The Oldest Vishnu Statue in Bali

I Kadek Sudana Wira Darma

The development of Hindu statue in ancient Bali was closely connected to wider cultural interactions across Southeast Asia. One significant discovery reflecting this process is a statue of Vishnu found at Pura Petapan in Lembean Village, Kintamani. Based on stylistic and iconographic analysis, the statue can be dated to approximately the 7th century CE, making it one of the earliest known representations of Vishnu in Bali. This study examines the statue's iconographic features and artistic style while exploring possible external cultural influences that may have shaped its formation. Through iconographic analysis and stylistic comparison, the Vishnu statue from Pura Petapan shows notable similarities to the artistic tradition of the Khmer region in Cambodia. These parallels can be observed in the depiction of attributes, body proportions, and carving techniques that resemble characteristics of early Khmer sculpture. The presence of such stylistic elements in Bali may be associated with cultural contacts facilitated by ancient maritime trade networks linking the northern coast of Bali with other parts of Southeast Asia. Through these routes, artistic concepts and religious symbols could spread from coastal regions to the interior highlands of Kintamani. The hypothesis of Khmer influence is further supported by a comparable example: a Bodhisattva statue from Pura Subak Kedangan in Bedulu, Gianyar, which shares related stylistic characteristics. The Vishnu statue of Pura Petapan therefore represents not only early evidence of Vishnu worship in Bali but also an indicator of Bali’s integration within the broader maritime cultural networks of early Southeast Asia.