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