Everything about Prambanan totally explained
Prambanan is the largest
Hindu temple compound in
Central Java in
Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of
Yogyakarta.
The temple is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of
Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.
History
It was built around
850 CE by either
Rakai Pikatan, king of the second
Mataram dynasty, or
Balitung Maha Sambu, during the
Sanjaya Dynasty.
Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate. Reconstruction of the compound began in
1918. The main building was completed in around
1953. Much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused at remote construction sites. A temple will only be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available, and therefore only the foundation walls of most of the smaller shrines are now visible and with no plans for their reconstruction.
The temple was damaged during the
earthquake in Java in
2006. Early photos suggest that although the complex appears to be structurally intact, damage is significant. Large pieces of debris, including carvings, were scattered over the ground. The temple has been closed to the public until damage can be fully assessed. The head of Yogyakarta Archaeological Conservation Agency stated that: "it will take months to identify the precise damage". However, some weeks later in 2006 the site re-opened for visitors. The immediate surroundings of the Hindu temples remain off-limits for safety reasons.
Lara Jonggrang complex
» This information doesn't take account of damage caused by the 2006 Java earthquake
The Prambanan temple complex consists of three zones. The outer zone is a large space marked by a rectangular wall (destroyed). The original function is unknown; possibilities are that it was a sacred park, or priests' boarding school (
ashram). The supporting buildings for the temple complex were made from organic material; as a consequence no remains occur.
The middle zone consisted of four rows of 224 individual small shrines. These concentric rows of temples were made in identical design. Each row towards the center is slightly elevated. These shrines are called "
Candi Perwara" or complimentary temples, the additional buildings of the main temple. Some believed it was offered to the king as a sign of submission. The Perwara are arranged in four rows around the central temples, some believed it has something to do with four
castes, made according to the rank of the people allowed to enter them; the row nearest to the central compound was accessible to the priests only, the other three were reserved for the nobles, the knights, and the simple people respectively. While another believed that the four rows of Perwara has nothing to do with four castes, it just simply made as meditation place for priests and as worship place for devotees.
The central compound is the holiest among the three zones. Its the square elevated platform surrounded by square stone wall with stone gates on each four cardinal points. This holiest compound is assembled of eight main shrines or
candi. The three main shrines, called
Trimurti ("three forms"), are dedicated to the three gods:
Brahma the Creator,
Vishnu the Keeper, and
Shiva the Destroyer. The other three shrine in front of three main temples is dedicated to
vahana of each gods. Between these row of main temple, on north and south side stands two
Candi Apit. Beside these 8 main temples, there's also 8 smaller shrines; 4
Candi Kelir on four cardinal direction of the entrance, and 4
Candi Patok on four corner.
The Shiva shrine at the center contains five chambers, four small chamber in every cardinal direction and one bigger main chamber in central part of the temple. The east chamber connect to central chamber that houses a three meter high statue of
Shiva Mahadeva. The statue of Shiva stands on
Yoni pedestal that bears the carving of
Naga serpents on east side of pedestal. The other three smaller chambers contain statues of Hindu Gods related to Shiva; his consort
Durga, the
rishi Agastya, and
Ganesha, his son. Statue of
Agastya occupy the south chamber, the west chamber houses the statue of
Ganesha, while the north chamber contains the statue of
Durga Mahisasuramardini depicting
Durga as the slayer of Bull demon. The shrine of Durga is also called the temple of
Lara Jonggrang (Javanese: slender virgin), after a Javanese legend of princess Lara Jonggrang.
The two other main shrines are that of
Vishnu on the north side of Shiva shrine, and the one of
Brahma on the south. Both temple facing east and each contain only one large chamber, each dedicated to respected gods; Brahma temple contains the statue of Brahma and Vishnu temple houses the statue of Vishnu.
In front of each main temple is a smaller temples on the east side, dedicated to the mounts (
vahana)of the respective gods - the bull
Nandi for Shiva, the gander
Angsa for Brahma, and Vishnu's Eagle
Garuda. Garuda holds important role for
Indonesia, which serves as the
national symbol of Indonesia, also to the airline
Garuda Indonesia.
