The Prambanan Temple

During the early years of the Common era, Indonesia became increasingly influenced by Indian civilization and culture. Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms grew up in Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan (Borneo). In the 6th and 7th centuries A.D. the great trading empire of Sri Vijaya, with a powerful center at Palembang in eastern Sumatra, dominated the Malay Peninsula and much of the Indonesian Archipelago.

Build around the middle of the ninth century, the great temple of Loro Jonggrang at Prambanan, near Yogyakarta, is arguably Central Java's greatest architectural achievement. While not so large as the famous Borobudur, Prambanan displays elegance and majesty which is surely unsurpassed anywhere in South East Asia

Many people respond with equal or greater joy to Prambanan, a temple complex (16 km east of Yogya) than Borobudur. Prambanan is best seen shortly after dawn or in the late afternoon when slanting sunlight picks out details with a rounding, golden touch. But it is still beautiful at any time.

Prambanan was completed in about 900 A.D. The highest courtyard contains the principal edifices. Entering from the south you pass a small “court temple.” On your left (west) are three larger temples: the first was dedicated to Brahma, the second and largest to Siva, and the third to Vishnu. Opposite these are three smaller temples that contained the “vehicles” of the gods: the gander (hamsa) of Brahma; Siva’s bull (nandi), a monolithic, amazingly relaxed beast carved with consummate skill, and unfortunately the only “vehicle” remaining; the sun-bird (garuda) of Visnu.

The largest temple, the masterpiece dedicated to Siva, is also known as Loro Jonggrang a name sometimes given to the whole Prambanan temple complex. As legend tells it, Loro Jonggrang was the daughter of Ratu Boko. She remains at Prambanan as Siva’s consort, Durga, a statue in the northern chamber of the main temple. Other major statues include Agastya, the “Divine Teacher,” in the main temple’s southern chamber; Ganesa, Siva’s son, in the western chamber; an outstanding 3 metre figure of Siva in the central chamber. There is also a multi-faced Brahma in the Brahma temple.

One aspect of Loro Jonggrang’s appeal is its glorious symmetry and grace. Another is its wealth of sculptural detail: on the base of the main terrace, the so-called “Prambabab motif” in which little lions in niches are flanked by trees of life and a lively menagerie of kinnaras, hares, geese, birds, deer and a host of other endearing creatures: on the outer balustrade of the terrace, animated groups of singers and dancers, and panels of relaxed, beautiful celestial beings; on the main wall of the temple, the regents of the heavenly quarters; and finally, on the inner wall of the balustrade, the wonderfully vital and utterly engrossing Ramayana episodes which end (on the Siva temple) with the arrival of Langka of Hanuman and his ape army.

The positioning of the reliefs is formal. The movement within each panel is free flowing, filled with fascinating detail. Even the most tumultuous scenes include lovingly rendered touches: monkeys in a fruit tree, birds robbing a grain bin, and kitchen scenes. Prambanan’s beauty and variety demand more than one visit.

(source: Java - Insight Guides - By Peter Hutton p. 185 - 190). (For more refer to chapter on Greater India: Suvarnabhumi and Sacred Angkor).

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Indonesia's largest Hindu holy place is Prambanan, in Central Java, a religious treasure that dates back to the 9th century and originally included 232 temples. An earthquake struck and for many centuries the buildings lay buried beneath the ground until, in1918, archaeologists began to reconstruct the main temples. The individual sections of the Chandi Lorojongrang were rebuilt like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, which made the reconstruction process particularly laborious, but in 1953 the rebuilding of the central temples was completed. The Chandi Siva Temple rises 47 meters into the sky and is the tallest in Prambanan and contains four inner chambers that face the four points of the compass. The main Hindu god, Shiva, is depicted in the southern chamber, whilst the sculpture of his reborn wife, Durga, is located in the temple's northern chamber. Thankfully, due to the hard work and determination of many archaeologists, the symbolic meaning of the old Hindu god, Shiva, the God of Destruction and Renewal, is well on its way to being fully realized.

(source: Prambanan Temple - Global treasures video).