Plaosan, Twin Temple in Yogyakarta

Plaosan built Rakai Pikatan has some uniqueness compared to other temples, the two main temples are "twins" and the smooth surface terrace. In this temple there is also a figure of Vajrapani, Amitbha, and Prajnaparamitha.

You do not need to rush back to the inn after a visit to Prambanan, for not far from the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world that you will also see other temples are equally compelling. Advanced to the north as far as 1 km, you will see Plaosan, a temple built by Rakai Pikatan to the queen, Pramudyawardani. Located in the Village District Bugisan Prambanan temple architecture is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist.Plaosan complex is divided into 2 groups, namely Plaosan Lor and South Plaosan temple.The second temple has a rectangular patio surrounded by a wall, which shaped meditation substation in the west and the stupa on the other. Because of the similarities, the appearance Plaosan Lor and the South is almost identical when viewed from a distance so far Plaosan also often called the twin temples.


 Building Plaosan Lor has a central courtyard surrounded by a wall with the entrance on the west. In the middle of that page there is a marquee measuring 21.62 mx 19 m. In the eastern part of the pavilion there are 3 pieces of the altar, the altar of the north, east and south. Preview Amitbha, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, and there at the altar Aksobya east.Samantabadhara Stupa and the figure of Ksitigarbha is in the north aisle, while Manjusri picture there on the altar of the west.South Plaosan temple also has a pavilion in the center surrounded by 8 small temples are divided into two levels and each level consists of 4 temples. There is also a picture Tathagata Amitbha, Vajrapani with vajra attribute Utpala and Prajnaparamita which is considered as the "mother of all Buddhas". Some other pictures can still be found but not at the original place. Manujri figure which, according to a Dutch scientist named Krom is significant also found.Section Bas reliefs of this temple has a unique picture of men and women. There is one man who portrayed sitting cross-legged with their hands and worship the figure of a man with his hands in vara mudra and vase surrounded by a six foot man is smaller. A woman there who was standing with a hand drawn vara mudra, while around him there are books, pallets and vases. Krom believes that the figures he was the picture of a woman patron supporter of the two temples.The entire complex has 116 Plaosan ancillary stupas and 50 ancillary temples. Ancillary stupas can be seen on all sides of the main temple, as well as ancillary temples are smaller. When walking to the north, you can see the building open called Mandapa. Two inscription can also be found, the inscription on the gold coins in the north of the main temple and inscriptions written on stone in the temple Perwara first row.One peculiarity Plaosan is a smooth surface of the terrace. Krom temple terrace opinion is different from other temples built terraces in the same period. According to him, it was associated with the function of the temple at that time allegedly to save the canonical texts owned by Buddhist monks. Other allegations stemming from Dutch scientists, if the number of priests in the area then it might be a little terrace was used as a temple (Buddhist temple).If you look around the temple, you will know that Plaosan actually a vast temple complex. It can be seen from the fence along 460 m from north to south and 290 m from west to east, as well as an interior fence that consists of a trench along the 440 m from north to south and 270 m from west to east. Trenches that make up the interior of the fence can be seen by walking east through the middle of this historic building.Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo

Tara Temple, the Oldest Buddhist Heritage in Yogyakarta

Tara Temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Tara is the ancient outer walls coated with cement. The oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta was built by Rakai Panangkaran, king of the dynasty dynasty which also conceptualize the establishment of Borobudur.Many people always mention when talking about building Borobudur Buddhist temple. In fact, there are many Buddhist temples patterned contained in Yogyakarta, one of which is closely related to the Borobudur Temple Tara. The temple is located in Kalibening, Kalasan was built by the same drafter of Borobudur, the Rakai Panangkaran. Because of its location in the area Kalasan, the temple is better known by the name Kalasan.

Completed in the year 778 AD, the temple of Tara became the oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta. The temple which stood not far from Yogya Solo Road was built as a tribute to marriage Pancapana from Sanjaya Dynasty with Dyah Pramudya Ward of the dynasty dynasty. Besides as a wedding gift, the temple was also a response to the king's proposal to build another shrine to the goddess Tara and monasteries for the priests.


