Joglosmart Tourism: December 2008

Monday, December 29, 2008

Sukuh Temple

Sukuh Temple

A 15th century temple on the slope of Mt. Lawu, about 910 meters above sea level. Sukuh Temple seems to have nothing whatsoever to do with the Hindu and Buddhist temple in Central Java. Sukuh Temple is a primitive, strange and mysterious style temple. It has three stone built courts, the top one being the largest, the most sacred and the one standing farthest back into the mountainside and there was once a large lingga in the top courtyard which is now in the National Museum in Jakarta. Various cult objects are to be found the courtyards as well as the pyramid like temple, which is built of receding tiers of rough, undecorated stones, cut by central stair flanked by bands of smooth stone. Elements of a fertility cult are plain in the decorations, while the sculpture is in the mode called “Wayang Style”. Mystery seems to be the obvious characteristic of Sukuh. What was the function of the tall monument showing the Mahabharata hero Bima in the womb? What is the significance of the flat-topped turtles? And above all, how did such a temple with its obvious resemblance to the truncated pyramids of Mexico, come to be situated on the side of mountain in Central Java? To get there take public transportation leaving Surakarta (36 kilometers away) or Karanganyar for Tawangmangu and stops over Karangpandan. From Karangpandan, catches a minibus to Sukuh Temple. On the market days, the minibus stops right beside the temple but on the other days it needs a little walk to the site. Going up further from the Sukuh Temple site, about 1,500 meters above sea level there is Cetho Temple (built in 15th century). Architecturally, it is similar to the Sukuh Temple.

Sari Temple

Sari Temple

Ninth century, Sari, on the road between Yogyakarta and Prambanan, is surprising temple. It is built on 17.3 x 10 meter oblong, not square, and it has two stories and even the appearance of a third. The two main temple of Plaosan also have two stories, but there are no other two storied temple known today, except for the carved relief of a similar building on the walls of Borobudur. Sari contains three chambers, with three upstairs’ room above them, which were entered by a wooden stairway to the second floor from the southern chamber. The floor was also timber. People think that the three top rooms may have housed a library, acted as a store for treasures or been used to accommodate the monks. It is very attractive to think of those upstairs rooms as libraries or copying rooms where monks worked, just as monks did in Europe’s Middle Ages, to copy out by hand the holy works of Buddhism. Parchment was not used in Indonesia for writing material, however, but “Lontar”, strips of Palm leaf holed at either end with a cord passed through, so they could be collapsed upon each other like the slats of a blind.

Sambisari Temple

Sambisari Temple

One day in July 1966, a peasant was hoeing a vegetable patch in the village of Sambisari, Yogyakarta Special Territory, when his hoe struck something hard. He stopped to examine the stone and found it to be carved and to be imbedded in the soil with others, all of which had once, obviously, been parts of a building. That is how Sambisari Temple was discovered. When the Archeological Service heard about this find, they began to dig the temple out. Their work was made more difficult by the fact that a village road crossed the site and because the base of the temple lay buried 6 meters below the present surface. A band of volcanic ash, covered over with oxidized sand to a total depth of 1 meter, had been further buried in a waterborne flood containing ash, sand, large stones and other eruption debris. It is known that Mt. Merapi, an active volcano that is only about 18 kilometers away from Sambisari, erupted early in the 10th century. We can conclude that Sambisari was buried by this eruption, since the temple is dated to the end of the 9th century. Sambisari is a Hindu temple, and was there fore probably built by one of the rulers of Mataram. Since Mataram vanished from Central Java after this eruption, Sambisari may have been the last temple to be put up by Mataram rulers.

