Garuda being slaved by Serpents

Candi Kidal is the place where ashes of king Anusabadhi of Singasari dynasty were buried. He died in 1248 and because the death and the rituals had to always be sepeated by 12 years, this religious place was built in 1260. There are narratives showing Garuda stealing holy water to save his mother. The holy water is the water of eternity. This relates to “Tevaraja” principle in that it helps the dead gain eternity.

Once, Kataru, the mother of all Naga, was envious of Vinta, the mother of Garuda. So, they hada bet about the color of Ujachiasarava horse, which came from stiring the milk sea. The term was the loser had to be the servant of the other. When the horse was born in white, Kataru odered Nagas to poison the horse and turned it into black so that she could win the bet.

Therefore, Vinta and Garuda were slaved by Kataru and nagas. To help his mother, Garuda volunteered to go and steal the holy water to help release his mother. Garuda went to the milk sea and tried to steal the holy water resulting in a fight between Garuda and Vishanu. At the end, Vishanu blessed Garuda and his mother to be free from slavery and that he could always catch nagas to eat. Then Garuda became the mouth of Vishanu. This narrative depicts Garuda being slaved by Nagas.

A small Paithi base is decorated with Garuda and divided into three scenes : Garuda carrying his mother, Garuda carrying Nagas and Garuda carrying the holy water. Having narratives about Garuda is believed to release the soul of the dead from transmigration. This is because the holy water is the symbol of immmortality.