 Tara Temple is the basis of square-shaped building with each side measuring 45 meters high and 34 meters. Vertically temple consists of three parts, namely the foot of the temple, the temple and temple roof. The foot of the temple is a building that stood on a stone pedestal square and a large stone. In that section there is a staircase with makara ornament on the end. Meanwhile, around the foot of the temple there are decorative tendrils coming out of a pot.The temple has the appearance that juts out in the middle. On the outer surface of the temple there is a niche decorated with the figure of the god who holds a lotus flower in a standing position. Section tenggaranya have a booth in which there is a throne decorated with motifs backed lion standing on the backs of elephants. The chamber can be entered from the viewer that there are booths on the east side.The roof of the temple octagonal and consist of two levels. A Buddha statue depicting humans are at the first level while at the second level there are statues depicting Buddhist Yani. The top of the temple in the form of a square symbolizing the highlight of Semeru with ornate stupas. On the border of the body temple with a roof of the temple there is a flower decoration Khayangan bodied creatures called dwarf gana.If you look at the detail of the temple, you will also find beautiful reliefs on the surface. For example reliefs trees and clouds and their gods Khayangan residents who were playing the sounds. The inmates were brought Khayangan rebab, shellfish and camara. There is also a picture of flower buds, leaves and tendrils. Reliefs in the temple of Tara has a uniqueness that is coated with a cement called Brajalepha ancient, made from the sap of certain trees.Around the temple there are stupas with a height of about 4.6 m amounted to 52 pieces.Although stupas were no longer intact because it was impossible assembled parts intact, you can still enjoy it. Visiting the temple of the history of the founding of the temple is known by the inscription lettered Panagari this, you will increasingly recognize the greatness of Rakai Panangkaran who even had a shrine built in Thailand.The temple is also a proof that in the past has been no attempt to reconcile religion with each other. Evidently, Panangkaran Hindu temple built on a proposal Tara Buddhist monks and dedicated to Pancapana also Buddhist. This temple is also the one that inspired the sacred buildings Atisha, a Buddhist from India who had visited Borobudur and spread Buddhism to Tibet.Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo

Reading the Message from Nirvana in Temple Gampingan

Gampingan temple discovered in 1995 supposed to be part of the Site Gampingan. The foot of the temple decorated with reliefs of various types of animals, one of which birds are believed to be able to bring messages from nirvana.

Not all temples have typical, beautiful relief since generally only decorated by statues and reliefs that are common in almost all temples. One of the typical, beautiful relief is Gampingan temple, a temple which was accidentally discovered by a brick craftsman in Hamlet Gampingan, Piyungan, Bantul in 1995. Despite its small size and incomplete, Gampingan temple is still rich in dazzling relief.One of the reliefs that can be found in this temple are reliefs of animals that are at the foot of the temple. Relief in the animal looks so natural that can be known described animals.Quite rare temples having such relief, at least only Prambanan and Mendut have similar relief. All relief is decorated with tendrils background, namely padmamula (lotus roots) are believed to be the source of life.