Ratu Boko Palace

Ratu Boko Palace

Ratu Boko Palace located 3 km from Prambanan temple and 196 meters above sea level. On the area about 250,000 meters square and it is divided by four, they are middle, west, southeast and east. In the middle part including of main gate, yard, burning temple, pond/pool, stairs of stone and paseban (a place for gathering). In the southeast: Pendopo (hall), rooms/gazebos, 3 temples, pond/pool and keputren complex (special place for women only). Cave complex, Buddha statue and pond/pool on the eastern. For the western we will find hills. Ratu Boko Palace, firstly named Abhayagiri Vihara, means a place for monks which is located on the peaceful hill. It is a place for praying, meditating, and spiritual life activities. On this palace we can feel comfort and peace during starring to Yogyakarta and Prambanan views with Merapi volcano as the background. As a site Ratu Boko Palace is very unique compare to other sites. Commonly others sites as a temple or a shrine, according to its name Ratu Boko Palace is a palace which has housing complex character for living. It is shown by some pillars, roofs from wood although we only see some stones for foundation now. It was built by Buddhist, but we find Hindu’s characters around Ratu Boko Palace. We can prove and see Lingga and Yoni, Ganesha statue and Gold statement that praying for Shiva (Rudra). Hindus and Buddhist lived together in harmony at that time. Ratu Boko Palace based on several archeologists has multi functions because it has some components, fortress of palace, caves and house for living. But until right now, Ratu Boko Palace still has mysterious part, when it was built, whom did built it, for what, etc. The renovation of Ratu Boko site started since the Dutch colonialism in 1938, and then continued by Indonesian Government in 1952.

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple

One of many histories and in olden times in Indonesia is the temple. The location of Prambanan temple is the edge of Sleman and Klaten, it is Karangasem, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman, exclusive territory of Yogyakarta. We can there through road of Yogya – Solo eastern, at the 16th kilometer. The main temple of Prambanan is directed to the east, so we will enter through the east.

Prambanan temple is divided by center of 3 yards. The first yard is surrounded of 330 meters x 330 meters fence. The second yard has wall 220 m x 220 m surrounding. And the center of yard as the third yard is 110 m x 110 m. The three of yard is connected by gapura (gate) as the direction. In the first yard, there is no building, but in the second yard has 224 Perwara temples and are arranged became four rows. Entering in the center we will find 16 building of temples. Shiva temple is the highest and between Brahma temple the southern and Vishnu temple the northern. In front of Shiva there are three temples Nandi temple, A temple and B temple. In this yard there are two Apit temples, four Kelir temples (each is at the gate) and four corner temples.

Shiva Temple
It is biggest temple in Prambanan. The building of temple is divided by three; foot, body and roof vertically. Leg symbolizes bottom world, the place for common people. Body symbolizes when people leave the world, and roof is place for Gods. Whole parts of Prambanan symbolize the replica of Mahameru Mountain. This side is described by the existence of Gods that guard all directions. As the main temple Shiva has eastern main door. On the right left side are Nandiswara and Mahakala statue as the Gods of the entering door. An interesting ornament on the temple’s leg is Lion stays between Kalpataru tree or life tree with heaven creatures Kinara and Kinari and also the ornament of heaven creatures and plants. After entering the stairs, visitors should go around to the left surrounding the temple to see some relieves and follow the story of Ramayana. Shiva temple has four rooms and each has Shiva statue (eastern room), Agastya statue (southern room), Ganesha statue (western room) and Purgamahisasuramardhini (northern room). The roof of temple has Ratna/Permata ornament. The high of Shiva is 47 meters, length 34 meters and width 34 meters.

Brahma Temple
It is the southern of Shiva temple, smaller than Shiva 20 meters x 20 meters, 33 meters high. It only has one entering stairs on the east and a room with Brahma statue inside. After entering the stairs, go to the left and then the story of Ramayana can be followed. Outside of the temple’s leg has relief figure of sitting monk. Then from the body figure out of monk between other monks which are standing.

Vishnu Temple It is on the north of Shiva temple. The size is similar to Brahma 20 meters x 20 meters and 33 meters high. It has only a stairs on the eastern and a room with statue of Vishnu. We will follow the story of Krisnayana. Outside of the temple’s leg there are ornaments that figure out Lokapala Gods in the various attitudes.

Nandi Temple
It is directed to the west which 15 meters x 15 meters and 27 meters high. It has a room with Nandi statue inside.

