Ijo Temple, Temple of the Highest Located in Yogyakarta

Down the street to the south of Queen Boko Palace complex is an exciting journey, especially for cultural tourism lovers. How not, the building of the temple there were scattered like mushrooms in the rainy season. One of them is not a lot of the talk is Ijo Temple, a temple which is located the highest among other temples in Yogyakarta Special Region.

Ijo Temple was built around the 9th century, on a hill known as Green Hill Ijo Gumuk the height is 410 m above sea level. Because of its altitude, it is not only the temple that you can enjoy the natural scenery but also below such as terraces in agricultural areas with a steep slope. Although not a fertile area, the natural scenery around the temple is very beautiful to enjoy.


 The temple complex consists of 17 building structures that are divided into 11 terraces.The first terrace leading to the entrance page is a terrace staircase stretching from west to east. Building on the terrace to form a fence around the 11th, eight pole phallus, four of the main temple building, and three ancillary temples. The laying of the building on each terrace are based on kesakralannya. Building on the highest terrace is the most sacred.Variety of art forms encountered since the entrance of the building belonging to this Hindu temple. Just above the entrance there is a motive when the makara with multiple heads and multiple attributes. Motives and attributes that can also be found in Buddhist temples indicate that it is a form of acculturation temple of Hindu and Buddhist culture. Some temples have similar motives when the makara among others Ngawen, Plaosan and Sari.There are also statues depicting figures of women and men who drift and lead to a particular side. The figure may have several meanings. First, as suwuk to mngusir evil spirits and the second as a symbol of unity of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma. Unity is interpreted as the beginning of the creation of the universe. Unlike the statue in the temple of Prambanan, natural style of the statues in Ijo Temple did not lead to eroticism.Towards ancillary buildings on the terrace of the temple to-11, there is a place like the tub where the fire sacrifice (Homa). Right at the top of the rear wall of the tub there are air holes or vents shaped parallelograms and triangles. The pit is a mirror of society that worships the Hindu Brahma. Three ancillary temples show respect for the Hindu Trimurti society, namely Brahma, Shiva, and Whisnu.One work of mystery are two inscriptions in the temple located on the terrace to-9. One of the inscriptions that were coded with the writing Guywan F or Bluyutan means hermitage.Another inscription is made of stone as high as 14 cm and 9 cm thick containing magic spells that are predicted to be a curse. Mantra is written 16 times and include a legible is "Om Sarwwawinasa, Sarwwawinasa." Could be, the two inscriptions may relate closely to the occurrence of certain events in Java at the time. Is the event? Has yet to unfold.Visiting this temple, you will see the beautiful scenery that can not be found in other temples. When facing toward the west and look down, you can see planes taking off and landing at the airport Adisutjipto. The scene could be found because Thousand Mountains where this temple stood the eastern limit of the airport. Due to the existence of the temple in the mountains, too, Airport runway Adisutjipto can not be extended eastwards.Every detail of the temple presents something that is meaningful and invites the visitors to reflection so that the journey will not just be fun. The existence of many great works of art without the author's name indicates the Java community view was that more emphasis on the moral message carried by a work of art, not the maker or the grandeur of his art.Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo