Prambanan ( id, Candi Prambanan, jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a 9th-century
Hindu temple compound in
Special Region of Yogyakarta,
Indonesia, dedicated to the
Trimūrti, the expression of God as the Creator (
Brahma), the Preserver (
Vishnu) and the Destroyer (
Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately northeast of the city of
Yogyakarta on the boundary between
Central Java
Central Java ( id, Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogyakarta in t ...
and
Yogyakarta provinces.
The temple compound, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in
Southeast Asia after
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat (; km, អង្គរវត្ត, "City/Capital of Temples") is a temple complex in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring . Originally constructed as a Hinduism, Hindu temple dedicated ...
.
It is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of
Hindu architecture, and by the towering central building inside a large complex of individual temples. Prambanan temple compounds originally consists of 240 temple structures; which represents the grandeur of ancient Java's Hindu art and architecture, also considered as a masterpiece of the classical period in Indonesia.
Prambanan attracts many visitors from around the world.
History
Construction
The Prambanan temple is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java, and the first building was completed in the mid-9th century. It was likely started by
Rakai Pikatan and inaugurated by his successor
King Lokapala
Sri Maharaja Rakai Kayuwangi Dyah Lokapala Sri Sajjanotsawatunggadewa was the seventh monarch of the Mataram Kingdom of Central Java period (commonly referred as Mataram Kingdom) who ruled between 856 and 885. He is commonly known as Dyah Lokapala, ...
. Some historians that adhere to
dual dynasty theory; suggest that the construction of Prambanan probably was meant as the Hindu
Sanjaya Dynasty's answer to the Buddhist
Sailendra Dynasty's
Borobudur and
Sewu temples nearby. Which means to mark the return of the Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty to power in Central Java after almost a century of Buddhist Sailendra Dynasty domination. Nevertheless, the construction of this massive Hindu temple did signifies a shift of the
Mataram court's patronage; from
Mahayana Buddhism to
Shaivite Hinduism.
A temple was first built at the site around 850 CE by
Rakai Pikatan and expanded extensively by
King Lokapala
Sri Maharaja Rakai Kayuwangi Dyah Lokapala Sri Sajjanotsawatunggadewa was the seventh monarch of the Mataram Kingdom of Central Java period (commonly referred as Mataram Kingdom) who ruled between 856 and 885. He is commonly known as Dyah Lokapala, ...
and
Balitung Maha Sambu the
Sanjaya king of the
Mataram Kingdom. A short red-paint script bearing the name "pikatan" was found on one of the finials on top of the balustrade of Shiva temple, which confirms that King Pikatan was responsible for the initiation of the temple construction.
The temple complex is linked to the
Shivagrha inscription of 856 CE, issued by King Lokapala, which described a Shiva temple compound that resembles Prambanan. According to this inscription the Shiva temple was inaugurated on 12 November 856.
According to this inscription, the temple was built to honor Lord Shiva, and its original name was ''Shiva-grha'' (the House of Shiva) or ''Shiva-laya'' (the Realm of Shiva).
According to the Shivagrha inscription, a public water project to change the course of a river near Shivagrha temple was undertaken during the construction of the temple. The river, identified as the
Opak River
Opak River is a river in central south area of Java island, Indonesia.
Hydrology
It flows from its source on the slopes of Mount Merapi in the north, heading southward and passes the west side of 9th-century Prambanan temple compound, located t ...
, now runs north to south on the western side of the Prambanan temple compound. Historians suggest that originally the river was curved further to east and was deemed too near to the main temple. Experts suggest that the shift of the river was meant to secure the temple complex from the overflowing of
lahar
A lahar (, from jv, ꦮ꧀ꦭꦲꦂ) is a violent type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley.
Lahars are extreme ...
volcanic materials from
Merapi volcano. The project was done by cutting the river along a north to south axis along the outer wall of the Shivagrha Temple compound. The former river course was filled in and made level to create a wider space for the temple expansion, the space for rows of ''pervara'' (complementary) temples.
![COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Beeld van Shiva als Mahadeva op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 60046668](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Beeld_van_Shiva_als_Mahadeva_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_60046668.jpg)
Some archaeologists propose that the statue of
Shiva in the
garbhagriha (central chamber) of the main temple was modelled after
King Balitung, serving as a depiction of his deified self after death. The temple compound was expanded by successive Mataram kings, such as Daksa and
Tulodong, with the addition of hundreds of ''perwara'' temples around the chief temple.
With main ''prasada'' tower soaring up to 47 metres high, a vast walled temple complex consists of 240 structures, Shivagrha Trimurti temple was the tallest and the grandest of its time.
Indeed, the temple complex is the largest Hindu temple in ancient Java, with no other Javanese temples ever surpassed its scale. Prambanan served as the royal temple of the Kingdom of Mataram, with most of the state's religious ceremonies and sacrifices being conducted there. At the height of the kingdom, scholars estimate that hundreds of
brahmins with their disciples lived within the outer wall of the temple compound. The urban center and the court of Mataram were located nearby, somewhere in the
Prambanan Plain.
