Prambanan Temple "The biggest Hindu temple"

About..

The astonishing temples of Prambanan, believed to be the proof of love from Bandung Bondowoso to Princess Loro Jonggrang, are the best remaining examples of Java’s extended period of Hindu culture. Located 17 km northeast of Yogyakarta, the temples represent the wealth of sculptural detail and considered as one of the Indonesia’s most phenomenal examples of Hindu art. Legend says that there were once a thousand temples stand in the area, but due to a great earthquake in the 16th century, accelerated by the treasure hunters and locals searching for material, lots of the temples are gone now, although initiatives to restore the temples have been conducted to some extent.

Prambanan Temple is said to be the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world. It is the biggest temple complex in Java with three main temples dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief.

According to the history, Rakai Pikatan, a Hindu prince from Sanjaya Dynasty, who had married into the ruling Buddhist Sailendra monarchy built all the temples in the Prambanan archaeological park in the 8th century AD. In its original form, the temple complex contained over 250 large and small temples. The temple compound was expanded by successive Mataram kings with the addition of the hundreds of perwara temples around the central temples. It served as the royal temple of the Kingdom of Mataram for its religious ceremonies and sacrifices. However, in the 10th century the temple was largely abandoned because the Mataram dynasty moved to East Java. It then collapsed during a major earthquake in the 16th century.

Also locally known as Roro Jonggrang, legend has it that the 1,000th statue of the temple was the statue of a slender virgin lady named Roro Jonggrang, who turned into stone by a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso after her attempt to thwart Bondowoso’s effort in building a thousand temples and two wells in one night for the lady failed. Bondowoso was in love with Roro Jonggrang and asked her to marry him. However, Roro Jonggrang was full of hatred because Bondowoso killed her father; hence she tried to refuse his proposal by asking him a seemingly impossible task. As a man who had unseen troop of spirits, it was easy for Bondowoso to finish the task. After nearly a thousand temples had been built, Roro Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like the morning had broken. This way, the spirits had no choice but left before completing the last one temple. Bondowoso realised that the lady had cheated him so he turned Roro Jonggrang into the 1,000th statue. This is a very interesting folklore that local people love to share.

STRUCTURAL DESAIGN

The high structures are typical of Hindu architecture, and the plan of the temple complex is a Mandala, as is Borobudur. As a symbol of the Hindu cosmos, the temple is vertically divided into three parts, both vertically and in plan.

Bhurloka

The base of the temples, as well as the outer square is the underworld. It was a large space marked by a rectangular wall. This is a place for ordinary folk, mortals, both human and animal. This is the place where lust and desire are commonplace. It is an unholy area.

Bhuvarloka

The central body of the temples and the middle square of the complex, represents the ‘middle world’ the place for those who have left their worldly possessions. This is where people begin to see the light of truth. The middle world had four rows of 224 small individual shrines, where all shrines are identical.

Svarloka

The top of the temples and the innermost square represents the realm of the gods, the holiest zone, and is crowned. Three 16 temples that consist of 3 main temples: Brahma the Creator, Shiva the Destroyer, and Vishnu the Keeper. Shiva temple is the biggest and the tallest amongst all with 47.6m high, while Brahma and Vishnu are 33m high. In addition to the three main temples, there are three Wahana Temples, four Kelir Temples, two Apit Temples and four Patok Temples.

WORSHIPING ANCESTORS

It is understood that when a king or prominent person died, the ashes of the deceased along with various objects representing physical and spiritual symbols of the cosmos, were placed in a stone casket.

This casket was placed in a shaft in the base of a temple, above it was built a statue of a god, of whom the deceased was said to be an incarnation. This statue then becomes the object of worship for those honouring and worshipping the king. Ancestor worship has been an Indonesian cultural tradition since prehistoric times, and it has been adapted into the local adaptations of Hinduism and Buddhism. Some archaeologists suggest that the idol of Shiva in the central chamber of the Prambanan’s main temple is modeled after King Balitung, of the Mataram Kingdom. One of the possible instigators of the temple building.

The casket found in the well of the Siva temple at Prambanan was sitting on a pile of charcoal, earth and animal bones. It contained a variety of objects, including, coins, jewels, precious metals and ashes. Gold sheets with inscriptions of Varuna, the god of the sea, and Parvata, the god of the mountains were also found.

What To do?

At the largest Hindu temple complex in Southeast Asia, you can do anythings:
1. Getting to know the literary arts and Hindu stories
2. Hunting Photos
3.Walking around the temple complex
and if you want to enjoy Prambanan in different ways, came on the night of the full moon each month at 20:00 to 22:00. At this time, was held Ramayana ballet performances on the outdoor Trimurti Stage with The third temple god which highlighted by the lamp as the background.

 Performances at the open stage is only done during the dry season, while in the rainy season, the show moved to the location of the covered stage.
How to reach?

Prambanan can be reached with easily by flight to Special District Of Yogyakarta that served by several national airline. if you come from another country, the first you must go to Jakarta and then conecting flight with route Jakarta-jogja, it takes time 45 minute to reached yogyakarta. then after landed at Adi Sucipto international airport yogyakarta, you can go to Prambanan temple by taxi, bus, or other public transportation.

Where to Stay?

Don't worry about where you'll stay, Prambanan Temple is so close with the city of yogyakarta, and there is so many hotel with varying rates. and of course you can also enjoy the tourist attractions in Yogyakarta.