Posted on: Aug 29, '08
PRAMBANAN - A Temple Complex
Friends, this time I wish to write about a largest Hindu temple compound existing in Central Java in Indonesia and is located approximately 1 km east of Yogyakarta. It is listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, the very typical style of Hindu temples. The central building is stated to be 47 meters high. The building was stated to have built around 850 CE either by Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. As the temple was abandoned soon after its construction it deteriorated. The temple is being reconstructed since 1918 and the main building had been completed by 1953. Most of the original stonework is stated to have been stolen and used at remote construction sites there fore it is said that most of the smaller shrines around cannot be reconstructed. Added to this the temple was much damaged during the earthquake in Java in 2006. Large pieces of debris, including carvings, were scattered all over the ground.
The temple complex consist of three zones. The outer zone is a large space, probably was a large sacred park or priests boarding school. The middle zone consisted of four rows of 224 individual small shrines all identical in design and is slightly elevated towards the centre. They are called “Candi Perwara” or complimentary temples of the main temple. They are in four rows around the central temple and it was believed that it had something to do with four castes, and the row nearest to the central compound was accessible to the priests only and the other three were reserved for the noble, the knights, and the simple people respectively. Where as some others believed that the rows had nothing to do with the castes and they were simply meditation places for the priests and as worship place for the 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 are 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 are 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 pedestal that bears the carving of Naga serpents on north side of pedestal. The other three smaller chambers contain Statue of Agastya in 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.
Main shrine is dedicated to Shiva, in Prambanan temple complex. The two other main shrines are that of Vishnu on the north side of Shiva shrine, and that of Brahma on the south. Both temples face east and each contain only one large chamber, each dedicated to respective gods and their statues in it. In front of each main temple there is a smaller temple 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 is series of bas-relief depict the story of lord Krishna. Apart from the famous temple complex of Thrimuthi as detailed above Prambanan is the location of some of the earliest Buddhist temples in Indonesia.
Tags: high, earthquake, trimurti, hindu temple, heritage site, ramayana
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