Abandonment
![Prambanan Java243](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Prambanan_Java243.jpg)
After being used and expanded for about 80 years, the temples were mysteriously abandoned near the half of the 10th century. In the 930s, the Javanese court was shifted to
East Java by
Mpu Sindok Śrī Mahārāja Rake Hino Dyaḥ Siṇḍok Śrī Īśānawikrama Dharmottuṅgadewawijaya (also known as Dyah Sindok, Mpu Sindok or Sindok) was the last king of the Sanjaya dynasty who ruled the Mataram Kingdom, Kingdom of Mataram from Central Ja ...
, who established the
Isyana Dynasty. It was not clear however, the true reason behind the abandonment of Central Java realm by this
Javanese Mataram kingdom. A devastating eruption of
Mount Merapi volcano, located around 25 kilometres north of Prambanan in Central Java, or a power struggle probably caused the shift. That event marked the beginning of the decline of the temple, as it was soon abandoned and began to deteriorate.
The temples collapsed during a major earthquake in the 16th century. Although the temple ceased to be an important center of worship, the ruins scattered around the area were still recognizable and known to the local Javanese people in later times. The statues and the ruins became the theme and the inspiration for the
Rara Jonggrang folktale.
The
Javanese locals in the surrounding villages knew about the temple ruins before formal rediscovery, but they did not know about its historical background: which kingdoms ruled or which king commissioned the construction of the monuments. As a result, the locals developed tales and legends to explain the origin of temples, infused with myths of giants, and a cursed princess. They gave Prambanan and Sewu a wondrous origin; these were said in the
Rara Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
legend to have been created by a multitude of demons under the order of Bandung Bondowoso.
Rediscovery
In 1733, Cornelis Antonie Lons, a
VOC
VOC, VoC or voc may refer to:
Science and technology
* Open-circuit voltage (VOC), the voltage between two terminals when there is no external load connected
* Variant of concern, a category used during the assessment of a new variant of a virus
* ...
employee, provided a first report on Prambanan temple in his journal. Lons was escorting
Julius Frederick Coyett, a VOC commissioner of northeast Java coast, to
Kartasura, then the capital of
Mataram, a powerful local Javanese kingdom. During his sojourn in Central Java, he had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Prambanan temple, which he described as "Brahmin temples" that resembles a mountain of stones.
After the division of
Mataram Sultanate
The Sultanate of Mataram () was the last major independent Javanese kingdom on the island of Java before it was colonised by the Dutch. It was the dominant political force radiating from the interior of Central Java from the late 16th centu ...
in 1755, the temple ruins and the Opak River were used to demarcate the boundary between
Yogyakarta and
Surakarta
Surakarta ( jv, ꦯꦸꦫꦏꦂꦠ), known colloquially as Solo ( jv, ꦱꦭ; ), is a city in Central Java, Indonesia. The 44 km2 (16.2 sq mi) city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoh ...
Sultanates, which was adopted as the current border between
Yogyakarta and the province of
Central Java
Central Java ( id, Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogyakarta in t ...
.
![Prambanan 1895](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Prambanan_1895.jpg)
The temple attracted international attention early in the 19th century. In 1803, Nicolaus Engelhard, the Governor of the northeast coast of Java, made a stop in Prambanan during his official visits to the kings of Java;
Pakubuwana IV of Surakarta and
Hamengkubuwana II
Hamengkubuwono II (also spelled Hamengkubuwana II, 7 March 1750 – 3 January 1828), born Raden Mas Sundoro, was the second sultan of Yogyakarta 1792–1810, 1811–12Daendels stood down HBII in favour of his son Hamengkubuwono III and final ...
of Yogyakarta. Impressed by the temple ruins, in 1805 Engelhard commissioned H.C. Cornelius, an engineer stationed in Klaten, to clear the site from earth and vegetation, measuring the area, and made drawings of the temple. This was the first effort to study and restore Prambanan temple.
In 1811 during the short-lived
British occupation of the
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
,
Colin 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. Dutch residents carried off sculptures as garden ornaments and native villagers used the foundation stones for construction material. Half-hearted excavations by
archaeologists
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
in the 1880s adversely facilitated looting instead, as numbers of temple sculptures were taken away as collections.
Reconstruction
![COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Restauratie van de aan Shiva gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016160](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Restauratie_van_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016160.jpg)
In 1918, the Dutch colonial government began reconstruction of the compound and proper restoration only commenced in 1930. Due to massive scale and the sheer numbers of temples, the efforts at restoration still continue up to this day. By 1930s, the reconstruction project by Dutch East Indies Archaeological Service successfully restored two Apit temples in the central court, and two smaller Perwara temples. The reconstruction used the
anastylosis
Anastylosis (from the Ancient Greek: ; , = "again", and = "to erect stela or building) is an archaeological term for a reconstruction technique whereby a ruined building or monument is restored using the original architectural elements to t ...
method, in which a ruined temple is restored using the original stone blocks as much as possible.
The restoration efforts was hampered by the
economic crisis in 1930s, and finally ceased altogether due to the outbreak of
World War II Pacific War
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...
(1942-1945), and the following
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution, or the Indonesian War of Independence, was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during Aftermath of WWII, postw ...
(1945-1949). After the war, the temple reconstruction resumed in 1949, despite much of technical drawings and photographs were damaged or lost during the war. The reconstruction of the main Shiva temple was completed in 1953 and inaugurated by Indonesia's first president
Sukarno
Sukarno). (; born Koesno Sosrodihardjo, ; 6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967.
Sukarno was the leader of ...
.
