- A Wondrous History Carved In
Stones
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Between Yogyakarta and
Surakarta lie several temples scattered in a compound,
about 1 km from each other. The interesting thing about
these temples is that they belong to two different
religions: Hinduism and Buddhism. They were built around
the 8th and 9th century. Prambanan, the name of the
complex, is a beautiful and fertile region. Efforts had
been done to restore the temples to their former glory,
but most of them are still in ruins.
Prambanan Temple, the name applied today, refers to the
complex of several sanctuaries of Shiva. As a matter of
fact, based on the characters depicted in the temples,
it is more accurate to call this complex Shiva's Temple.
There are 237 big and small temples at the complex. The
complex can be divided into three groups. The first
group, called Candi Perwara, consists of the small
temples that have resemblance in form and located near
the group. The second are of other temples, which are
smaller and have various positions and size. The third
group, the central buildings, has three temples. The
biggest one lies in the center, flanked on each side by
two smaller ones of similar form.
The central shrine is Candi Shiva, or widely known as
Candi Rorojonggrang (based on the local legend of
Rorojonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso). It is called Candi
Shiva because there's a big and essential statue of
Shiva inside the biggest room of the central shrine. In
the other rooms there are the statues of Shiva Mahaguru
(supreme teacher), Ganeça the elephant headed god
symbolizing knowledge and happiness, and Durga
Mahisasuramardani the wife of Shiva. It seems very
likely that, during the period when the shrines were
constructed, the sect of Shiva flourished in this
region.
The statue of Shiva stands three meters high in a
standing meditative position. The base of the statue
forms a lotus flower. The symbol of a skull and a sickle
at the crown, the third eye on the forehead, and the
four hands holding Shiva's insignia ( a rosary, a
feather duster, and a trident), depict the importance of
Shiva as the Mahadeva (Supreme God). The statue of Durga
Mahisasuramardani is depicted standing on a cow, pulling
the soul of a defeated demon from the cow's body.
Durga is a symbol of death and is widely worshipped.
On the wall of Candi Shiva, starting from the east side,
there are 41 frames of relief depicting the story of
Ramayana. The story starts with the god Vishnu, the
preserver of the universe, being asked by the kings of
the world to descend to the world and save it from the
threat of evil.
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As the protector of
the world, Vishnu incarnated in Rama, the son of King
Dasarata from Ayodya. Rama was requested by Visvamitra
the Brahmin to kill the giants who continuously attacked
the Brahmins' citadel. Rama successfully fulfilled his
duty, and then proceeded to join a competition to win
the beautiful Princess Shinta, the daughter of King
Janaka. On the way back to Ayodya, Rama was intercepted
by Paraçurama who was seeking death on the hand of
Vishnu's incarnation. Rama fulfilled his wish and
proceeded to Ayodya. Rama, who should be crowned as
Ayodya's king was banned by the wish of Kekayi,
Dasarata's second wife. He was banished into the forest.
Shinta chose to follow him, and so did Laksmana, his
younger brother. In the forest, a giantess named
Sarpakenaka tried to seduce Rama and Laksmana. Being
rejected, Sarpakenaka asked her brother King Rahvana of
Alengka. When Rahvana arrived at Rama's place, he fell
madly in love with Shinta. With tricks, he managed to
abduct Shinta. With the help of Sugriva, the king of the
monkey kingdom, Rama and Laksmana waged a war against
Alengka. Hanuman, a monkey knight, was sent to locate
Shinta and succeeded. Shinta gave him her ring to be
delivered to Rama. Rama was furious and set forth to
attack Alengka with Sugriva's monkey troops. The story
of Rama's war against Alengka can be found on the walls
of Candi Brahma which is located on the south of Candi
Shiva.
Candi Brahma is smaller than Candi Shiva, and only has
one entrance. It has a room containing the statue of the
 four-headed
god Brahma, the creator of the universe. The relief on
the walls depicted the war between Rama and Alengka.
Kumbakarna, the virtuous brother of Rahvana, tried to
defend Alengka but was finally killed in battle. In the
end Rahvana himself was killed by Rama. Thus Rama and
Shinta were reunited. This story of Ramayana is in fact
a classical story of goodness against evil. Rahvana
represents the ultimate evil and Rama as the incarnation
of Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, represents
goodness that maintains the world's peace.
Another smaller shrine is Candi Vishnu, on the north of
Candi Shiva, approximately the same size of Candi
Brahma. The only chamber found in the shrine contains
the statue of the god Vishnu, the preserver of the
universe. The statue has four hands holding a club, an
oyster and chakra. The 12-frames relief found on the
wall of this shrine depicts the story of Krishnayana.
Krishna was another incarnation of the god Vishnu.
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In front of these three
shrines, there are three other shrines in front of each
of them. In front of Candi Shiva, lies Candi Nandi, with
a chamber containing the statue of Nandi the bull, the
vehicle of Shiva. Beside this statue, there are the
statues of Chandra (the god of the moon) and Surya (the
god of the sun). Facing Candi Brahma is Candi Angsa. In
the past there might be a statue of Angsa the swan, the
vehicle of Brahma, since the shrine faces Candi Brahma.
There's another shrine facing Candi Vishnu and is called
Candi Garuda. There's no statue found in the shrine, but
presumably there used to be a statue of an eagle there.
Garuda the eagle is the vehicle of Vishnu.
Flanking those six shrines, stand two rather big shrines
on the north and south sides. These two shrines are
called Candi Apit. Although there are chambers in these
shrines, there's no statue found inside. The function of
these two shrines is still unknown.
Outside the complex of these beautiful Hindu shrines,
there are several Buddhist shrines. The most important
of them are Candi Kalasan, Candi Sari, Candi Sewu, Candi
Lumbung, Candi Plaosan, and Candi Sojiwan. The strange
thing is that these shrines surround the complex of
Candi Shiva within a radius of no more than 1 km.
Candi Kalasan was built around 778 AD, in accordance
with the Kalasan inscription that is dated 778 AD. The
shrine used to be the Buddhist place of worship
dedicated to the goddess Tara. Unfortunately the statue
of Tara is now gone. Today, there are still two big
statues of giants, sitting and holding a club.
Close to Candi Kalasan stands Candi Sari. It was
presumably built at same period of time. The same big
giants statues can also be found here, posing as the
guards. Candi sari was used as a Buddhist temple. It
used to consist of many floors of rooms as a dwelling
place for Buddhist monks.
On the north of Candi Shiva, lies the complex of Candi
Sewu. The complex consists of the main temple in the
center, surrounded by 250 Candi Perwara. No statue
survives in the main temple; only two big giants statues
left.
Not far from Candi Sewu stands a complex of temples
called Candi Lumbung. Sixteen Candi Perwara, mostly in
ruins, surrounds the damaged main temple.
Candi Plaosan, re-discovered in 19th century, has an
inscription at the stupa that says that the temple was
built by King Rakai Pikatan, a Hindu, as a gift to his
wife, a Buddhist. Once there were many statues inside
the chamber of the temple. Among them are the statues of
Dhyani Buddha and Bodhisattva, which are now kept in the
Museum of Yogyakarta.
South of Candi Shiva, stands Candi Sojiwan, a Buddhist
temple. The word Sojiwan perhaps derived from Rakryan
Sanjiwana, an alias of Sri Pramodhavardhani, the
Buddhist wife of King Rakai Pikatan of the Hindu Sanjay
Dynasty.
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