h o m e

e t h e r e a l    p r a m b a n a n

c o n t e n t s

As the largest Hindu masterpiece temple in Java, the ethereally slender and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle to behold and an icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. The beautiful enchantment of Prambanan Temple stands testimony as the greatest Hindu cultural heritage in Indonesia, seen not only from its incredibly architecture and layout, but also its unique and awesome history and legend. The grandeur, complexity, and integrated architectural concept of Prambanan makes this a truly amazing structure. As a unique cultural and architectural marvel, Prambanan was declared a World Heritage site in 1991 by UNESCO.

Java was known by Indian chroniclers before 600 BCE. The name Java comes from the Sanskrit Jawadwip, which means a (dvip) island (yawa) shaped like a barley corn. The Vedic Indians must have charted Java, Yawadvip, thousands of years ago because Yawadvip is mentioned in India's earliest epic, the Ramayana. The Ramayana reveals some knowledge of the eastern regions beyond seas; for instance Sugriva dispatched his men to Yavadvipa, the island of Java, in search of Sita. It speaks of Burma as the land of silver mines. The Agni Purana, along with many other Puranas, calls India proper as Jambudvipa as distinguished from Dvipantara or India of the islands or overseas India.  Towards the end of the fifth century, Aryabhatta, the Indian astronomer, wrote that when the sun rose in Ceylon it was midday in Yavakoti (Java) and midnight in the Roman land. In the Surya Siddhanta reference is also made to the Nagari Yavakoti with golden walls and gates.

The Indian influence over South-East Asia expanded a lot during the time of Pallavas between the fifth and seventh centuries and the influence was mainly seen in Cambodia. In Indonesia, Srivijaya, a maritime power and dynasty which controlled the empire stretching from Sumatra to Malaya, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam arose from obscurity in the 8th century. Srivijaya was an Indianized polity, with its capital near Palembang in South Eastern Sumatra. Rival to the Srivijaya dynasty was the joint kingdoms of Sailendra and Sanjaya based in central Java. It was during their time (after 780 CE) that the temple building activity flourished in the island. These temples were based on the layout and elevation of the Pallavan and Chalukyan temples which were based on Vastu Shastra.

What is surprising is the attitude of modern Marxist Indian historians towards the cultural past of Southeast Asia. With their appetite for knowledge Indian historians could have made an impressive study. But on the whole they have remained generally indifferent, not even attempting to integrate their own ancient history with that of their neighbors.

The Ramayana and Mahabharata are still are favorite themes for performances in Indonesia not only in Hindu Bali but also in Islamic Java. These epics exert an enormous attraction on a broad layer of society in the Indonesian islands.

Introduction
Ethereal Beauty of Prambanan
History of Shivalaya
Architecture: Elegant and Dramatic
Vedic influences are all over Indonesia
 

© 2011

For the rest of the chapter refer to the links listed below:

Ethereal Prambanan2
Dieng Plateau – The Abode of Gods
Candi Sambisari
Dharma and Adharma – Puputan in Bali
Hindu Influence and Future Prophecies
Hinduism’s Revival in Java

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Ethereal Prambanan3
Image Gallery
Candi Pustaksala

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Introduction

Java was known by Indian chroniclers before 600 BCE. The name Java comes from the Sanskrit Jawadwip, which means a (dvip) island (yawa) shaped like a barley corn. The Vedic Indians must have charted Java, Yawadvip, thousands of years ago because Yawadvip is mentioned in India's earliest epic, the Ramayana. The Ramayana reveals some knowledge of the eastern regions beyond seas; for instance Sugriva dispatched his men to Yavadvipa, the island of Java, in search of Sita. It speaks of Burma as the land of silver mines. 

"yatnavanto yava dviipam sapta raajya upashobhitam | suvarNa ruupyakam dviipam suvarNa aakara maNDitam || 4-40-30 yava dviipam atikramya shishiro naama parvataH | divam spR^ishati shR^ingeNa deva daanava sevitaH || 4-40-31 eteSaam giri durgeSu prapaateSu vaneSu ca | maargadhvam sahitaaH sarve raama patniim yashasviniim ||" 4-40-32 - The Ramayana. 

“You strive hard in the island of Yava, which will be splendorous with seven kingdoms, like that even in Golden and Silver islands that are enwreathed with gold-mines, in and around Yava islands. On crossing over Yava Island, there is a mountain named Shishira, which touches heaven with its peak, and which gods and demons adore. You shall collectively rake through all the impassable mountains, waterfalls, and forests in these islands for the glorious wife of Rama.”

The Agni Purana, along with many other Puranas, calls India proper as Jambudvipa as distinguished from Dvipantara or India of the islands or overseas India.  Towards the end of the fifth century, Aryabhatta, the famous Indian astronomer, wrote that when the sun rose in Ceylon it was midday in Yavakoti (Java) and midnight in the Roman land. In the Surya Siddhanta reference is also made to the Nagari Yavakoti with golden walls and gates. Strong Hindu influences were inevitable, given that the spiritual inspirational source was India.

