Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the
tenth century. The slim building soaring up to 47 meters makes its beautiful
architecture incomparable.
Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building
constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai
Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the
foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu
triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city
center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.
Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.
Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This 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. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso
who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make
her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly
fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in
order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who
only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.
Prambanan
temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and
Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu
belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple
facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for
Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner
temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.
Entering
Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find
four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms
contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and
Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang
in the above legend.
In
Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with
Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find
only room as well with Brahma statue in it.
Quite
attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu
temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda
is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white
face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that
the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shines') that
is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt 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 Amerta (the
sacred water of the gods).
Its
ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and
it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the
country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason
but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut
or Pha Krut.
Prambanan
also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that
the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from
generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that -
in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment
harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a
lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in
the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.
Just
like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia,
Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some
intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for
environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree
of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of
traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels
in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.
If
you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real
birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so
natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of
the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered
question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an
island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No
body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.
You
can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita
Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you
can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex.
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