The
bas-reliefs along the
balustrades on the gallery around Shiva and Brahma temple depict the
Ramayana legend. They illustrate how
Sita, the wife of
Rama, is abducted by
Ravana. The monkey king
Hanuman brings his army to help Rama and rescue Sita. This story is also shown by the
Ramayana Ballet, regularly performed at full moon at Trimurti open air theatre in west side of the illuminated Prambanan complex. On the balsutrades in Vishnu temple there's series of bas-relief depict the story of lord
Krishna.
The legend
The popular legend of
Lara Jonggrang connect the site of
Ratu Boko Palace, the origin of
Durga statue in northern cella/chamber of the main shrine, and the origin of
Sewu temple complex nearby.
The legend tell the story about Prince Bandung Bondowoso that fell in love with Princess
Lara Jonggrang, the daughter of King Boko. But the princess rejected his proposal of marriage because Bandung Bondowoso has killed King Boko and ruled her kingdom.
Bandung Bondowoso insist the union. Finally Lara Jonggrang forced to agree for a union in marriage, but she posed one impossible condition: Bandung must build her a thousand temples in just one night.
The Prince entered into meditation and conjure up a multitude of spirits (demons) from the earth. Helped by supernatural beings, he succeed in building 999 temples. When the prince was about to succeed, the princess awake her palace maids and ordered the women of the village to begin pounding rice and set a fire in the east of the temple, attempting to make the prince and the spirits believe that the sun was about to rise. As the cocks began to crow, fooled by the light and the sounds of morning time, the supernatural helpers fled back into the ground. The prince was furious about the trick and in revenge he cursed Lara Jongrang to stone. She became the last and the most beautiful of the thousand statues. According to the traditions, the unfinished thousand temple created by the demons become the Sewu temple compounds nearby (
Sewu means "thousands" in Javanese), and the Princess is the image of
Durga in the north cella of the Shiva temple at Prambanan, which is still known as Lara Jongrang or
Slender Virgin.
Buddhist temples
Apart from the Lara Jongrang complex, Prambanan is the location of some of the
earliest Buddhist temples in
Indonesia. Not far to the north are found the ruins of
Bubrah temple,
Lumbung temple, and
Sewu temple. Further east are found
Plaosan temple. To the west are found
Kalasan temple and
Sari temple, further to the west are
Sambisari temple. While to the south the
Ratu Boko compounds on higher ground. All of the temple surrounds Prambanan, except Sambisari, are
Buddhist temples:
North of the Lara Jongrang complex
- Candi Sewu. Buddhist temple complex, older than Roro Jonggrang. A main sanctuary surrounded by many smaller temples. Well preserved guardian statues, replicas of which stand in the central courtyard at the Jogja Kraton.
Candi Lumbung. Buddhist-style, consisting of one main temple surrounded by 16 smaller ones.
Candi Plaosan. Buddhist, probably 9th century. Thought to have been built by a Hindu king for his Buddhist queen. Two main temples with reliefs of a man and a woman. Slender stupa.
South of the Lara Jongrang complex
Arca Bugisan. Seven Buddha and bodhisattva statues, some collapsed, representing different poses and expressions.
Candi Sajiwan. Buddhist temple decorated with reliefs concerning education. The base and staircase are decorated with animal fables.
West of the Lara Jongrang complex
Candi Sari. Once a sanctuary for Buddhist priests. 8th century. Nine stupas at the top with two rooms beneath, each believed to be places for priests to meditate.
Candi Kalasan. 8th century Buddhist temple built in commemoration of the marriage of a king and his princess bride, ornamented with finely carved reliefs.
Candi Gana. Rich in statues, bas-reliefs and sculpted stones. Frequent representations of children or dwarfs with raised hands. Located in the middle of housing complex. Under restoration since 1997.
Candi Kedulan. Discovered in 1994 by sand diggers, 4m deep. Square base of main temple visible. Secondary temples not yet fully excavated.Further Information
Get more info on 'Prambanan'.
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