Joglosmart Tourism: Mendut Temple

Mendut Temple

Mendut was once linked to Borobudur by stone-paved walk, which passed by Pawon. All three sanctuaries are Buddhist, belong to the same period, and there was apparently some ritual link between them. It is believed that pilgrims assembled at Mendut and then processed down the 3 kilometers path to Borobudur, with stay for meditation at Pawon. The beautiful reliefs on the walls of the temple are the largest that have yet been found in Indonesia. They cover each of the main surfaces of the back and two sidewalls with large single panels. The central figures of these reliefs are male or female Bodhisattvas, being who postpone achieving Buddhahood in order to help men. On the short returns decorating each wall there are single figures of Bodhisattvas. The much smaller, but no less delicate reliefs on the balustrade and on the triangles formed by the walls to the stairs are filled with fables from the Jataka stories. With such beauty on the outside, it should not be surprising to find that the single chamber of the temple is even more impressive and just as in fine workmanship. There is a 3 meters high statue of the Lord Buddha as Sakyamuni, Light of the World, delivering his first sermon in the deer park, as shown by small figures under the footstool. He is flanked on his right by a somewhat smaller statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and on his left, by similar statue of Bodhisattva Vajrapani. Each of these statues has been hewn from a single block of stone, which has saved them from the destruction that has overtaken so many other statues smaller in size, or made bronze and other metals that have been melted down and used for other purposes Whatever other decorations there once were in this chamber, they could hardly have improved the atmosphere of serenity and devotion still to be found there today. Lit with oil lamps and adorned with masses of flowers, glory was once present in Mendut.

Location
Administratively, Mendut temple is located at Mendut village, Mungkid Magelang Regency, Central Java. This location is 2 kilometers southeast of Magelang. It is easy accessible by any vehicle either two or four wheeled-ones. This temple is nearby the most popular Borobudur temple, one of Seven Wonders of the World. As usual, for tourists, especially foreign ones, a visit to Mendut temple is scheduled in the same package with that to Borobudur and Pawon temples. Exclusively for Mahayana Buddhist, these three temples are closely interrelated. To be noted, when it is full moon, at the date of 15 according to Javanese calendar (usually on May), in Tri Suci Waicak day, this location is usually used as the place of ritual process by Buddha people. And this ritual process becomes a great attraction for either local or foreign tourists.

Discovery and Restoration
In 1986, Mendut temple structures, save its roof, were found to be hidden in marshy area. Then it was again discovered, cleaned and dug in 1897, its base and body were restored but not yet satisfactory. The next restoration done by Th. Van Erp in 1908, in time of Borobudur restoration. In this year part of its roof was rearranged, and in 1925, some small stupas could be placed again on the tops.

Foundation of the Temple
Historians estimated that Mendut temple was founded in the ninth century by the Syailendra dynasty. This estimation was on the ground of Karang Tengah script written in 824 AD. Mentioned on the script that Indra, the king, built a sacred building named Venuvara, which is called Mendut Temple.

Structure of the Mendut Temple

Temple Reliefs
The temple stands on high enough basement, making it looks more attractive and strong. The ladder and entrance face to northwest, meaning that this temple faces to that direction. It is absolutely the characteristic of Mendut temple for the most temples in Central Java generally face to the east. Above the basement there is a tunnel surrounding the body of the temple. The top has three floors and decorated with 48 small stupas. Looking at the construction, the top of Mendut temple seems to be covered with a huge roof. The height of the temple is approximately 2.4 meters. The Mendut temple has outstanding attraction rarely found in other temples in Java or even in Indonesia. The existence of relatively three large enough statues inside the temple has its special high beauty either physically or artistically. As far as Buddhist is concerned, those three statues reflect sacred light. Each of the three was made of a slab of stone, indicating how extraordinary artistic craft of our ancestor. Their details are as follow:

Dyani Buddha Cakyamuni
This statue looks to west in sitting position, its two legs nudged down, touching teratai base and the position of Dharmacakramudra hand symbolizes being busy turning around the life cycles.

Arcabodhisattva Avalokitesvara/Lokesvara
This statue is located next to Buddha Cakyamuni, facing to south. It is in sitting position, its left leg bent inward and other one sticks straightly downward. The position of Varamudra hand symbolizes being busy teaching the tenets, and is shown wearing notability dresses, namely crown, jewellery on its ear, hand, neck, and shoulder.

Bodhisattvarajrapani
It is located on the right hand of Cakyamuni statue, looking to south. Likewise cakyamuni, this statue wears nobility dress. He is also in sitting position, his right hand bent down and his left one touches his tight. As for his left leg, it sticks straight downward. The decoration of relief scattered on the surfaces of outer wall of its basement and temple body makes the Mendut temple much more attractive, its motives and the themes of its decoration are derived from Buddha myths and symbols, especially Jataka myth. There are synopsis actions of Jatayu curved on panels of outer side of the ladder and the bottom of the temple. One of the panels on right hand side of the outside ladder reflects stories about turtles that were in danger, being secured by two birds by biting both ends of the wood and then brought them to a garden. There is also Jataka myth that telling about a monkey cheats a crocodile. On this relief is shown a monkey sitting on the back of a crocodile.

Other attractive reliefs on the body of the temple are:

Kuvera/Yaksa/Panthika/Arawika Relief
This relief is found on right hand side of the entrance leading to the inside part of the temple, reflecting a man figure surrounded by children. Under his chair there are urns filled with money. The money filled-urn is one of attributes of Kuvera goodness. In Buddha anthology, he is formerly a men-eater monster who repented and changed to be children protector after seeing Buddha.

Hariti Relief
On the right side of the entrance of temple room, there is Hariti relief. Hariti is shown in sitting position with a child on her lap. Likewise Kuvera, she was formerly a man-eater monster who repented and changed to be children protector as soon as she met Buddha. Furthermore, she is known as fertility goodness.

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Dewi Tara Relief
This one is on the body wall on south side of Avalokitesvara relief, curved on a part of central panel, sitting on Padmasana and on the either sides of him sat his princess Dewi Tara. Beneath Padmasana is a pond filled with teratai. In Buddha mythology, this relief describes story telling about the birth of Dewi Tara. A part of those reliefs, there are others describing Bodhisattva, that is on east side of the wall, Dewi Tara on north side and some other relief in the forms of flora.