Dr. Ananda Kentish Cooraswamy (1877-1947) the late curator of Indian art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, was unexcelled in his knowledge of the art of the Orient, and unmatched in his understanding of Indian culture, language, religion and philosophy. He is the author of ' The Dance of Shiva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture'

He wanted India to remain Indian and continue to demonstrate that a pattern of life rooted in religion and philosophy can also be elegant, graceful and fully satisfying. In India philosophy has been the key in the understanding of concrete life, not a mere intellectual exercise in abstract thought.

He was of the opinion that:

"the Prambanam reliefs are, if anything, superior to those of Borobudur and certainly more dramatically conceived. "

(source:  History of Indian and Indonesian Art - By Ananda K Coomaraswamy p. 200 - 213).

A Spiritual Treasure of immense refined beauty

Delicate temple spires soaring towards the sky at Prambanan with Mt. Merapi in the backdrop and the Holy Opak River flowing nearby.

Refer to Space and Order in Prambanan: From Beyond the Eastern Horizons - By Dr. Subhash Kak

(© 2011 image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Refer to A Tribute to Hinduism: Thoughts and Wisdom spanning continents and time about India and her culture - By Sushama Londhe 

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Suharto Sukarno (1901- 1970) Indonesian nationalist leader and the first President of Indonesia. He helped the country win its independence from the Netherlands. He echoed the same sentiments. 

In a special article in The Hindu on 4 January 1946, Sukarno wrote:   

"In the veins of every one of my people flows the blood of Indian ancestors and the culture that we possess is steeped through and through with Indian influences.

Two thousand years ago people from your country came to Jawadvipa and Suvarnadvipa in the spirit of brotherly love. "

"They gave the initiative to found powerful kingdoms such as those of Sri Vijaya, Mataram and Majapahit. We then learnt to worship the very Gods that you now worship still and we fashioned a culture that even today is largely identical with your own. Later, we turned to Islam: but that religion too was brought by people coming from both sides of India."

(source: Prospects for a Bay of Bengal community - By V. Suryanarayan). 

Not very far from Borobudur, writes Dr. Raghuvira 'is the complex Prambanam, the like of which is known neither to India nor to any other neighboring or distant land...Here are the life-cycles of Lord Krsna known as Krsnayana parallel to the Ramayana, the powerful dragon being torn asunder by the superb arms of the Divine Krsna. In another place is the scene of Kumbhakarna being awakened by conches and screeches of elephants, a portrayal of the highest order...."

Of the sculptures in Prambanam, Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826) the British Governor of Java and author of History of Java says:

"In the whole course of my life I have never met with such stupendous and finished specimens of human labor, and of the science and taste of ages long since forgot, crowded together in small a compass as in this little spot."

(source: History of Java. volume II p. 15).

India was to have a profound spiritual and cultural influence on Java.

Indianization of the Archipelago

Many civilizations in South East Asia have been closely patterned on the Indian model. Wonderful monuments such as Angkor wat, Pagan, Prambanan and Borobudur stand testimonial to Indian cultural influence.

Sanskrit writings along with sophisticated rituals and architectural technique - great organization and control of wealth and prosperity.

Prambanan Temple is situated 18km east of Yogyakarta city in Central Java. It is the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia and is dedicated to Trimurti, the three highest gods in Hinduism. It is known locally as the Loro Jongrang temple, after the nearby village, or the temple of Durga or the ‘Slender Virgin’.

There are a total of 237 temples in this Shivaite temple complex but many are in ruin. The architecture is tall and pointed and the central building is the tallest at 47m high. It is dedicated to Shiva. Hence is known as Chandi Shiva Mahadeva temple.

Prambanan is a stunningly beautiful building built in the 9thcentury during the reign of two kings, and Rakai  Pikatan Balitung. Rises as high as 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple). The temple complex is huge, much more spread out than Borobodur. It's a pity that the glory of this temple is largely shadowed by the more monotonous architecture of the Borobudur Temple nearby.

In fact, the Prambanan Temple compound is more beautiful and as magnificent as the Borobudur! the Prambanan looks imposing and serene ornate and intricate ......its popularity to tourists is overshadowed by Borobudur. This site is completely worth a visit, even more so than Borobodur.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) great poet, author, philosopher, Nobel prize laureate. Tagore was deeply critical of the British Raj in India. He also made some statements to the press about the ghastly book by Katherine Mayo called Mother India, which was then a huge bestseller in the U.S. Mayo's book offers that other old myth of India: poor, backwards, savage. Tagore's aim was criticize an unjust practice (colonialism) and an international system (the League of Nations) which was thoroughly unsympathetic to the plight of colonized people in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

On visiting Java said:

"I see India everywhere, but I do not recognize it."

(source: Suvarnabhumi chapter).

"From the Indian soil where he originated, prince Rama "traveled" across the oceans for 20 centuries, and made his way into the heart and mind of Indonesians. His life story, as recorded in Ramayana by Indian poet Valmiki around the seventh century BC, has undergone many transformations over the years. But one thing that persists throughout the recurrent transformation in Java and Bali is the perception of human values inherent in Ramayana's characters and, most importantly, its philosophical concept that governs human relationships that are but universal ideals. The transformation -- as a result of the cross-cultural exchange between India and Indonesia through trade dating back as early as the beginning of the first millennium AD -- and the many faces of Rama that were reconstructed by ancient Indonesian poets and scholars."

(source: Unveiling Rama in Indonesia - By Ivy Susanti - jakaratapost.com). Refer to the Chapters on Glimpses XII - The Glorious Hindu Legacy in South East Asia and Sacred Angkor and Survanabhumi

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The Ethereal Beauty of Prambanan

The most eloquent record of man’s intellectual and emotional evolution is the architecture of the age to which he belongs, for in it the deepest human feelings and aspirations stand changeless, captured in rock, brick or stone, for all to see.  This is even truer of temples which are erected in a spirit of reverence and emotive dedication and are, as such projections of the religious consciousness of a people.

The fully developed Hindu temple thus becomes an ideal for the union of the human with the divine, its upward movement and lofty spire expressing something of the human desire to reach out and mingle with the Infinite.

The mounting sikhara represents the human quest for the divine, and where the final tapers to a point, the human and the divine merge into a single entity.  As the human aspires to the divine, the divine, too, descends, seeks out the human, and imparts grace in the same measure.  It has been pointed out that the outstanding quality of Indian temples is their spiritual content. The Indian mind is preoccupied with the religious, philosophic and metaphysical qualities of a work of art is reflected in temple architecture more clearly than in any other form of art.

Candi Prambanan is the grandest Hindu temple in Java. Located on the Prambanan plain, this sprawling temple complex sits majestically in an open area about twenty kilometers south of Mount Merapi, which dominates the horizon.

Stunning Prambanan - Setting the bar high

One aspect of Candi Shiva Mahadeva temple's appeal is its glorious symmetry and grace.

Situated in a picturesque plain dotted with archaeological monuments amongst rice paddies and villages, you will probably be impressed by the Hindu Prambanan temple complex before you even pull in to the park, the height and pointed architecture of the temples gives an impressive welcome.

Slender Heaven Soaring Spires of Hinduism in Java

Lofty spires reaching out to the Divine

Prambanan pinnacles and reliefs are superior to those of Borobudur and certainly more dramatically conceived.

An Infinitely more Imaginative Architecture than Borobudur: The ethereally slender and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle and an icon of Indonesia’s Hindu spiritual heritage.

The Shiva Temple - contains four chambers with Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Sage Agastya and Lord Ganesha.

The fully developed Hindu temple thus becomes an ideal for the union of the human with the divine, its upward movement and lofty spire expressing something of the human desire to reach out and mingle with the Infinite.

(© 2011 image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Refer to Space and Order in Prambanan: From Beyond the Eastern Horizons - By Dr. Subhash Kak

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Scale up

The sheer number of temples within the Prambanan Complex is extraordinary the site is structured in a series of three ‘squares’ which radiate out in size.

A raised central square, has a total of 11 temples, of various sizes, the largest being the Siva (Shiva) temple which towers dramatically at close to 50 metres high. It is flanked by temples honouring the gods Vishnu and Brahma. Three smaller temples sit in front of the larger temples and each of these is dedicated to the ‘vehicles’ or transportation of the gods represented: Nandi, the bull, for Siva; Hamsa, the sacred swan, for Brahma; and the eagle Garuda for Vishnu.

Nandi, Lord Shiva's vahana (vehicle) carved out of a single rock. Behind him are statues of Surya and Chandra in their chariots.  

 Tragically today there is no worship (puja) in this temple - no respect for the deities - no taking off the shoes or need to wear a sarong to enter the garbagraha (sanctum).

(© 2011image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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The second square radiates out symmetrically and contains paths through to the central square, as well as 224 smaller temples of identical design. These temples are known as perwara temples, meaning guardian or complementary. Although most of these smaller temples are currently tumbling ruins, a few have been restored and it is not difficult to imagine the sheer magnitude of what was once here.

A third and final square was also walled at some stage, is not on the same axis as the central two, and does not contain religious artefacts. It is thought that this area would have been for those involved in ceremonies to prepare offerings, and for buildings to house resident priests and pilgrims. These buildings no longer remain as the materials used have not survived over time.

Story teller

The exteriors of the temples and the balustrade areas within the central square are dense with carvings, and in particular, the Siva temple is famous for the 62 relief depictions of the Ramayana Ballet, telling the story of King Rama and his wife Sita. The Ramanaya Ballet continues to have strong links with the temple complex, with performances held on an open air stage within the temple compounds.

The Legend of Loro Djonggrang

Within the Prambanan's Siva temple is a series of chambers, dedicated to Ganesha, Bhatare Guru - Agastya; a bearded priest, Siva himself, and importantly, Durga, who local folklore claims as the depiction of Loro Djonggrang, the slender virgin.

In 1811 during Britain’s short-lived rule of the Dutch East Indies, Collin Mackenzie, a surveyor in the service of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, came upon the temples by chance. Although Sir Thomas subsequently commissioned a full survey of the ruins, they remained neglected for decades, with Dutch residents carting off sculptures as garden ornaments and native villagers using the foundation stones for construction material.

Restoration works commenced in 1830, the main Siva temple was completed in 1953, and works continue to this day. An earthquake in 1996 did cause further damage to Prambanan and many other temples in the area. The local Hindus, often of Balinese heritage, have revived Prambanan as a religious venue, performing their ceremonies and rituals here.

In the early 1990s the government removed the market that had sprung up near the temple and transformed the surrounding villages and rice paddies into an archaeological park.

(source: Prambanan - borobudurpark.com.id). Refer to the Chapters on Glimpses XII - The Glorious Hindu Legacy in South East Asia and Sacred Angkor and Survanabhumi

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History of Shivalaya

According to the Sivagraha inscription, dated in Saka year 778 (856 B.C.) King Rakai Pikatan built a temple dedicated to Lord Siva and named it the Sivalaya. This temple was later expanded and developed into a sprawling temple complex by the Mataram kings. The name later became Prambanan because this was the name of the village in which the temple stood. Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the tenth century. The slim building soaring up to 47 meters makes its beautiful architecture incomparable.  The Prambanan temple complex was built in the 9th century and includes temples dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva with reliefs depicting episodes from the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic.

Wealth of Sculptural details

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 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 Lanka of Hanuman and his ape army. 

Wealth of Sculptural details

The famous lion motifs flanked by the Kalpataru (trees of heaven) and half human half bird Kinnaras.

An amazing fine and realistic carving details of a Vedic rishi or sage. The superb and expressive facial features.

Dr. F.D.K. Bosch determined that the figures in these panels correspond with a list from the Vishnu Purana which presents the holy men responsible for editing the Vedas over the course of a long-term time cycle called a Manvantara. 

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, kitchen scenes. Prambanan’s beauty and variety demand more than one visit. 

(© 2011image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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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, kitchen scenes. Prambanan’s beauty and variety demand more than one visit. 

(source: Java - Insight Guides - By Peter Hutton  p. 185 - 190).

Javanese Tolerance and Pride in its Hindu Heritage in Indonesia

The Epic of Ramayana ballet performed at Prambanan

A lighted Prambanan in the night.

The open-air and indoor stages on the west side of the temple right across the Opak river, were built to stage the Ramayana ballet. This traditional Javanese dance is the centuries old dance of the Javanese court, performed every full moon night in the Prambanan temple since the 1960s. Since then, Prambanan has become one of the major archaeological and cultural tourism attractions in Indonesia.

The Ramayana Ballet being lovingly performed in the front of the Prambanan temple complex. Ram and Sita (Shinta) gracefully dancing in elaborate costumes.

Stability - Today majority of Indonesians are now Muslim. The Vedic foundation gives the society stability against dogmatic terrorism of the Semitic Desert. Hinduism was Java’s dominant religion for a much longer period, hence it permeates the society and contribute to Indonesia’s traditionally moderate form of Islam. 

Tolerance- This tolerance is unique to Indonesia - something that is rarely seen in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and others - where foolishly rejecting and outright denying the ancient past is an article of faith. Similarly today there are no ancient Hindu temples in the Catholic dominated Philippines. Tragically in these countries they have been stripped of their rich past identities.

Hinduism was Indonesia’s main religion for 1,000 years, so its influence is still strong.

(image source: sansara.net.ua).

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The largest Hindu shrine in Indonesia is Chandi Prambanan, built in the 9th century on the Prambanan Plain near Yogyakarta, Java. It is the tallest and most elegant of the approximately fifty remaining Hindu and Buddhist temples of the Sanjaya Dynasty and and its Javanese kingdom that thrived during A.D. 800 - 1000. Its main temples and more than four hundred smaller shrines are scattered throughout several square miles and constitute the greatest concentration of sacred architecture in Indonesia.

Erected from immense blocks of volcanic stone, these eastern facing temples overlook the holy Opak River and stand within sight of Mount Merapi (Meru - Mt. Meru - Api - fire), an active volcano worshipped by the early Javanese. Built in the image of Maha Meru, or the Great Mountains of the Gods, they were designed as shrines to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Their levels of construction represent the three spheres of the cosmos: the base as the underworld, the body as the middle world; and the spires as the upper world. Surrounding each temple group are three concentric courtyards, each one more sacred than the one preceding it.

The main temple of the group is Chandi Shiva. Its slender spires, resembling craggy Himalayan pinnacles, soar more than one hundred fifty feet into the sky and are covered with celestial beings and detailed ornamentation. Hundreds of stone panels depicting the Ramayana fill the mid level galleries, while images of serene ascetics meditating among stupa like ratnas (jewels), cover the exterior.

(source: Sacred Places of Asia: Where Every Breath Is A Prayer - By Jon Ortner  p. 134 - 144).

This temple dedicated to Shiva, is not only the largest of the temple but the finest.

A Wondrous History carved in stone

Lord Shiva Mahadeva seated - the Mightiest of Hindu God - also as Nataraja, the Lord of Cosmic Destruction.

A Superb image of Lord Ganesha - the removal of obstacles.

(image source: Sacred Places of Asia: Where Every Breath Is A Prayer - By Jon Ortner  p. 134 - 144).

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The main spire soars 47 m and the temple is lavishly carved. The ‘medallion’ that decorate its base have characteristic Prambanan motifs – small lions in niches flanked by Kalpataru (trees of heaven) and a menagerie of stylized half human, half bird Kinnaras (heavenly beings).

The vibrant scenes carved onto the inner wall of the gallery encircling the temple are from the Ramayana – they tell how Lord Rama’s wife Sita, is abducted and how Hanuman, the monkey god and Sugriva, the monkey general eventually help find and release her.

Hindus have left a powerful imprint on local culture and spirituality, most obvious today in the continued use of sacred stories from Hindu Ramayana and Mahabharata Epics in Javanese and Balinese dance and theatre – as well as major monuments. Bali, survived as a strong hold of Hinduism because nobles and intelligentsia of the Majapahit Kingdom congregated after the rest of their realm fell to dominating Islam in the 15^th century.

(source: Lonely Planet). Refer to the Chapters on Glimpses XII - The Glorious Hindu Legacy in South East Asia and Sacred Angkor and Survanabhumi

The complex consists of eight temples situated on a walled terrace surrounded by smaller chapels and two outer walls. The three largest of the inner temples are dedicated respectively to Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. The largest is the central temple of Shiva; in principle it resembles the prangs of Cambodia.

The temple itself, raised above the upper terrace by a richly decorated plinth, more richly sculptured balustrade, the continuous series of reliefs on the inner side illustrating the earlier part of the Ramayana, of which the continuation was probably to be found on the corresponding terrace of the now ruined Brahma shrine on the right; the reliefs of the Vishnu temple illustrate the Krsna cycle.  

The Prambanan reliefs are if anything superior to those of Borobudur, and certainly more dramatically conceived, and the aspect of the shrines, despite their rich ornament, is more masculine. It is possible that the complex served as a royal mausoleum as well as a temple.

The art of Prambanam, though it adheres to the principles established on the Dieng plateau, and still shows unity of plan and harmony of construction and ornament, is already advanced in its conception of the inner relations of the fundamental elements, and any further development could only lead to what we actually find in East Java.  On the other hand the early eastern monuments Gunung Gansir, the Belahan gateways, Candi Sumber Nanas and Candi Sangariti are distinctly of Middle Javanese character.

Candi Lalatunda, tomb and bathing place, are due to Udayana, father of the great Erlanga. Near to Belahan is another bathing place ascribed to Erlanga himself (1010 – 1042) and this site is the source of a portrait statue in which he is represented as Vishnu riding upon Garuda.

Java was now becoming a great maritime power, destined soon to occupy the old position of Sumatra. The eastern Javanese kings had already made their power felt in Palembang, Arab and Chinese trade was flourishing, and the island of Bali was dependent on Java. And what is more important, a national Javanese culture had developed, based indeed on the old Indian tradition, but Indonesian in essence, idiomatic in expression, and in the truest sense of the word, original. The Javanese language (Kawi) had become a fitting vehicle of classic epic literature. Javanese versions of the Indian epics, (Ramayana and Mahabharata) and the classic Arjuna-Vivaha in which the shadow play is mentioned for the first time, date from Erlang’s reign.

The twelfth century in Java, was the “greatest of centuries” and more than other moment stands for the living past in Javanese consciousness. This was an age of chivalry and romantic love. A 12^th century king, Kamesvara, the hero of the Panji cycle and the most romantic figure in Javanese tradition.

(source:  History of Indian and Indonesian Art - By Ananda K Coomaraswamy p. 200 - 213).

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Architecture: Elegant and Dramatic

The architecture of Prambanan temple follows the typical Hindu architecture traditions based on Vastu Shastra. The temple design incorporated mandala temple plan arrangements and also the typical high towering spires of Hindu temples. Prambanan was originally named Shivagrha and dedicated to god Shiva. The temple was designed to mimic Meru, the holy mountain the abode of Hindu gods, and the home of Shiva. The whole temple complex is a model of Hindu universe according to Hindu cosmology and the layers of Loka.

Just like Borobudur, Prambanan also recognize the hierarchy of the temple zones, spanned from the less holy to the holiest realms. Each Hindu and Buddhist concepts has their own terms, but the concept's essentials is identical.

Either the compound site plan (horizontally) or the temple structure (vertically) are consists of three zones:

Bhurloka (in Buddhism: Kāmadhātu), the lowest realm of common mortals; humans, animals also demons. Where humans still binded by their lust, desire and unholy way of life. The outer courtyard and the foot (base) part of each temples is symbolized 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 temples is symbolized the realm of bhuvarloka.

Svarloka (in Buddhism: Arupadhatu), the highest and holiest realm of gods, also known as svargaloka. The inner courtyard and the roof of each temples is symbolized the realm of svarloka. The roof of the Prambanan temples is adorned and crowned with ratna (Sanskrit: jewel). In ancient Java temple architecture, ratna is Hindu counterpart of Buddhist stupa, and served as the temple's pinnacle.

The Shiva shrine is the only building at Prambanan that has entranceways that open to all four cardinal directions. The doorway that faces the cardinal direction east leads into the shrine's central cella, which contains a statue of the Hindu deity Shiva. The remaining three doors lead into three ancillary chambers that contain statues of the Hindu Agastya (south), Ganesha (west) and Durga (north). With regards to the central shrine, however, there is a possibility that these three statues are not the original occupants of the auxiliary chambers.    

Candi

The second section of the inscription mentions that, on Wage (the fourth day of the Java five-day week) Thursday, 11th Margasira month, Saka year (November 11th 856 B.C.), a shrine was finished and god statues were officially announced. After finishing the whole Siwalaya shrine in an amazing magnificence, the river stream was turned so that the water flows beside the temple’s yard. The bordering lands of the temple were officially announced. In addition, they set out the farmlands to be ”dharma farmland” for Siwa shrine. Siwagrha Inscription and Kedu Inscription (Matiasih Inscription), dated 907 B.C., contains the complete list of Sanjaya Dynasty kings. From the inscription, we learn that the king who ordered the building of Temple was Sri Maharaja Rakai Pikatan.

Vedic influences are all over Indonesia

Culturally speaking Java is characterized by deep traces of Indianization that occurred long ago. From this Indianization was born a series of kingdom - Cambodia, Champa, Malay Pensisnsula, the kingdoms of Sumatara, Java and Bali and finally the Burmese and Thai kingdoms.

How Hinduism was introduced in Indonesia:

Records of foreign trade with Indonesia exist from the early AD centuries. Consequently, it was earlier thought that Hinduism was introduced to Indonesia through traders arriving from India. However, recent discoveries of Sanskrit transcriptions in places like eastern Kalimantan, a considerable distance from the international trade route, and also in western Java have given rise to a new theory that it was introduced to the Indonesian islands through rishis and their Indian and Indonesian disciples. References in Balinese literature about Pura Pucak Raung (in the Eastern Javanese district of Glenmore), where Maharishi Markandeya is said to have visited and gathered followers, further bolster this claim.

Even today at a Muslim festival - immense conical mounds of rice are carried to Mosques in Yogyakarata - a direct reference to the sacred mountain - Mount Mahameru - the abode of Hindu Gods. Beneath the unornamented throne of the Susuhunan of Surakarta - a titular Muslim prince - a tiger skin symbolizing his role as the embodiment of Lord Shiva.

Under the Gupta Dynasty - India enjoyed one of its "Golden Ages". When Chinese pilgrim Fa-hsien visited Java in 414 AD Hinduism was practiced in both islands of Java and Sumatara. The oldest Sanskrit inscription in Java dates from 414 AD is found near modern Bogor.  King Purnavarman of Taruna founded the Sanjaya Dynasty. Javanese pilgrims are known to have visited India in the 9th century and who brought back India's intellectual and cultural sophistication to a land as ready to embrace and expand on philosophical ideas as the Javanese earth receives and nurtures rice seedlings. The earliest Hindu temples in Java are located on the high plateau of Dieng and Gedong Songo built in 732 - 760 CE.

Indonesia is replete with Sanskrit names like Jayakarta (Jakarta), Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Denpasar, Surbaya. Krishna/Arjuna chariot sculptures can be spotted in Jakarata and Bali. The Bahasa language of Indonesia is filled with Sanskrit words. Mount Bromo means Brahma is a sacred mountain - an active volcano in East Java. Here the Tengger Hindus of this region hold a ceremony once a year called Yadnya Kasada Ceremony. Mahameru is the hightest mountain in Java. Arjuno-Welirang Is a twin volcano in East Java. The name Arjuno is Javanese rendition of Arjuna, a hero in Mahabharata epic, while Welirang is Javanese word for sulfur. Mt. Penanggungan - An ancient Javanese text, the tantu panggelaran records how in times long past the holy Mt Mahameru was transported from India to Java, in order to hold the island in place. During the journey, however, the mountain began to break apart, pieces of it falling to earth to form a chain of volcanic peaks. The base became Mt Semeru, Java's highest mountain, while the summit, Mt Pawitra, came to rest on the plains to the south of Surabaya. Mount Tambora and the city of Bhima on the island of Sumbawa. While in In a sacred pool on the slopes of Java’s Mount Penanggungan, men often bathe beside statues of Sri and Lakshmi, the consorts of Lord Vishnu. Pustakasala - also known as Kimpulan temple is a 9th to 10th century Hindu temple located in the area of Indonesia Islamic University.

(© 2011 image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Merapi stands for Hinduism's Mount Meru + Api (means fire) = Merapi. Mountain of Fire.

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The Defense Ministry is called Yuddha Graha. Inscription on its archways - Chatur Dharma, Eka Karma. Ministry for Sports is called Krida Bhakti. Shatria (Kshatriya) Mandala Museum) Armed Forces Museum in Jakarata. Lord Ganesha is prominently depicted on Indonesia's Rupiah currency notes as well as Ganesha statues grace the entrance of the Presidential palace. Garuda the National Airlines derived its name from "I'm a Garuda, Vishnu's Bird, spreads its wings high above the Islands"

Statues of Dwarpalas are everywhere and The Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are performed in all major urban areas. Shadow puppets - Wayan Kulit enact episodes from both epics as well. Wayang wong - have live actors whose plays are based on the epics too. 