![Indonesia 1957 5r r](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Indonesia_1957_5r_r.jpg)
The Indonesian government continued the reconstruction effort to complete the temple compound. The Brahma temple was reconstructed between 1978 and 1987. While the Vishnu temple was rebuilt from 1982 to 1991.
The Vahana temples of the eastern rows and some smaller shrines were completed from 1991 to 1993. Thus by 1993, the whole towering main temples of the Prambanan central zone were erected and completed, simultaneously inaugurated by President
Suharto
Suharto (; ; 8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian army officer and politician, who served as the second and the longest serving president of Indonesia. Widely regarded as a military dictator by international observers, Suharto ...
together with the inauguration of the
Sewu compound central temple nearby.
Since much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused at remote construction sites, restoration was hampered considerably. Given the scale of the temple complex, the government decided to rebuild shrines only if at least 75% of their original masonry was available, in accordance to
anastylosis
Anastylosis (from the Ancient Greek: ; , = "again", and = "to erect stela or building) is an archaeological term for a reconstruction technique whereby a ruined building or monument is restored using the original architectural elements to t ...
discipline. The reconstruction continues up to this day, with efforts now focused on the Perwara temples of the outer compound. The latest reconstruction was a Perwara temple of eastern side second row number 35, which completed in December 2017. Thus, from originally 224 Perwara temples, only 3 of them completely reconstructed, 2 on the eastern side, and a corner Perwara temple with double porticos on the northeast corner. Most of the smaller shrines are now visible only in their foundations, with no plans for their complete reconstruction.
In the early 1990s the government removed the market that had sprung up near the temple and redeveloped the surrounding villages and rice paddies as an
archaeological
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
park. The park covers a large area, from Yogyakarta-Solo main road in the south, encompassing the whole Prambanan complex, the ruins of Lumbung and Bubrah temples, and as far as the Sewu temple compound in the north. In 1992 the Indonesian government created a State-owned Limited Liability Enterprise (Persero), named "PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, dan Ratu Boko." This enterprise is the authority for the park management of Borobudur Prambanan Ratu Boko and the surrounding region. Prambanan is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.
The Trimurti open-air and indoor stages on the west side of the temple, across the
Opak River
Opak River is a river in central south area of Java island, Indonesia.
Hydrology
It flows from its source on the slopes of Mount Merapi in the north, heading southward and passes the west side of 9th-century Prambanan temple compound, located t ...
, were built to stage the ballet of the traditional ''
Ramayana'' epic. This traditional
Javanese dance is the centuries-old dance of the Javanese court. Since the 1960s, it has been performed every full moon night in the Prambanan temple. Since then, Prambanan has become one of the major archaeological and cultural tourism attractions in Indonesia.
Contemporary events
![Candi Prambanan; candi Hindu terindah di Asia Tenggara](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Candi_Prambanan%3B_candi_Hindu_terindah_di_Asia_Tenggara.jpg)
Since the reconstruction of the main temples in the 1990s, Prambanan has been reclaimed as an important religious center for
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
rituals and ceremonies in Java. Balinese and Javanese Hindu communities in Yogyakarta and Central Java revived their practices of annually performing their sacred ceremonies in Prambanan, such as
Galungan
Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of ''dharma'' over ''adharma''.Eiseman (1989) p353 It marks the time when the ancestral spirits visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when they return. The date is calc ...
, Tawur Kesanga, and
Nyepi.
The temple was damaged during the
2006 Yogyakarta earthquake
The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake (also known as the Bantul earthquake) occurred at with a moment magnitude of 6.4 and a maximum MSK intensity of VIII (''Damaging''). Several factors led to a disproportionate amount of damage and number of casualt ...
. Early photos suggested that although the complex was structurally intact, the damage was significant. Large pieces of debris, including carvings, were scattered over the ground. The temple was closed to visitors until the damage could be fully assessed. Eventually, the head of Yogyakarta Archaeological Conservation Agency stated that it would take months to identify the full extent of the damage. Some weeks later in 2006, the site was re-opened for visitors.
There is great interest in the site. In 2008, 856,029 Indonesian visitors and 114,951 foreign visitors visited Prambanan. On 6 January 2009 the reconstruction of Nandi temple finished. As of 2009, the interior of most of the temples remains off-limits for safety reasons.
On 14 February 2014, major tourist attractions in Yogyakarta and Central Java, including
Borobudur, Prambanan, and
Ratu Boko, were closed to visitors after being severely affected by the volcanic ash from the eruption of
Kelud volcano in East Java, located about 200 kilometers east of Yogyakarta. The
Kelud volcano erupted on 13 February 2014 with explosions heard as far away as Yogyakarta. Four years earlier, Prambanan was spared from the 2010 Merapi volcanic ash and eruption since the wind and ashfall were directed westward and affected Borobudur instead.
In 2012, the ''Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala Jawa Tengah'' (BP3) or Central Java Heritage Preservation Authority suggested that the area in and around Prambanan should be treated as a sanctuary area. The proposed area is located in
Prambanan Plain measured 30 square kilometers spanned across
Sleman
Sleman is a '' kapanewon'' (regency district) and the seat capital of Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is on the road between Yogyakarta and Magelang. Sleman has five villages, namely Caturharjo, Pandowoharjo, Tridadi, ...
and
Klaten Regency, which includes major temples in the area such as Prambanan,
Ratu Boko,
Kalasan,
Sari and
Plaosan
Candi Plaosan, also known as the 'Plaosan Complex', is one of the Buddhist temples located in Bugisan village, Prambanan district, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, about to the northeast of the renowned Hindu Prambanan Temple.
Candi Pla ...
temples. The sanctuary area is planned to be treated in a similar fashion to the
Angkor archaeological area in Cambodia, which means the government should stop or decline permits to construct any new buildings, especially multi-storied buildings, as well as
BTS towers in the area. This is meant to protect this archaeologically rich area from modern day visual obstructions and the encroachments of hotels, restaurants, and any tourism-related buildings and businesses.
![Gunungan Prambanan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Gunungan_Prambanan.jpg)
On 9 to 12 November 2019, the grand ''
Abhiṣeka
Abhisheka () means "bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered." It is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image or murti of a God or Goddess. Abhisheka is common to Indian religions su ...
'' sacred ceremony was performed in this temple compound. This Hindu ritual was held for the first time after 1,163 years after the Prambanan temple was founded on 856. The ''Abhiṣeka'' ceremony was meant to cleanse, sanctify and purify the temple, thus signify that the temple is not merely an archaeological and tourism site, but also restored to its original function as a focus of Hindu religious activity.
Indonesian Hindus believe that this ''Abhiṣeka'' ceremony marked a turning point to
re-consecrated the temple ground and restore the spiritual energy of Prambanan temple.
The temple compound
: ''This information does not take account of damage caused by the
2006 Yogyakarta earthquake
The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake (also known as the Bantul earthquake) occurred at with a moment magnitude of 6.4 and a maximum MSK intensity of VIII (''Damaging''). Several factors led to a disproportionate amount of damage and number of casualt ...
''
![Prambanan Temple Compound Map en](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Prambanan_Temple_Compound_Map_en.svg)
Originally there were a total of 240 temples standing in Prambanan. The Prambanan Temple Compound consist of:
* 3 Trimurti temples: three main temples dedicated to
Vishnu,
Shiva and
Brahma
* 3 Vahana temples: three temples in front of Trimurti temples dedicated to the
vahana of each gods;
Garuda,
Nandi
Nandi may refer to:
People
* Nandy (surname), Indian surname
* Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe
* Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi
* Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...
and Hamsa
* 2 Apit temples: two temples located between the rows of Trimurti and Vahana temples on north and south side
* 4 Kelir temples: four small shrines located on 4 cardinal directions right beyond the 4 main gates of inner zone
* 4 Patok temples: four small shrines located on 4 corners of inner zone
* 224 Pervara temples: hundreds of temples arranged in 4 concentric square rows; numbers of temples from inner row to outer row are: 44, 52, 60, and 68
The Prambanan compound also known as Rara Jonggrang complex, named after the popular legend of
Rara Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
. There were once 240 temples standing in this
Shivaite temple complex, either big or small.
Today, all of 8 main temples and 8 small shrines in the inner zone are reconstructed, but only 3 out of the original 224 pervara temples are renovated. The majority of them have deteriorated; what is left are only scattered stones. The Prambanan temple complex consists of three zones; first the outer zone, second the middle zone that contains hundreds of small temples, and third the holiest inner zone that contains eight main temples and eight small shrines.
![Prambanan Architectural Model](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Prambanan_Architectural_Model.jpg)
The Hindu temple complex at Prambanan is based on a square plan that contains a total of three zone yards, each of which is surrounded by four walls pierced by four large gates. The outer zone is a large space marked by a rectangular wall. The outermost walled perimeter, which originally measured about 390 metres per side, was oriented in the northeast–southwest direction. However, except for its southern gate, not much else of this enclosure has survived down to the present. The original function is unknown; possibilities are that it was a sacred park, or priests' boarding school (
ashram
An ashram ( sa, आश्रम, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or a ...
). The supporting buildings for the temple complex were made from organic material; as a consequence no remains occur.
Shiva temple
The inner zone or central compound is the holiest among the three zones. It is the square elevated platform surrounded by a square stone wall with stone gates on each four cardinal points. This holiest compound is assembled of eight main shrines or ''
candi''. The three main shrines, called ''
Trimurti'' ("three forms"), are dedicated to the three Gods:
Brahma ''the Creator'',
Vishnu ''the Keeper'', and
Shiva ''the Destroyer''.
The Shiva temple is the tallest and largest structure in Prambanan Rara Jonggrang complex; it measures 47 metres tall and 34 metres wide. The main stairs are located on the eastern side. The eastern gate of Shiva temple is flanked by two small shrines, dedicated to guardian gods,
Mahakala and Nandhisvara. The Shiva temple is encircled with galleries adorned with
bas-reliefs telling the story of
Ramayana carved on the inner walls of the
balustrades. To follow the story accurately, visitors must enter from the east side and began to perform ''pradakshina'' or
circumambulating clockwise. The bas-reliefs of Ramayana continue to the Brahma temple galleries.
The Shiva shrine is located at the center and contains five chambers, four small chambers in every cardinal direction and one bigger main chamber in the central part of the temple. The east chamber connects to the central chamber that houses the largest temple in Prambanan, a three-metre high statue of
Shiva Mahadeva (the Supreme God). The statue bears ''Lakçana'' (attributes or symbol) of Shiva such as skull and sickle (crescent) at the crown, and third eye on the forehead; also four hands that holds Shiva's symbols: prayer beads, feather duster, and
trisula
The ''trishula'' () is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism.
In Nepal and Thailand, the term also often refers to a short-handled weapon which may be mounted on a ''daṇḍa'' " staff". Unlik ...
(trident). Some historians believe that the depiction of Shiva as Mahadeva was also meant to personify king Balitung as the reincarnation of Shiva. So, when he died, a temple was built to commemorate him as Shiva.
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: his consort
Durga, the
rishi
''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...
Agastya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
, and
Ganesha, his son. A statue of
Agastya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
occupies the south chamber, the west chamber houses the statue of
Ganesha, while the north chamber contains the statue of ''Durga Mahisasuramardini'' depicting
Durga as the slayer of the Bull demon. The shrine of Durga is also called the temple of ''Rara Jonggrang'' (Javanese: slender virgin), after a Javanese legend of princess
Rara Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
.
Brahma and Vishnu temples
The two other main shrines are those of
Vishnu on the north side of the Shiva shrine, and the one of
Brahma on the south. Both temples face east and each contain only one large chamber, each dedicated to respected gods; Brahma temple contains the statue of Brahma and Vishnu temple houses the statue of Vishnu. Brahma and Vishnu temple measures 20 metres wide and 33 metres tall.
Vahana temples
![Nandi90 4 4](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Nandi90_4_4.jpg)
The other three shrines in front of the three main temples are dedicated to the vehicles (
vahana) of the respective gods – the bull
Nandi
Nandi may refer to:
People
* Nandy (surname), Indian surname
* Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe
* Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi
* Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...
for Shiva, the sacred swan
Hamsa for Brahma, and Vishnu's kite
Garuda. Precisely in front of the Shiva temple is the Nandi temple, which contains a statue of the Nandi bull. Next to it, there are also other statues, the statue of
Chandra the god of the moon and
Surya
Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...
the god of the sun. Chandra stands on his carriage pulled by 10 horses, the statue of Surya also stands on a carriage pulled by 7 horses.
Facing the Brahma temple is the temple of Hamsa or Angsa. The chamber of this temple contains no statue, but it seems likely that there was once a statue of the sacred swan. In front of the Vishnu temple is the temple dedicated to Garuda. However, just like the Hamsa temple, the Garuda temple contains no statue, but probably once contained the statue of Garuda. Garuda holds an important role for
Indonesia, as it serves as the
national symbol of Indonesia, and also as the name of the airline
Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia, headquartered at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. A successor of KLM Interinsulair Bedrijf, it is a member of SkyTeam and the second-largest airline of Indonesia after Lion Air, operat ...
.
Apit temples and smaller shrines
![COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016152](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016152.jpg)
Between these rows of the main temple, on the north and south side, stand two ''Candi Apit'' temples. ''Apit'' in
Javanese means "flank". It refers to the position of the two temples that flanked the inner courtyard on the north and south sides. The room inside the Apit temples is now empty. It is not clear to which deities these Apit temples were dedicated. However, examining the southern Apit temple bas-reliefs on the outer wall, a female deity is depicted, most probably
Sarasvati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a god ...
, the
Shakti (consort) of Brahma. Considering the
Hindu pantheon represented in Prambanan temples, it is possible that the southern Apit temple was dedicated to Sarasvati, while the northern Apit temple was dedicated to
Lakshmi.
Beside these 8 main temples, there are also 8 smaller shrines; 4 ''Candi Kelir'' on four cardinal directions of the entrance, and 4 ''Candi Patok'' on four corners of the inner zone. ''Kelir'' in
Javanese means "screen", especially referring to ''
wayang kulit'', fabric screen. It refers to a structure that obstructs the main cardinal entry of
gopura. It is similar to ''aling-aling'' in
Balinese architecture. ''Patok'' in Javanese means "peg". It refers to the shrine location at the four corners of the inner compound.
Pervara temples
![COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 20026907](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_De_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_20026907.jpg)
The two walled perimeters that surround the remaining two yards to the interior are oriented to the four cardinal points. The second yard's walled perimeter, which measures about 225 metres per side, surrounds a terraced area that consists of four rows containing 44, 52, 60, and 68 pervara temples. Respectively, each has a height of 14 metres and measures 6×6 metres at the base, or 224 structures in total. The sixteen temples located at the corners of the rows face two directions; the remaining 208 structures open to only one of the four cardinal directions.
The middle zone consists of four rows of 224 individual small shrines. There are great numbers of these temples, but most of them are still in ruins and only some have been reconstructed. These concentric rows of temples were made in an identical design. Each row towards the center is slightly elevated. These shrines are called "''Candi Perwara''", guardian or complementary temples, the additional buildings of the main temple. Some believed it was offered by regional rulers and nobles to the king as a sign of submission. The Perwara are arranged in four rows around the central temples. Some believed it had something to do with four
caste
Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
s, made according to the rank of the people allowed to enter them; the row nearest to the central compound was accessible to the priests only, the other three were reserved for the nobles, the knights, and the simple people respectively. While another believed that the four rows of Perwara had nothing to do with four castes, it was just simply made as a meditation place for priests and as a worship place for devotees.
Architecture
![Prambanan Cross Section Shiva](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Prambanan_Cross_Section_Shiva.svg)
The architecture of the 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 the god
Shiva. The temple was designed to mimic
Meru
Meru may refer to:
Geography Kenya
* Meru, Kenya, a city in Meru County, Kenya
** Meru County, created by the merger of
*** Meru Central District
*** Meru North District
*** Meru South District
* Meru National Park, a Kenyan wildlife park
Tanza ...