 When YogYES around, looks kind of animal that dominates is the bird. There are reliefs crows seem to have a big beak, sturdy body, the wing inflates upward and fan-shaped tail.There are also reliefs depicted woodpecker has a crest on the head, beak is rather long and pointed wings that do not expand as well. In addition, there is also a cock that has a swollen chest and inflate the wing down.Making reliefs of birds in large quantities in this temple as it relates to public confidence transcendental power of the bird. It is believed, the bird is a manifestation of the gods as well as messenger of the gods or nature nirvana. Birds are also associated with absolute human freedom is achieved after successful left the world, the symbol of the human soul is separated from the body.Relief of many other animals depicted is a frog. Society at that time believed that the frog has magic powers that can bring rain, so the frog is also believed to increase productivity, because of water frogs brought rain could increase crop yields. Frogs are often emerges from the water also symbolizes the renewal of life and resurrection to a better direction.Until now, the relief still leaves the question, whether a fable (didongengkan animal story on the kids) like in the picture Mendut or animal that deliberately to show specific intent.The question arises because the picture of an animal such as the Temple Gampingan not found in the book that contains fables, such as the Jataka, Sukasaptati, Pancatantra and its derivative versions.Gampingan temple which is built between the years 730-850 AD is believed to be a place of worship Gods Jambhala (God of fortune, the son of Lord Shiva). It was based on the discovery of ARCA Jambhala when extracting. Jambhala described as being in a state of meditation, his eyes closed while sitting cross-legged. Body parts decorated by iconographic elements (asanas) which has the form of a lotus leaf amounted to 8 pieces as a symbol of chakras in the human body.Figure Jambhala in this temple is different from those in other temples. Generally, Jambhala other temples depicted with wide eyes that looked at the devotees along with a variety of decoration that symbolizes prosperity and luxury. Believed, based on the depiction of these different motivations worship, not to invoke prosperity but guidance in order to achieve true happiness.Visiting the Temple Gampingan will lead us to rethink about the path we have taken to get to the happiness and prosperity. Relief is dominated by animals that live in natural surroundings can be a form of local wisdom of that era in representing a message from nirvana: to live in prosperity and avoid disaster, people should maintain harmony with nature.Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo

Revealing the Puzzle of Ancient Dam Area Temple Kedulan

Kedulan temple discovered in 1993. The discovery of this temple and its two inscriptions at the excavation site invites questions about the existence of an ancient village named Pananggaran and a nearby dam.

Kedulan Temple is a Hindu-style temple located in the hamlet Kedulan, approximately 3 kilometers from the temple Kalasan. This temple was accidentally discovered by miners sand on 24 November 1993. Distinct pleasure to be gained when visiting this temple, because you can enjoy the process of reconstruction of the temple which is very complicated.Excavation site as deep as 7 meters will be directly met on arrival in this temple complex.Excavation site that contains the temple stones are scattered in all directions and the foot of the main temple is visible still fused. In this excavation site Kedulan temple complex which consists of a main temple and three ancillary temples (companion) originally stood.Now, the foot of the main temple being tested in order to be boarded kekokohannya other stones at a later stage.


 Surrounding area around the excavation site, will be found the temple stones which was reconstructed by matching stones with one stone. Stones that have been successfully matched are certain symbols that are written using chalk. Visible temporary construction fencing hall of the temple buildings, roofs, chambers of the temple and some other parts of the body temple. Seen also phallus and yoni which allegedly is a component that fills the chambers of the temple.Some of the ornaments which decorate the temple has enjoyed its beauty even though the temple itself is still in the stage of reconstruction. For example, relief under the dragon yoni which is expected to fill the main chamber of the main temple, a different figure with dragon decoration yoni other temples in Central Java since seen to have jaw. There are also reliefs of gods in some parts of the temple walls, ornate tendrils, rosette, and the relief motif.Completed rounds, YogYES talking with one of the staff named Haryono. He told me how hard it is to reconstruct the building had collapsed. There are hundreds of stone that must be matched so that the temple could stand up again, but to match them no clues at all.Because of the difficulty, sometimes a worker can only match one other stone with a stone within a week. Yes, like put together a giant puzzle.When entering the information room next to the excavation site, you can determine the approximate design Kedulan Temple. From the results expected, the main temple has a height of 8 meters, divided into the legs, body and roof. The temple consists of 10 layers of stone with a height of 2.4 meters, has a few niches containing statues of Ganesha (son of Lord Shiva), Agastya, Durga (wife of Lord Shiva), Nandaka and Nandiswara (vehicle Goddess Durga), and has a narrow corridor that thought to only be entered certain people.The roof of the temple consists of 13 layers of andesite. From the above information can be estimated that the overall architecture is similar to Sambisari temple.At the same information space, you can see the debris debris ornate bowls and pottery items allegedly used in ritual worship in this temple. In addition, there is also the wood comes from trees that grew during this temple stood. Haryono told YogYES that one tree wood chips that had brought someone to be carved, but returned because the person who took it experienced disastrous.Some photographs of other objects found during excavation can also be seen in the information space. There is a photo made from bronze statues of gods and photos and Sumudul Pananggaran inscriptions found in 2003. On the walls of the room, there is a picture of the soil layer where the temple stones are found, as well as photographs depicting the process of excavation that lasted for years.On June 12, 2003, found 2 pieces of inscriptions at the excavation site. Inscriptions written in Sanskrit Pallawa and has been successfully read by two epigraf from the Department of Archaeology University of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Dr. Riboet Darmoseotopo and Tjahjono Prasodjo MA. Dates to the year 791 Saka (869 AD, or about 10 years after the Prambanan temple stands), the contents of the land tax exemption in the Village Pananggaran and Parhyangan, making dams for irrigation, the establishment of sacred buildings named Tiwaharyyan curses and threats for anyone who does not obey the rules.Some archaeologists suspect that the inscription relating to the establishment Kedulan Temple. The building is a temple sacred Tiwaharyyan allegedly Kedulan itself.Pananggaran village described in the inscription believed to be in the area around the temple, as well as the dam in question. But until now have not found traces of an ancient dam in question. Perhaps the dam was built on the River Opak within ± 4 km from the location of the temple, or perhaps also in the river which is now no longer exists as it is covered lava eruption of Mount Merapi, a thousand years ago.The number puzzle waiting to be solved along with the charm component of the temple made the trip to Temple Kedulan interesting to do. The condition of the temple are still in the stage of reconstruction just added pleasure when visiting.Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo

Mendut Temple

Mendut older than Borobudur temple. There is a story for children on the walls.
Mendut located 3 km to the east of Borobudur, a Buddhist temple built in 824 AD by King's sense of dynastic dynasty. Inside Mendut there are 3 (three) big statue.Cakyamuni who was sitting cross-legged with the hands turning the wheel of dharma.Awalokiteswara as Bodhi Satwa help mankind. Awalokiteswara is a statue of Amitabha which is above the crown, Vajrapani. She is holding a red lotus flowers placed on the palm of the hand.Maitreya as the savior of the human in the future
There is a story for children on the walls. The temple is often used to celebrate the Vesakceremony each May on the night of full moon and visited by pilgrims from Indonesia and foreign countries.

This temple is older than Borobudur temple. The architecture was rectangular and hasentrances on the ladder. The roof is also square and terraced, there is a stupa on top of it.

Pawon Temple

Pawon not a tomb, but rather as a place to store weapons Sense King named Vajranala.
Pawon located 1.5 km to the west of Mendut and to the east of the Borobudur Temple,also a Buddhist temple. When examined in detail in relief, turned out to be the beginning of the reliefs of Borobudur Temple.

Many people think Pawon is a tomb, but after examination proved to be a place to storeweapons Sense King named Vajranala. The temple is made ​​of volcanic stone. Judgingfrom the art building is a combination of art and buildings of ancient Javanese Hindu India.Pawon located right on the axis lines connecting Borobudur and Mendut.

The possibility of this temple was built to Kubera. This temple is located on the upperterrace and the stairs are rather wide. All parts are decorated with stupa (dagoba) andouter walls with symbolic pictures.

Muara Takus Temple

The temple is located in the Village Barelang Barelang, District Thirteen Koto Kampar, Kampar regency, Riau Province. The distance from Pekanbaru, the capital city of Riau province, about 128 km. The trip to the Village Barelang can only be done by road, which was from Pekanbaru to the United Kingdom until the Estuary Mahat. From Mahat Estuary through a small path leading to the village Barelang.

Barelang temple complex is the only relic of history that shaped temple in Riau. Temple nuanced Buddhistis this is proof that Buddhism once flourished in this region. However, archaeological experts have not been able to determine exactly when this temple was founded.There are two opinions about behalf Barelang. The first claims that the name was taken from the name of a small river which empties into the named Takus Right Kampar River.Another opinion says that Barelang consists of two words, namely "estuary" and "Takus".The word "estuary" memunyai understanding the obvious, which is a place to end a river flows into the sea or into larger rivers, while the word "Takus" comes from Chinese, Ta mean big, I mean old, and Se means temple or shrine . So the overall sense of the word Barelang is a big old temple located at the mouth of the river.


