Prambanan: Architectural Magnificence

Explore the Area's Largest Temple Complex located Northeast of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Prambanan Temple is said to be the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world. It is the biggest temple complex in Java with three main temples dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief.

Entrance to Prambanan by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Bok [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

Built in the 9th century, Prambanan consists of two hundred Hindu temple sites.

The main entrance of the Prambanan temple compound shows the majestic grounds, which is one of the largest in Southeast Asia.

Prambanan temple, the tallest Hindus temple in the world. by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

Prambanan temple is 47 meters high and 34 meters wide, which is the tallest of its kind.

There were originally around 250 temples in the compound and is a complex with three different zones: outer, middle and inner, which has holds the holiest of temples.

The temples also follow the architectural hierarchy similar to Borobudur, which consists of three different sections, from the lowest to holiest of realms.

Siwa temple by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

The Siwa temple is the tallest in the temple complex (47 meters). It is elevated and has four cardinal points.

The base of the temples, as well as the outer square is the underworld. It was a large space marked by a rectangular wall. This is a place for ordinary folk, mortals, both human and animal. This is the place where lust and desire are commonplace. It is an unholy area.

The central body of the temples and the middle square of the complex, represents the ‘middle world’ the place for those who have left their worldly possessions.

This is where people begin to see the light of truth. The middle world had four rows of 224 small individual shrines, where all shrines are identical.

The top of the temples and the innermost square represents the realm of the gods, the holiest zone, and is crowned.

Relief at Prambanan temple. by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

The reliefs of Prambanan tell the story of a Hindu epic and narrative of Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana.

Arca in Siwa Temple by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

The Legend of Roro Jonggrang

Story has it that the 1,000th statue of the temple was the statue of a slender virgin lady named Roro Jonggrang, who turned into stone by a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso after her attempt to thwart Bondowoso’s effort in building a thousand temples and two wells in one night for the lady failed. Bondowoso was in love with Roro Jonggrang and asked her to marry him.

However, Roro Jonggrang was full of hatred because Bondowoso killed her father; hence she tried to refuse his proposal by asking him a seemingly impossible task. As a man who had unseen troop of spirits, it was easy for Bondowoso to finish the task.

After nearly a thousand temples had been built, Roro Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like the morning had broken. This way, the spirits had no choice but left before completing the last one temple. Bondowoso realised that the lady had cheated him so he turned Roro Jonggrang into the 1,000th statue. This is a very interesting folklore that local people love to share.

Prambanan Temple - World Culture Heritage by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

In the 10th century the temple was largely abandoned because the Mataram dynasty moved to East Java. It then collapsed during a major earthquake in the 16th century.

After the earthquake on May 27th, 2006 by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

After the earthquake on May 27th, 2006 by PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

Prambanan after the earthquake on May 27th, 2006 by Darwis TriadiPT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan dan Ratu Boko

However, even after surviving natural disasters, including the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquakes, many locals have come together to restore the temple complex.

Credits: Story

PT.Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko [PERSERO]

Credits: All media
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