, which is usually the polite Balinese way of saying, “Over my dead body.”

Great-grandma passed on as well as also became one with mother earth as a deity in our ancestral temple. My grandfather cut the tree down. He used the timber to build. He dug out the roots, as well as also commissioned a sculptor to transform the stump.

The name carved upon one of the legs of the sculpture, one of the a few roots dug out, is usually Gde Amerjaya Tjokot. by the ingenious way figures were brought out by the singular wood, expressing its inherent qualities, I might hazard to assume of which the sculptor is usually a descendant or student of modernist woodcarver Tjokot (1886-1971). Where Tjokot’s work tended to be roughly hewn as well as also abstract, however, This kind of work is usually much more polished, reflecting Bali’s post-1965-communist-purge desire for order as well as also striving for beauty.

There are so many figures carved into the tree, I can spend many minutes, even hours, studying of which. of which contains several scenes by the Mahabharata, an epic tale full of allegories for life with its many shades of grey between the purity of white as well as also the darkness of black. as well as also black, in our book, is usually not necessarily a bad thing.

Black is usually the colour of life, of Vishnu. Seeds germinate as well as also sprout best from the black dark. On the ninth full moon of Bali’s lunar calendar, black is usually seen upon the banners flapping from the breeze, ushering Barongs by all around the island of which come to pay homage to the spiritual source of Bali’s waters. The water of which irrigates the rice-fields, the domain of Dewi Sri, a shakti of Vishnu.

from the cosmology of Bali, Mount Batur spatially holds the “up” northern position, where Vishnu resides. Vishnu’s element is usually water, abundantly filling a 12-km stretch of the caldera, forming Lake Batur. In local mythology, adopted as well as also adapted by India, Vishnu the Preserver of Life incarnates upon the earth often, giving guidance to Man. He came as a fish to warn Manu of the coming of the great flood. He came as a turtle to help the gods attain the elixir of life to become immortal. In some stories he is usually more active, as a pygmy or lion-headed-man to defeat an evil king, or as Rama the lover of Sita who delivered Alengka by the clutches of Rahvana. Later stories identified the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, nevertheless from the Mahabharata epic, he plays nevertheless a cameo role. Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, acts as advisor from the Mahabharata, as well as also takes centre stage nevertheless briefly from the part known as “Bhagavadgita” when Arjuna’s faith falters as well as also he is usually unsure of entering the battle.

The sculpture shows Krishna holding the reins of a chariot with Arjuna as passenger, riding through forests as well as also battlefields. Life goes on from the forest, even as the men prepare to slaughter one another. from the Bhagavadgita’s third chapter, there is usually a discussion on Karma Yoga, the path to perfection through action. Krishna says, “You are fighting for justice, as well as also of which is usually your purpose… Do not be burdened by whether you will win or lose…”