Prambanan Temple
Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.
The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.
It was built around 850 CE by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate. Reconstruction of the compound began in 1918. The main building was completed in around 1953. Much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused at remote construction sites. A temple will only be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available, and therefore only the foundation walls of most of the smaller shrines are now visible and with no plans for their reconstruction.
The temple was damaged during the earthquake in Java in 2006. Early photos suggest that although the complex appears to be structurally intact, damage is significant. Large pieces of debris, including carvings, were scattered over the ground. The temple has been closed to the public until damage can be fully assessed. The head of Yogyakarta Archaeological Conservation Agency stated that: “it will take months to identify the precise damage”. However, some weeks later in 2006 the site re-opened for visitors. The immediate surroundings of the Hindu temples remain off-limits for safety reasons.
http://ahmadzahrowi.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/descriptive-text/BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Borobudur is Hindu - Budhist temple. It was build in the nineth century under Sailendra dynasty of ancient Mataram kingdom. Borobudur is located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.
Borobudur is well-known all over the world. Its construction is influenced by the Gupta architecture of India. The temple is constructed on a hill 46 m high and consist of eight step like stone terrace. The first five terrace are square and surrounded by walls adorned with Budist sculpture in bas-relief. The upper three are circular. Each of them is with a circle of bell shape-stupa. The entire adifice is crowned by a large stupa at the centre at the centre of the top circle. The way to the summit extends through some 4.8 km of passage and starways. The design of borobudur which symbolizes the structure of universe influences temples at Angkor, Cambodia.
Borobudur temple which is rededicated as an Indonesian monument in 1983 is a valuable treasure for Indonesian people.
http://understandingtext.blogspot.com/2008/02/borobudur-temple-descriptive-tex.html
SUKUH TEMPLE
Candi Sukuh popularly known as the Sukuh temple is situated at Desa Berjo, Karangpandan and stands at a height of 910 meters on the slopes of Gunung Lawu. The temple stretches from the East to the West and the main gate of the temple lies to the West. The construction of the Candi Sukuh is pre historic and reminds one of the Meghalitic era of Punden Berundak (terrace graves). Candi Sukuh can be considered to be one of the interesting Hindu temples in all of Southeast Asia.
Most temples generally would have a large square shrine whereas Candi Sukuh has a pyramid reminiscent of Mayan structures from Central America. This is perhaps the only Hindu temple or the Buddhist one for that matter sporting a pyramid like this and nobody knows for sure why the builders had chosen this type of a structure. Just in front of the pyramid are three large truncated which are haphazardly placed. They appear to be for offerings or sacrifices, or perhaps, given the nature of the carvings, go-go dancing. The temple features three terraces, the first terrace being on the lowest level, followed by the second and the third. All the three terraces are connected with stairs and each one has an entrance gate.
Candi Sukuh Temple in Solo was constructed in the 15th century according to popular belief. The relief’s that are found to beside the first gate are believed to have the meaning "Buta aban wong" and” Gapura buta anahut buntut” which means " The year of 1359 Caka = 1437 AD.
The remnants of the Sukuh Temple in Solo consist of Reliefs that describe the union of the male and female ex organs symbolically which can be found on the gate of the first terrace. Reliefs describing the Sudhamala and Garudeya stories and reliefs that describe the hand made iron activities (pande besi) are also found in the temple. The temple seems apparently devoted to the god Bima, the sword maker. Human statues and animal statues can also be seen inside the temple premises.
The main temple was discovered in 1815 which was discovered by a resident of Sukarta, Johnson during the period of the Raffles’ government. It is also pyramidal. Various efforts have been made to restore and secure the temple. Archeological department of the Central Java provincial government resumed restoration work in 1989-1991.
http://murtienglish.blogspot.com/2011/04/descriptive-text.htmlMENDUT TEMPLE
Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple, located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple is located about three kilometres east from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line. There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples, although the exact ritual process is unknown
The 26.4 metres tall temple is facing northwest. The stairs projecting from the northwest side square elevated base is adorned with Makara statue on each sides, the side of the stairwall carved with bas-relief of fable narrating the animal story of buddhist teaching. The square terrace surrounding the body of the temple was meant for pradakshina or circumambulating ritual, walking clockwise around the temple. The outer walls is adorned with bas-reliefs of Boddhisattvas (buddhist divinities), such as Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, Cunda, Ksitigarbha, Samantabhadra, Mahakarunika Avalokitesvara, Vajrapani, Manjusri, Akasagarbha, and Boddhisattvadevi Prajnaparamita among other buddhist figures. Originally the temple had two chambers, a small chamber in the front, and the large main chamber in the center. The roof and some parts of the front chamber walls are missing. The inner wall of front chamber is adorned with bas-relief of Hariti surrounds by children, Atavaka on the other side, Kalpataru, also groups of devatas divinities flying in heaven.The main room housed three beautifully carved large stone statues. The three statues are the Buddhist main divinities revered in Mendut temple which can explain the spiritual purpose of the establishment of this temple. The 3 metres tall statue of Dhyani Buddha Vairocana was meant to liberate the devotees from the bodily karma, at the left is statue of Boddhisatva Avalokitesvara to liberate from the karma of speech, at the right is Boddhisatva Vajrapani to liberate from karma of thought. [2]
Today, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak annual ritual by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.[3]
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