(© 2011 image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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The technique of Batik, of South Indian origin, consists in painting and repainting the cotton ground with wax in such a manner as to reserve all those parts of the cloth which are not to take up color at the next dipping in the dye vat. The Ikat technique, which is widely distributed both in Further or Greater India and Indonesia, is certainly of Indian origin and probably of high antiquity. Needless to remark that ikat weaving requires the most elaborate precalculation and measurement.

(source:  History of Indian and Indonesian Art - By Ananda K Coomaraswamy p. 200 - 213).

Java, Bali and Sumatra are all Sanskrit names. All of the most ancient of Indonesian shrines are dedicated to Indian Vedic deities and depict scenes from Indian epics. Their language is a dialect of Sanskrit known as Basha, a Sanskrit term. The Indonesian flag, being of two colors, bears the Sanskrit name Dwivarna. The five cardinal points of the Indonesian constitution are also designated by Sanskrit word Panchashila. The old Javanese alphabet derives from the Pallava script of South India. One such inscription was found in the south-eastern region of Borneo (Kalimanthan) on four octagonal stone pillars, written in the Sanskrit in a 4th century Indian script.  Indonesians still follow the Vedic year and call it Sakh-Samavat. It is not generally known that the name "Indonesia" does not refer to Asia. The term "Nesia" signifies a group of islands, and "Indo" of course means India. Thus, Indonesia means Indian Islands. Not far from Borobudur is the complex of Prambanam, the like of which is known neither to India or to any other neighboring or distant land. Here are the life cycles of Lord Krishna as Krishnayana parallel to the Ramayana, the powerful dragon being torn asunder by the superb arms of the Divine boy Krishna. In another place is the scene of Kumbhakarna being awakened by conches and screeches of elephants, a portrayal of the highest order. The central triad of temples are devoted to the Trimurti (Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu). The ancient name of Borneo is Kalimanthan. Kali is the popular Indian goddess who is devotedly worshipped by the general masses of Vedic followers and Indian rulers alike. The sultan of Brunei bore the title of Seri Bhagawan, meaning Shri Bhagavan (Lord Almighty).

(source: Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence - By Stephen Knapp p. 230 - 231). Refer to the Chapters on Glimpses XII - The Glorious Hindu Legacy in South East Asia and Sacred Angkor and Survanabhumi

Greater India: The Indian Ocean Rim is a natural hinterland

Indonesia shows the power of Indic ideas – as Tagore remarked, wherever you go in the country, you are reminded of India, because of familiar cultural signals. Even the languages – old Javanese and Balinese – look much like Indian scripts, and children still chant “a, aa, e, ee”. A large number of cultural memes in Indonesia are imported from India, including in traditional dance, puppetry, music, even in the name of the national airline, ‘Garuda’.  In the middle of a large square in Jakarta, there is a giant sculpture of the Gitopadesa. On a full moon night, I have watched Javanese Muslim dancers perform the Ramayana Ballet outside Prambanan . There is the Hindu island of Bali, where the Hindus fled when a Javanese king of the Majapahit dynasty converted to Islam.

Prambanan, less well-known, is the Hindu equivalent of Borobudur, and from roughly the same time period. They are stylistically polar opposites: Borobudur is powerful and muscular, whereas Prambanan (a suggested etymology is ‘brahma-vana’) is tall, slender and ethereal. Indeed, another name for Prambanan is ‘slender maiden’. It consists of three temples, one each to Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. The Siva temple is the tallest and the best preserved. In an earthquake in 2006, Prambanan was severely damaged. A big eruption of Merapi may altogether doom it.

Hinduism and Buddhism thrived for a thousand years, not through conquest but because the ideas themselves were useful and good. There was in fact an Indian military invasion – although that was later. Circa 1017, Rajendra Chola sent a huge expeditionary force clear across the ocean to defeat the Srivijaya Empire in Sumatra. It was possibly the largest naval fleet ever assembled before the advent of steamships in the 19^th century, quite likely bigger, and certainly more successful, than the Spanish Armada.

Unfortunately, unlike the big claims the Chinese are making – and these grow with every retelling – of their Admiral Zheng He and his alleged naval adventures, India has been noticeably reticent about the glorious maritime exploits of the Cholas. This needs to change, purely out of necessity: India needs to provide a counterweight to China. The US is now exhorting India to no longer just “look east”, but become a presence in East Asia. With China’s increasing aggressiveness in the South China Sea, in Tibet and Kashmir, it is necessary to ‘contain’ China with a web of relationships, such as with Vietnam and Japan.

