An Introduction to Prambanan Located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta, Central Java. The UNESCO World Heritage Site named after the village of Prambanan, is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Built around 850 CE by the Sanjaya Kings of the Mataram Kingdom, Prambanan is dedicated to the Hindu triad expression of God as: Brahma - the creator Vishnu- the preserver Shiva- the destroyer and also re-creator. Rakai (Lord) Pikatan of the Sanjaya family ruled between 833-856 CE. A rivalry was thought to have taken place between the Hindu Sanjayas and Buddhist Sailendra families and Rakai Pikatan married the daughter of the Sailendra Buddhist King Sumaratungga. The Sailendra dynasty fell into decline and Hindu expression become the dominant influence. It was believed that a ruler who died was transformed into a divine form. The towering 47m high central structure built to honor Lord Shiva is also interpreted to recognize their King as the deified self of Lord Shiva. Characterised by its tall and pointed structures, Prambanan is typical of Indianized-Hindu temple architecture. The central structures are inside a large complex of individual perwara (guardian) temples. At the height of the Mataram kingdom, scholars estimate that hundreds of Brahmins with their disciples lived near the temple compound. Abandonment In the 930s, the royal court shifted to East Java. While the reason for the shift remains uncertain, it was probably caused by an eruption of the volcano Merapi, located north of Prambanan, or a power struggle. This marked the beginning of the temple's decline. It was soon abandoned and began to deteriorate. The temples themselves collapsed during a major earthquake in the 16th century. Although the temple ceased to be an important place of worship, the ruins scattered around the area itself were still recognizable to local Javanese along with various legends. Shiva Temple The holiest, tallest and largest structure at Prambanan, measures 47 meters tall and 34 meters wide. This Shiva temple encircled with bas-reliefs tells the story of the Ramayana carved on the inner walls of the balustrades. To follow the story accordingly, visitors must enter from the east side and begin to circumambulate clockwise. The bas-reliefs of the Ramayana continue to the Brahma temple galleries. The Shiva shrine contains five chambers, four small chambers in every cardinal direction and one bigger main chamber in central part of the temple. The east chamber connects to the central chamber which houses a three meter high statue of Shiva. The statue bears symbols of Shiva such as the skull and crescent at the crown, the third eye on the forehead, also four hands that holds Shiva's symbols: prayer beads, a feather duster, and a trisula (trident). The statue of Shiva stands on a lotus pad on a Yoni pedestal that bears the carving of Nāga serpents on the north side of the pedestal. The other three smaller chambers contain statues of Hindu Gods related to Shiva: Rishi Agastya- great sage of the vedas, in the south chamber Ganesha - Shiva’s son, in the west chamber Durga- Shiva’s consort, in the north chamber, also called Roro Jonggrang (Javanese: slender virgin), after the Javanese legend of the Princess Roro Jonggrang. Brahma and Vishnu Temples The two other main shrines measuring 20 meters wide and 33 meters tall are dedicated to: Brahma on the south side of the Shiva shrine. Vishnu on the north side of the Shiva shrine Both temples face east and each contain only one large chamber, each dedicated to their respected gods. The bas-reliefs along the balustrades of the Shiva and Brahma temples tell of the Ramayana legend, illustrating how Sita, the wife of Rama, is abducted by the evil King Rahwana. The monkey king Hanoman brings his army to help Rama rescue Sita. On the balsutrades of the Vishnu temple the bas-reliefs depict the story of Vishnu’s human incarnation as Lord Krishna. Vahana (Vehicle) Temples The three shrines directly in front of the three main temples are dedicated to vehicles (vahana) of the respective gods: Nandi – the bull for Shiva, Hamsa –the sacred swan for Brahma, and Garuda- Vishnu's Eagle At the Nandi temple, besides containing a statue of Nandi, there are also statues of: Chandra the god of the moon and Surya the god of the sun. Chandra stands on his carriage pulled by 10 horses Surya is standing on a carriage pulled by 7 horses. Facing the Brahma temple, the Hamsa temple contains no statue now. But it seems likely that there was once a statue of the sacred swan or Angsa ( a goose, but a swan sounds more romantic) Facing the Vishnu temple, the temple dedicated for Garuda is also empty of a statue. Vishnu’s vehicle Garuda holds an important role these days serving as the