The greatest Hindu’s temple in South-East Asia
It is one of the UNESCO world heritage site and the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, Prambanan. Prambanan temple is a building that was built in the 10th century during the reign of two kings, and Rakai Rakai Pikatan Balitung.
Photo credits – Arie Basuki/Tempo
There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. Once, a man named Bandung Bondowoso loved Roro Jonggrang. Because of his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso make 1000 temples with statues in one night. The request was nearly fulfilled Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and make a big fire that created an atmosphere like the morning. Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang be a statue of the 1000 because he felt cheated. By many Prambanan temple is often referred to as Loro Jonggrang.
Rose as high as 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire to show Hindu triumph in the land of Java. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, 40 km west of Surakarta and 120 km south of Semarang, just on the border between the provinces of Central Java and Yogyakarta. In the center area of this temple was built park.
In 1733, this temple was found by the CA. Lons a Dutch nationality. Then in 1855 Jan Willem IJzerman started to clean and move some rocks and soil from the temple room. Some time later Isaac Groneman conduct large-scale demolition and temple stones were piled haphazardly along the River Opak.
In 1902-1903, Theodoor van Erp keep parts prone to collapse. In the years 1918-1926, followed by the Bureau of Archaeological (Oudheidkundige Dienst) under PJ Perquin in a more methodical and systematic, as known to his predecessors did removal and demolition of thousands of rock without thinking of the restoration effort back.
In 1926 De Haan continued until his death in 1930. In 1931 replaced by Ir. V.R. van Romondt up in 1942 and then handed over leadership of the renovation to the son of Indonesia and it continued until 1993.
Many parts of the temple is renovated, using new stones, because many of the original stones were stolen or reused elsewhere. A temple will only be restored if at least 75% of the original stone is still there. Therefore, many small temples are not rebuilt and only looked foundation course.
Photo credits – Rini PWE/Tempo
Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. The three temples are a symbol of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Swan to Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition, there are two temples wedge, four-color temples, and the four corners of the temple. In the second there are 224 temples.
Entering the Shiva temple located in the middle and the highest building, you’ll see four rooms. One main room contains a statue of Shiva, while the other three rooms each containing a statue of Durga (Shiva’s wife), Agastya (Shiva’s teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva’s son). Durga is touted as the statue of Roro Jonggrang described in the legend above.
In Vishnu temple located in the north of Shiva temple, you will only see one room containing a statue of Vishnu. Similarly, Brahma temple located on the south side of Shiva temple, you will only find one room with a statue of Brahma.
Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located near the temple of Vishnu. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology, who was gold, white-faced, red-winged, beak and wings like eagles.
It is estimated, the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means ‘rises’ or ‘shining’, usually associated with the god Re) in ancient Egyptian mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda is born handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amrita (holy water of the gods)
Photo credits – Arie Basuki/Tempo
Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. According to experts, the relief is similar to the Ramayana story is revealed through oral traditions. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that the Hindu religion is considered as a tree of life, sustainability and environmental compatibility. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described middle flanking a lion. The existence of this tree makes experts consider that the people of the 9th century had wisdom to manage its environment.
To reach Prambanan is quite easy, with a variety of flight options you can get to and from downtown Yogyakarta Indonesia, you can rent a car or a taxi headed to Prambanan temple with a travel time of about half an hour.