India has so far fumbled its connections with Southeast Asia, which was traditionally known as Greater India. Invited to join ASEAN at its founding, India haughtily declined to: yet another Himalayan blunder. The cultural legacy is a link that India should use to engage with increasingly SE Asia. Going by the rapid rise of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, this region is where the future is. It may yet be the century not of the Pacific, but of the Indian Ocean. A Pax Indica or an Indian Ocean Rim Community is a possible dream.

(source: Greater India: The Indian Ocean Rim is a natural hinterland - By Rajeev Srinivasan).

Refer to the chapter refer to the links listed below:

Ethereal Prambanan2
Ethereal Prambanan3

Did You Know?

The Aussie Kavadiya

Carl Vadivella Belle, former Australian diplomat and a devotee of Murugan, talks about his first visit to a Hindu temple and his interest in Hinduism:

"I was posted in Kuala Lumpur in the '70s. Shortly after my arrival, we were taken to a Murugan temple in Kelang. I was curious about the temple and about Hinduism; I knew very little about the major religions in Malaysia. Malaysians were friendly and were willing to explain their religious beliefs to me.

"I first attended Thai Poosam, a festival associated with Muruga, as an observer in January 1978, at Batu Caves, Malaysia. I was fascinated by enthusiasm of the people who carried kavadis, a wooden stick with two baskets. Later, friends in Malaysia sent me introductory religious material. One of the wisest pieces of advice was offered by an old Telugu friend who wrote to me with cautionary comments. I was told that I should fast for six weeks before taking a kavadi, abstain from alcohol, practise vegetarianism and sleep by myself on the floor.

An Australian Hindu Kavadi at Thai Poosam Festival in Malaysia.

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"This was new to me; most Westerners are not used to practising restraint in any way at all! Later, I adopted the Hindu way of life. I was christened Carl Donald Belle. I changed my name in 1980s after my third kavadi. I felt that as a Hindu, I should have a Hindu name and so chose to be called Vadivel meaning Muruga. The name was adopted after consulting temple kurukkals or priests at a major Murugan temple in Kuala Lumpur. I also became a vegetarian.

I took my first kavadi in the early '80s. Thai Poosam has been the main focus of my religious pilgrimages. I think to a large extent this also reflects my philosophical approach. The festival commemorates Muruga's acquisition of the Shakti Vel, a weapon he uses to vanquish evil. The act is symbolic of subjugating the ego; it's an inner journey. One of the greatest features of Hinduism is the acceptance that there is a diversity of paths to Self-realisation.

I visited the Muruga shrines in 1990s, and I was fortunate enough to join a pilgrimage group on a padayatra that commenced in Palakkad in Kerala and finished in Palani on Thai Poosam day. I was treated with extraordinary kindness during the yatra, and the philosophical conversations greatly enhanced my knowledge. I liked the Muruga seashore temple at Tiruchendur; there I had a powerful spiritual experience. My wife and I plan to spend three to six months in India, over the next few years and visit temples, shrines and monuments all over the country. In 2005, I was awarded a doctorate for my thesis: Thai Poosam in Malaysia: A Hindu Festival Misunderstood.

I plan to convert this thesis to a book. This was a great experience, because it gave me an understanding of different philosophical pathways within Hinduism.

(source: The Aussie Kavadi - hinduismtoday.com).

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Cambodia’s Ancient Lord Shiva Temple Reopens

The fabled 11th-Century Baphuon Shiva temple in the Angkor Thom complex of Cambodia reopened on July 3, 2011, after half a century of reconstruction work. Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Described as the world's largest puzzle, renovation work which began in the 1960s but interrupted by Cambodia's civil war, involved dismantling the monument's 300,000 almost unequal sandstone blocks and putting them back together again. All documents to reassemble the Baphuon puzzle were reportedly destroyed by the communist Khmer Rouge regime that came to power in 1975.

The fabled 11th-Century Baphuon Shiva temple in the Angkor Thom complex of Cambodia reopened on July 3, 2011, after half a century of reconstruction work. Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Refer to chapters on Sacred Angkor and Survanabhumi

This great pyramidal, three-tiered intricately carved ancient temple, one of the largest monuments of Cambodia, was said to be on the brink of collapse when reconstruction work was undertaken.

The inauguration ceremony on July 3, 2011, was attended by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon in Siem Reap province, about 143 miles northwest of capital Phnom Penh. France funded this $14 million undertaking, in which no mortar fills the cracks so each stone has its own place in the monument. Baphuon, one of Cambodia's biggest temples after Angkor Wat, is believed to have been the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II, built in circa 1060 AD.

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It has Shiva lingam, scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, depiction of Krishna, Shiva, Hanuman, Sita, Vishnu, Rama, Agni, Ravana, Indrajit, Nila-Sugriva, Asoka trees, Lakshmana, Garuda, Pushpaka, Arjuna, and other Hindu Gods and historical characters.The Angkor Archaeological Park contains magnificent remains of over 1000 temples going back to ninth century, spread over about 400 square kilometers, and receives about three million visitors annually.

(source: Cambodia’s Ancient Shiva Temple Reopens after 50 Years of Renovation - hinduism.about.com).

Refer to the chapter refer to the links listed below:

Ethereal Prambanan2
Ethereal Prambanan3

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Updated - October 28, 2008