, the holy mountain, the abode of Hindu gods, and the home of Shiva. The whole temple complex is a model of the Hindu universe according to
Hindu cosmology and the layers of
Loka.
Just like
Borobudur, Prambanan also recognizes the hierarchy of the temple zones, spanned from the less holy to the holiest realms. Each Hindu and Buddhist concept has its terms, but the concepts are essentially identical. Either the compound site plan (horizontally) or the temple structure (vertically) consists of three zones:
*
Bhurloka (in Buddhism: ''
Kāmadhātu
The desire realm (Sanskrit: कामधातु, ''kāmadhātu'') is one of the trailokya or three realms (Sanskrit: धातु, ''dhātu'', Tibetan: ''khams'') in Buddhist cosmology into which a being wandering in '' '' may be reborn. The ...
''), the lowest realm of common mortals; humans, animals also demons. Where humans are still bound by their lust, desire and unholy way of life. The outer courtyard and the foot (base) part of each temple has symbolized the realm of ''bhurloka''.
*
Bhuvarloka
Loka () is a concept in Hinduism and other Indian religions, that may be translated as a planet, the universe, a plane (esotericism), plane, or a realm of existence. In some philosophies, it may also be interpreted as a mental state that one can ...
(in Buddhism: ''
Rupadhatu''), the middle realm of holy people, occupied by
rishi
''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...
s, ascetics, and lesser gods. People here begin to see the light of truth. The middle courtyard and the body of each temple symbolize the realm of ''bhuvarloka''.
*
Svarloka
Svarga (), also known as Indraloka and Svargaloka, is the celestial abode of the devas in Hinduism. Svarga is one of the seven higher lokas ( esoteric planes) in Hindu cosmology. Svarga is often translated as heaven, though it is regarded to b ...
(in Buddhism: ''
Arupadhatu''), the highest and holiest realm, reserved for the gods. Also known as ''
svarga
Svarga (), also known as Indraloka and Svargaloka, is the celestial abode of the devas in Hinduism. Svarga is one of the seven higher lokas ( esoteric planes) in Hindu cosmology. Svarga is often translated as heaven, though it is regarded to b ...
loka''. The inner courtyard and the roof of each temple symbolize the realm of ''svarloka''. The roof of Prambanan temples are adorned and crowned with ''
ratna'' (
sanskrit: jewel), the shape of Prambanan ''Ratna'' took the altered form of
vajra that represent diamonds. In ancient Java temple architecture, ''Ratna'' is the Hindu counterpart of the Buddhist ''
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
'', and served as the temple's pinnacle. It also has more than 140 inner temples, along with 30 main ones.
During the restoration, a well which contains a ''pripih'' (stone casket) was discovered under the centre of the Shiva temple. The main temple has a well 5.75 m deep in which a stone casket was found on top a pile of charcoal, earth, and remains of burned animal bones. Sheets of gold leaves with the inscription
Varuna (god of the sea) and
Parvata (god of the mountains) were found here. The stone casket contained sheets of copper, charcoal, ashes, earth, 20 coins,
jewels, glass, pieces of gold and
silver leaves
Silverleaves is a small town on Phillip Island situated east of Cowes, Victoria
Cowes is the main township on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is about two hours' drive from Melbourne and can also be reached ...
,
seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washe ...
s and 12
gold leaves
Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into thin sheets (usually around 0.1 µm thick) by goldbeating and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. The most commonly used gold is 22-kara ...
(which were cut in the shapes of a turtle,
Nāga serpent,
padma, altar, and an egg).
Reliefs
Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana
The temple is adorned with panels of narrative
bas-reliefs telling the story of the Hindu epic
Ramayana and
Bhagavata Purana
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
. The narrative bas-relief panels were carved along the inner
balustrades wall on the gallery around the three main temples.
The narrative panels on the balustrade read from left to right. The story starts from the east entrance where visitors turn left and move around the temple gallery in a clockwise direction. This conforms with ''
pradaksina
Parikrama or Pradakshina is clockwise circumambulation of sacred entities, and the path along which this is performed, as practiced in the Indic religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. In Buddhism, it refers only to the path along ...
'', the ritual of circumambulation performed by
pilgrims who move in a clockwise direction while keeping the
sanctuary to their right. The story of Ramayana starts on Shiva temple balustrade and continues to Brahma temple. On the balustrades in Vishnu temple there is series of bas-relief panels depicting the stories of lord
Krishna from Bhagavata Purana.
The bas-relief of Ramayana illustrate how
Sita, the wife of
Rama, is abducted by
Ravana. The monkey king
Hanuman brings his army to help Rama and rescue Sita. This story is also shown by the
Ramayana Ballet, regularly performed at full moon at Trimurti open-air theatre on the west side of the illuminated Prambanan complex.
Lokapalas, Brahmins and Devatas
On the other side of the narrative panels, the temple wall along the gallery was adorned with statues and reliefs of
devatas and brahmin sages. The figures of
lokapalas, the celestial guardians of directions, can be found in Shiva temple. The brahmin sage editors of veda were carved on Brahma temple wall, while in Vishnu temple the figures of male deities
devatas are flanked by two
apsara
An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literat ...
s.