Barelang Temple is a Buddhist temple, visible from the stupa, which is a symbol of Gautama Buddha. There are opinions that say that this temple is a mixture of forms of Buddha and Shiva temple. The opinion is based on the shape of Mahligai Temple, one of the buildings in the temple complex Barelang, which resembles the shape of phallus (male) and yoni (female genitals). The architecture of this temple also has similarities with the architecture of the temples in Myanmar. Barelang Temple is a complex consisting of several buildings.

The main building is called Tuo Temple. This temple is 32.80 mx 21.80 m and is the largest building between existing buildings. It lies to the north of Temple Youngest. On its east and west there are stairs, which according to the original estimate decorated stupas, while at the bottom of the decorated statue of a seated lion. The building is memunyai side pieces 36 and consists of base I, II feet, body and top. The top has been damaged and stones have a lot missing.

Tuo Temple was built from a mixture of molded brick and sandstone (tuff). Tuo Temple Restoration implemented gradually due to the limited budget available. In 1990, base I on the east side. During the 1992/1993 fiscal year restoration was continued on the west side (legs I and II). The total building volume of 2235 m3, consisting of: feet: 2028 m3, body: 150 m3, and the peak: 57 m3. Building height reached 8.50 m.

The second building called the Temple Mahligai. The building is square with size 10.44 mx 10.60 m. Height up to 14.30 m standing on top of the octagonal foundations (astakoma) and bersisikan as many as 28 pieces. At its base there are multiple and lotus in the middle rose a tower that looks like a phallus (yoni).

In 1860, a Dutch archaeologist named Cornel de Groot visited Barelang. At that time, on every side he still found a statue of a seated lion. Currently these statues have disappeared. To the east, there is a square terrace with size 5.10 x 5.10 m with a staircase at the front. 423.20 volumes Mahligai m3yang Temple building consisting of 275.3 m3 volume of the legs, the body is 66.6 m3 and 81.3 m3 peak. Mahligai restored temple began in 1978 and completed in 1983.

The third building called the Temple Palangka, located 3.85 m east of Temple Mahligai.The building is composed of red bricks that are not printed. Palangka Temple is the temple of the smallest, the recesses of the stone is not the same preparation with Mahligai temple walls. Before the redeveloped base was buried about one meter. Palangka restored temple began in 1987 and completed in 1989. Restoration was carried out only in the legs and body of the temple, because the top is still found in 1860 no longer exist. In the north there is a staircase that has been damaged, so it can not know the original form.Foot octagonal temple with a corner lot, a length of 6.60 m, width 5.85 m and 1.45 m height from ground level with a volume of 52.9 m3.


The building named Temple the fourth youngest. Youngest of the temple is located west of Temple Mahligai. The building is made of two types of rocks, namely sandstone (tuff) located on the front, while the bricks found on the back. Restoration of this temple began in 1988 and was completed in 1990. Through restoration of the temple was restored to its original shape, ie rectangular with size 7.50 mx 16.28 m. The top is not restored, because the form is unknown. Height 6.20 m after restoration of the soil surface, and volume of 365.8 m3.

According to the image created by J.W. Yzerman together with TH. A.F. Delprat and Opziter (cinder) H.L. Leijdie Melvile, on top of a building made of red brick are 8 pieces of small stupas surrounding a large stupa. On top of buildings made of sandstone (tuff) there is a large tupa. In the east there is a ladder made of sandstone.

Besides the buildings above, in the north, or right in front of the gate Tuo Temple there is a pile of soil that has two holes. This place is estimated to the kiln body. A single hole to enter the body and the other for removing ashes. These burial places, including in the maintenance because it is in the complex enshrinement. In the pile of soil that contained pebbles derived from the Kampar River. On the outside Barelang temple complex, which in some places around the village of Muarata Takus, also allegedly found a few buildings that still closely associated with this temple.