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.

• Sukuh Tample
• Sari Temple
• Sambisari Temple
• Ratu Boko Palace
• Prambanan Temple
• Plaosan Temple
• Pawon Temple
• Mendut Temple
• Kalasan Temple
• Gedongsongo Temple
• Dieng Temple
• Borobudur Temple

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.

• Sukuh Tample
• Sari Temple
• Sambisari Temple
• Ratu Boko Palace
• Prambanan Temple
• Plaosan Temple
• Pawon Temple
• Mendut Temple
• Kalasan Temple
• Gedongsongo Temple
• Dieng Temple
• Borobudur Temple

Dwarapala, Temple Guardian

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.

• Sukuh Tample
• Sari Temple
• Sambisari Temple
• Ratu Boko Palace
• Prambanan Temple
• Plaosan Temple
• Pawon Temple
• Mendut Temple
• Kalasan Temple
• Gedongsongo Temple
• Dieng Temple
• Borobudur Temple

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.

This is a carving of the Hindu wishing tree. Above this you can see the small windows of Pawon.