Prambanan panel: Lion and Kalpataru
The lower outer wall of these temples was adorned with a row of small niches containing an image of ''sinha'' (a lion) flanked by two panels depicting bountiful kalpataru (
kalpavriksha) trees. These wish-fulfilling sacred trees, according to Hindu-Buddhist belief, are flanked on either side by
kinnara
A kinnara is a celestial musician, part human and part bird, who are musically paradigmatic lovers, in Hinduism and Buddhism. In these traditions, the ''kinnaras'' (male) and ''kinnaris'' (female counterpart) are two of the most beloved myth ...
s or animals, such as pairs of birds, deer, sheep, monkeys, horses, elephants etc. The pattern of lion in niche flanked by kalpataru trees is typical in the Prambanan temple compound, thus it is called a "Prambanan panel".
The Rara Jonggrang legend
![Prambanan Complex 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Prambanan_Complex_1.jpg)
The popular legend of
Rara Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
is what connects the site of the
Ratu Boko Palace, the origin of the
Durga statue in the northern cell/chamber of the main shrine, and the origin of the
Sewu temple complex nearby.
The legend tells the story about Prince Bandung Bondowoso, who fell in love with Princess Rara Jonggrang, the daughter of King Boko. But the princess rejected his proposal of marriage because Bandung Bondowoso had killed King Boko and ruled her kingdom.
Bandung Bondowoso insisted on the union, and finally
Rara Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
was forced to agree to a union in marriage, but she posed one impossible condition: Bandung must build her a thousand temples in only one night.
The Prince entered into meditation and conjured up a multitude of supernatural beings from the earth. Helped by these spirits, 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 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. As the cocks began to crow, fooled by the light and the sounds of daybreak, the supernatural helpers fled back into the ground. The prince was furious about the trick and in revenge he cursed Rara Jonggrang, turning her to stone. She became the last and the most beautiful of the thousand statues. According to the traditions, the unfinished thousandth temple created by the demons become the
Sewu temple compounds nearby (''Sewu'' means "thousands" in Javanese), and the Princess is the image of
Durga in the north cell of the Shiva temple at Prambanan, which is still known as ''Rara Jonggrang'' or "Slender Maiden".
Other temples around Prambanan
![Candi Sewu main stupa, 23 November 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Candi_Sewu_main_stupa%2C_23_November_2013.jpg)
The
Prambanan Plain spans between the southern slopes of
Merapi volcano
Mount Merapi, ''Gunung Merapi'' (literally Fire Mountain in Indonesian and Javanese), is an active stratovolcano located on the border between the province of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most activ ...
in the north and the Sewu mountain range in the south, near the present border
Yogyakarta province and
Klaten Regency, Central Java. Apart from the Lara Jonggrang complex, the Prambanan plain, valley and hills around it is the location of some of the
earliest Buddhist temples in
Indonesia. Not far to the north are found the ruins of Bubrah temple, Lumbung temple, and Sewu temple. Further east is found Plaosan temple. To the west are found
Kalasan temple and Sari temple, and further to the west is Sambisari temple. While to the south the
Ratu Boko compound is on higher ground. The discoveries of archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away suggest that this area was an important religious, political, and urban center.
''North of the Lara Jongrang complex''
*
Lumbung
Lumbung or Candi Lumbung is a 9th-century Buddhist temple compound located within the complex of Prambanan Temple Tourism Park, Central Java, Indonesia. The original name of this temple is unknown, however the local Javanese named the temple " ...
. Buddhist-style, consisting of one main temple surrounded by 16 smaller ones.
*
Bubrah
Bubrah ( jv, ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦧꦸꦧꦿꦃ, Candhi Bubrah) is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located within the complex of the Prambanan Temple Archaeological Park, in Central Java, Indonesia. Experts believe that the temple was designed as a pa ...
. Buddhist temple, rebuilt between 2011 and 2017.
*
Sewu. Buddhist temple complex, older than ''Roro Jonggrang''. A main sanctuary surrounded by many smaller temples. Well preserved guardian statues, replicas of which stand in the central courtyard at the Jogja Kraton.
* Candi Morangan. Hindu temple complex buried several meters under volcanic ashes, located northwest from Prambanan.
*
Candi Plaosan
Candi Plaosan, also known as the 'Plaosan Complex', is one of the Buddhist temples located in Bugisan village, Prambanan district, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, about to the northeast of the renowned Hindu Prambanan Temple.
Candi Pla ...
. Buddhist, probably 9th century. Thought to have been built by a Hindu king for his Buddhist queen. Two main temples with reliefs of
Boddhisatva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.
In the Early Buddhist schools ...
and
Tara. Also rows of slender
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
s.
''South of the Lara Jongrang complex''
*
Ratu Boko. Complex of fortified gates, bathing pools, and elevated walled stone enclosure, all located on top of the hill.
*
Sajiwan. Buddhist temple decorated with reliefs concerning education. The base and staircase are decorated with animal fables.
*
Banyunibo
Banyunibo ( jv, "dripping water") is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located in Cepit hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple, dating from the era of Mataram Kingdom, sits in a nar ...
. A Buddhist temple with unique design of roof.
*
Barong. A Hindu temple complex with large stepped stone courtyard. Located on the slope of the hill.
*
Ijo. A cluster of Hindu temple located near the top of Ijo hill. The main temple houses a large
lingam and
yoni.