national symbol of Indonesia- in an Islamic state. The Garuda clutches a scroll bearing the words: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. Taken from the 14th century Javanese poem, Sutasoma, the national moto today refers to Unity in Diversity. There are many stories and fables of Garuda in Java, Bali and Southeast Asia. The bas-reliefs of the Ramayana also depict Garuda’s nephew, another bird-god named Jatayu, trying to rescue Sita. In Buddhism there is the story of Garuda subduing the Naga serpent which became a guardian spirit of Buddhist temples. This Majestic King of Birds is a symbol of power, bravery, loyalty and along with Vishnu, the preserver of the cosmic order. Garuda Indonesia is also the national airline. A Balinese wood carving depicting Vishnu riding on Garuda. The Prambanan temple complex consists of 3 zones: The inner zone: the holiest, contains the main temples and eight smaller shrines. The middle zone contains hundreds of small guardian (perwara) temples. The outer zone: a large space marked by a rectangular wall (destroyed). The original function is unknown. Possibilities are that it was a sacred park, or a Brahmin ashram. The supporting buildings for the temple complex were made from organic material; as a consequence no remains occur. Pervara (Guradian) Temples Four rows of 224 individual small shrines were found in the middle zone. Most of them are still in ruins and only some have been reconstructed. These concentric rows of temples were made in identical design. Each row towards the center is slightly elevated. These "Candi Perwara" guardian temples were believed to have had something to do with four castes, made according to the rank of the people allowed to enter them. The row nearest to the central compound was accessible to priests only, the other three rows were reserved for nobles, knights, and the common people respectively. Another belief is that the four rows of Perwara had nothing to do with four castes, they were simply places for meditation and worship for priests and devotees. Hindu Cosmology Prambanan was designed to represent Meru, the holy mountain and abode of Lord Shiva. The temple design incorporates a mandala concept - a model of the Hindu universe according to Hindu cosmology and the layers of Loka. Just like Borobudur, Prambanan recognizes the hierarchy of realms spanning from the less holy to the holiest. Bhurloka (in Buddhism: Kāmadhātu), the lowest realm of common mortals; humans, animals as well as demons. This is where humans are still binded by their lust, desire and unholy way of life. The outer courtyard and the foot (base) of each temple symbolizes the realm of bhurloka. Bhuvarloka (in Buddhism: Rupadhatu), the middle realm of holy people, rishis, ascetics, and lesser gods. People here began to see the light of truth. The middle courtyard and the body of each temple symbolizes the realm of bhuvarloka. Svarloka (in Buddhism: Arupadhatu), the highest and holiest realm of the gods. The inner chamber and the roof of each temple symbolizes the realm of svarloka. The roofs of the Prambanan temples are adorned and crowned with ratna (sanskrit for jewel). The ratna is the Hindu counterpart of the Buddhist stupa, and served as the temple's pinnacle. The Legend of Roro (or Lara) Jonggrang The popular legend tells the story of Prince Bandung Bondowoso who fell in love with Princess Roro Jonggrang, the daughter of King Boko. Ratu Boko Palace was located on top of a hill above Prambanan. King Boto was known to be an evil King and wishing to expand his empire, King Boko attacked the neighboring prosperous kingdom of Pengging. Prince Bandung Bondowoso of Pengging staged a revenge attack and managed to kill King Boko with his supernatural powers. Struck by the beauty of King Boko’s daughter, he proposed marriage which the princess rejected. Bandung Bondowoso insisted on the union, and finally Roro Jonggrang was forced to agree, but she posed two conditions: First, that he build her a deep water well, which he did. The princess asked Bondowoso to climb down the well after which she ordered her assistants to fill the well with stones. Bondowoso managed to free himself from the well. Still taken by the beauty of the princess, he forgave her. The second condition was that Bondowoso build her 1000 temples in only one night. The Prince entered into meditation and conjured up a multitude of spirits from the earth. Helped by these supernatural beings, he succeeded in building 999 temples. When the prince was about to complete the condition, the princess woke her palace maids and ordered the women of the village to begin pounding rice and to set a fire in the east of the temple, attempting to make the prince and the spirits believe that the sun was about to rise.