Temple A and Temple B
Both of these temples are in the front of Vishnu temple and Brahma temple. It has assumption that Temple A is an eagle temple and temple B is a swan temple, although there is not found some statues in its room. The size of each is 13 meters x 13 meters and 22 meters high.

Apit Temple
Both of these temples have function to pinch the two of the temples row and each has six meters x six meters, 16 meters high. Lion statue is the most interesting ornament on the left and right side of the entrance door.

Kelir Temple
There four Kelir temples and each are in front of the entrance door. It is 1.55 m x 1.55 m, 4.10 m high. Symbolize to avoid of warding off misfortune.

Sudut Temple
There are four and each of them on the corner of central yard. It is 1.55 m x 1.55 m and 4.10 m high. The special of this temple is without entrance stairs.

The History
Based on the Gods statue and its relief, it can be described that Prambanan temple area is a place for worship of Hindus. An inscription can be connected to the Prambanan temples is Siwagrha inscription (778 BC / 856). It describes of declaration the holly place for the Gods of Shiva. And then King Jatiningrat (Rakai Pikatan) had to fight against Balaputra, and after won then he gave the authority to Dyah Pitaloka (Rakai Pikatan : 851-882). In that inscription is explained detail about Hindus holly building area also explained Dwarapala the unity of temples, and the changing of river flow on the side of temples. Getting clearer after finding short letters with white point, black and red one which is explained name of “Pikatan” on the stone of temples.

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Plaosan Temple

Plaosan Temple

The temple at Plaosan, in Klaten area of Central Java, not far from Sewu Temple, was unique, so far as our knowledge goes today. In the first place, Plaosan was built by a Syailendra princess, and so a Buddhist, and her husband, Rakai Pikatan, a Hindu ruler of Mataram. Thus Plaosan is one of the several examples that have been found of religious tolerance. The structure of the compounds was also unique. There were two of them, lying north and south of each other, the northern one with two main temples, each is its own walled court with a portal between them, the southern compound with only one large temple. Each group was surrounded by rows of small shrines and stupas, linking them together. There was still another court in the northern compound. This Buddhist sanctuary has suffered considerable damage since it was first built in the 9th century. Some entrance gate ways have been found and they marked by stone guardians. Other temple that visitor can visit near the Prambanan group temple are: temple of Sawijen, Kalasan.

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Dwarapala, Temple Guardian

Plaosan Temple, Central Java, Indonesia Photo

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Pawon Temple

Pawon Temple

Pilgrim on their way to Borobudur walked 1150 meters after leaving Mendut temple, and crossed the two rivers Elo and Progo before coming to Pawon temple. Later they would walk another 1750 meters to reach Borobudur. Pawon is much smaller than Mendut, which it resembles in style and decoration, and is presumed to be a Buddhist structure of approximately the same age, since, as has been remarked already, all three temples are believed to have been ritually linked. The single inner chamber no longer contains a statue, but the decorations indicate that it was once dedicated to Kuvera, the Buddhist God of Fortune. Dwarves shower down rings and other jewellery from above the entrance, while Kalpataru Wishing Trees are a central feature of the panels on the outer walls. Some fine single figures adorn shallow niches. An unusual element at Pawon temple is the small windows high on the walls that are reminiscent of Sari and Plaosan, even though there is no second story here. The windows are too small to let in much light, but they serve to ventilate the inner chamber. Some people say that the name Pawon comes from Pa+awu+an, meaning a place for (cremation) ashes. This temple is also called Brajanalan, which comes from the Sanskrit words Vajra, meaning thunder (bolt), and Anala, meaning fire. If we accept these interpretations, we can say that, besides being a place for devotions on the way to Borobudur, there was also a place here, perhaps, for the cremation of notable people.

The rear side of Candi Pawon faces the Southeast.

The central cella originally had a pair of male and female deities at each corner of the building. When following the raised path around the main cella in the clockwise direction, the first pair of standing deities to either side of the north corner are no longer in evidence. However, the six remaining figures in the serial are remain intact.