Prambanan Temple, Cultural Heritage of Indonesia 's Biggest Hindu

Prambanan is incredibly beautiful building built in the 10th century during the reign of two kings, and Rakai Rakai Pikatan Balitung. Towering 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. The temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. Once, a man named Bondowoso Jonggrang love. Because of his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso make 1000 temples with statues in one night. The request was nearly fulfilled Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and make a big fire that created an atmosphere like the morning. Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang into the statue-1000 because he felt cheated.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. The three temples are a symbol of Trimurti in Hindu belief. The three temples were facing east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Swan to Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition, there are two temples wedge, 4 color temples and 4 corner temples. In the second there are 224 temples.

Entering the Shiva temple located in the middle and the highest building, you will find a room 4. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other 3 rooms each containing a statue of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga is touted as the statue of Roro Jonggrang described in the legend above.

In the Vishnu temple is located in the north of Shiva temple, you will only see one room containing a statue of Vishnu. Brahma temple is located south of Shiva temple, you will only find one room with a statue of Brahma.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located near the Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology, who was gold, white face, red wings, beak and wings like eagles. It is estimated, the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shining', usually associated with the god Re) in ancient Egyptian mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amrita (holy water of the gods).

The ability to save that which was admired by many people until now and used for various purposes. Indonesia used it to sign the country. It is said that Garuda Pancasila symbol creator for inspiration in this temple. Other countries also use it to sign the country is Thailand, with the same reason but adaptation forms and different appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. According to experts, the relief is similar to the Ramayana story is revealed through oral traditions. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that the Hindu religion is considered as a tree of life, sustainability and environmental compatibility. In Prambanan, relief Kalpataru tree depicted lions flanking. The existence of this tree makes experts consider that the people of the 9th century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just as the figure of Garuda, Kalpataru is now also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru became a symbol of Forum for Environment (Walhi). In fact, some scientists in Bali to develop the concept of Tri Hita Karana for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. The tree of life was also found in the mountains that used to open the puppet arts. A proof that the relief panels in Prambanan has worldwide.

If careful, you can also see various birds relief, this time a real bird. Bird reliefs at Prambanan are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One was relief of the Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) that invite questions. Why, the bird was actually found only Masakambing Island, an island in the Java Sea. Then, what kind it was once abundant in Yogyakarta? The answer please find out for yourself. Because, until now no single person who can solve the mystery.

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Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist temple in the 9th Century

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Millions of people are yearning to visit the buildings included in this World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architecturally and functionally, as the place of worship, Borobudur is attractive.

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the king of the ancient Mataram kingdom, descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on the inscriptions Kayumwungan, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship that was completed on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years since the beginning of construction. The name of Borobudur, as some people means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Punden terraces Borobudur-shaped building comprises 10 levels. Height 42 meters before being renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level is used as a barrier. Six lowest level of a square and three levels above and a circular highest level of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each level represents the stages of human life. In accordance schools of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of Buddha must through every level of life is.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by lust. Four levels above referred Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but still bound manner and form. At these levels, a statue of Buddha placed open. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupas are laid in holes called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance, and shape. The top part is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful. Relief that will be read coherently when you walk in a clockwise direction (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). In the reliefs of Borobudur tells of a legendary story, the Ramayana. In addition, there are relief panels describing the condition of society at that time. For example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of the cruise, who was based in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. Hence, this temple functions as educating the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES invites you to surround each of the narrow alleys of Borobudur in order to understand the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having Buddhist manuscripts from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhism. He became abbot Vikramasila and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six manuscripts of Serlingpa was condensed into a core doctrine called "The Path to Lamp for the Enlightenment" or better known as Bodhipathapradipa.

One question that is still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in the buried. Some say Borobudur initially stood surrounded by a swamp and then buried by the eruption of Merapi. Calcutta is essentially the inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of ??milk. The word which is then interpreted as Merapi lava. Some other says that Borobudur Merapi cold lava buried.

With all the grandeur and mystery that is, only natural that many people from all the world penjru include Borobudur as a place worth visiting in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, like Karanganyar and Wanurejo to see the activities of people make crafts. You can also go to the top watu Kendil to Borobudur panoramic view from the top. Wait what? No need to worry about an earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.

Source Article : http://www.yogyes.com/id/yogyakarta-tourism-object/candi/borobudur/

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Dieng Temple, Traces of the Greatness of Life in the Past

Dieng temple is a collection of temples located in the foothills of Dieng, Wonosobo, Central Java. Candi Dieng plateau region occupy at an altitude 2000 m above sea level, extends north-south direction with a width of about 1900 m along the 800 m.

Dieng temple complex overall width approximately 1.8 x 0.8 km2. The temples in the Dieng temple is divided into 3 groups and 1 individual temple named after a character in the puppet story from the Mahabharata. The third group is the group of Arjuna temple, Gatutkaca Group, Dwarawati groups and one individual temple is Candi Bima.

Wing Hindu Shiva temples were built between the late estimated the 8th century until the beginning of the 9th century is believed to be the oldest temple in Java. Until now there has been found written information about the history of Dieng Temple, but experts estimate that these temples were built by the kings of Sanjaya dynasty. In Dieng was discovered a stone inscription dated 808 AD, which is the oldest inscription written in ancient Javanese, who are still extant today. A statue of Shiva were found in the area is now kept in the National Museum in Jakarta. Dieng Temple was probably built in two phases. The first stage took place between the end of the 7th century until the first quarter of the 8th century, includes the construction of temple Arjuna, Semar Temple, Temple and Temple Gatutkaca Heroine. The second phase is a continuation of the first phase, which lasted till about the year 780 AD.

Dieng Temple was first discovered back in 1814. When it was a British soldier who was traveled to the area to see a bunch Dieng temple submerged in a puddle lake. In 1956, Van Kinsbergen led the drying lake where the temples were located. Cleanup efforts continued by the Dutch government in 1864, followed by recording and taking pictures by Van Kinsbergen.

In a place that is close enough to the temple, there is also a museum that explains about the temple existing temple. The museum explains the origin of the temple, iluustrasi on all aspects concerning the temple and many more.

The ride was visible when you go there, so charming, especially scenic perkebuan vegetable plantations, and roads that turn turn, like a racing circuit. We can reach the beaches by bike, car or bus because of the existing road is good but prepare your adrenaline because I mentioned earlier, there is a very winding road.

Source Article : http://candi.pnri.go.id/jawa_tengah_yogyakarta/dieng/dieng.htm

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