* Arca Bugisan. Seven Buddha and
bodhisattva statues, some collapsed, representing different poses and expressions.
''West of the Lara Jongrang complex''
*
Kalasan. 8th-century Buddhist temple built in commemoration of the marriage of a king and his princess bride, ornamented with finely carved reliefs.
*
Sari. Once a sanctuary for Buddhist priests. 8th century. Nine stupas at the top with two rooms beneath, each believed to be places for priests to meditate.
*
Sambisari. 9th-century Hindu temple discovered in 1966, once buried 6.5 metres under volcanic ash. The main temple houses a linga and yoni, and the wall surround it displayed the images of Agastya, Durga, and Ganesha.
*
Gebang. A small Hindu temple discovered in 1937 located near the Yogyakarta northern ring-road. The temple displays the statue of Ganesha and interesting carving of faces on the roof section.
* Candi Gana. Rich in statues, bas-reliefs and sculpted stones. Frequent representations of children or dwarfs with raised hands. Located in the middle of a housing complex. Under restoration since 1997.
* Candi Kedulan. Discovered in 1994 by sand diggers, 4m deep. Square base of main temple visible. Secondary temples not yet fully excavated.
Gallery
Gallery of reliefs
File:Candi Prambanan - 022 Lokapala, Siva Temple (12042469003).jpg, Image of Lokapala god on Shiva temple
File:Devata and Apsaras Prambanan 07.jpg, Image of Devata and Apsaras
File:Prambanan relief 3.jpg, Corner antefix carved as a Kala
Kala or Kalah may refer to:
Religion Hinduism
*Kāla, a Sanskrit word meaning ''time''
*Kāla, a Hindu deity of time, destiny, death and destruction closely related to Yama and Shiva.
*Kalā, a Sanskrit word meaning ''performing arts''
* Kala Bo, ...
head
File:Krishna Overcomes Kaliya, Prambanan 1076.jpg, Balarama is prying apart the jaws of Kaliya.
File:Krishna Overcomes Kamsa, Prambanan 1077.jpg, Krishna tears apart the legs of his wicked uncle, Kamsa.
Gallery of Prambanan
File:Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.jpg, The main temple dedicated to Shiva
File:Candi Vishnu, Prambanan 1093.JPG, Temple of Vishnu
File:Brahma temple Prambanan 2017-08-02 (5).jpg, Temple of Brahma
File:Prambanan-single-temple.jpg, Temple of Nandi
Nandi may refer to:
People
* Nandy (surname), Indian surname
* Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe
* Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi
* Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...
File:Brahma Statue in Prambanan.jpg, Brahma statue
File:Vishnu Statue in Prambanan.jpg, Vishnu statue
File:Prambanan-ganesha.jpg, The Ganesha statue
See also
*
Borobudur
*
Candi of Indonesia
*
Indonesian architecture
*
Prambanan Ramayana Ballet
Ramayana Ballet Prambanan is a visualization of Kakawin Ramayana, Javanese version of ''Ramayana'' story, performed near the Prambanan temple, Indonesia. The Ramayana Ballet at the Prambanan isn't like the Western ballet performance, It's more lik ...
*
Ratu Boko
*
Roro Jonggrang {{no footnotes, date=May 2009
The Legend of Roro Jonggrang ( jv, ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ, Rara Jonggrang) is a Javanese popular legend ( folktales) from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the warrior and the cursed princess ...
References
Bibliography
*
* Ariswara, third edition (1993) (English translation by Lenah Matius) ''Prambanan'', Intermasa, Jakarta,
* Bernet Kempers, A.J. (1959) ''Ancient Indonesian art'' Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press.
* Dumarcay, Jacques. (1989) (Edited and translated by Michael Smithies) ''The temples of Java'', Singapore: Oxford University Press.
*
Holt, Claire (1967) ''Art in Indonesia: Continuities and change'' Ithaca, N.Y. Cornell University Press.
* Jordaan, Roy https://web.archive.org/web/20120319200224/http://www.iias.nl/iiasn/iiasn6/southeas/jordaan.html Prambanan 1995: A Hypothesis Confirmed
*
Kak, S. (2011) Space and order in Prambanan. In M. Gupta (ed.) From Beyond the Eastern Horizon: Essays in honour of Professor
Lokesh Chandra
Lokesh Chandra (born 11 April 1927 in Ambala, India) is a prominent scholar of the Vedic period, Buddhism and the Indian arts. Between 1942 and 2004, he published 576 books and 286 articles.
He has also held many official positions in the Indi ...
. Aditya Prakashan, Delhi
* Leemans, C. (1855) ''Javaansche tempels bij Prambanan'' BKI, vol.3. pp. 1–26
External links
Prambanan and Borobudur official sitePT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko at Google Cultural InstitutePrambanan map on wikimapiaPrambanan Temple Compounds short documentaryby UNESCO and NHK
{{Authority control
Prambanan,
Hindu temples in Indonesia
World Heritage Sites in Indonesia
Archaeological sites in Indonesia
Religious buildings and structures in Central Java
Buildings and structures in the Special Region of Yogyakarta
Mataram Kingdom
Hindu pilgrimage sites
9th-century Hindu temples
Cultural Properties of Indonesia in Yogyakarta
Tourist attractions in Central Java
Temples with Bharatanatyam Karanas