Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Prambanan Temple, a 1,000 year-old Hindu temple in Indonesia. The temple is located near Yogyakarta in Central Java, and it’s the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. It’s also the second-largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, after Angkor Wat. In 1991, Prambanan was known as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
A Temple Built for Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma
Prambanan was built between 9th and 10th centuries during the rule of the Sanjaya dynasty of the ancient Mataram Kingdom. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. There are three main stands at the temple, each of it is dedicated to the three gods.
The Shiva Temple which is around 47 metres high is the tallest. There are statues of Shiva, Durga, Ganesha, and Agastya inside the temple. Originally, Prambanan had 240 temples over 40 hectares. However, many of the smaller temples are now in ruins, while the main temples have been restored.
The Ramayana Story Carved on the Walls
The stone carving in the temple is one of the most interesting parts of it. The walls feature scenes from the Ramayana. Visitors can walk clockwise through the temple galleries and follow the story. The artwork shows the influence of Indian stories while including traditional Javanese art styles.
Even today, Ramayana is the highlight of the temple. There are ballet performances, like dance, theatre and music still being held in front the temple.
The Story that connects to Princess Roro Jonggrang
There is also another popular legend story behind the temple, which connects to Princess Roro Jonggrang. According to Javanese legend, Bandung Bondowoso is a warrior and wanted the princess to marry him after he defeated her kingdom. Unwilling to marry him, the princess challenged Bandung Bondowoso to build 1,000 temples in one night.
With the help of supernatural forces, Bandung Bondowoso was close to completing the task. In order to stop him, she asked the villagers to light fires and start their morning activities earlier to make the spirits believe that the sun is up. Eventually, the spirits left before the final temple was completed.
When Bandung Bondowoso found the truth, he became angry and cursed Roro Jonggrang, turning her into stone. Local stories believes her statue is inside the Shiva temple.
A Hindu Legacy That Still Stands Today
Prambanan faced many challenges after the political changes in the 10th century. Volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes left parts of the temple buried under ash and plants.
In the 19th century it was rediscovered and was under work for restoration. In 2006, it was damaged again by the Yogyakarta earthquake but the conservation work continued.
Today, Prambanan is one of the historic temples in Indonesia. Hindu culture reached the region through trade and cultural connections with India more than 1,500 years ago. While Bali is still the main centre of Hinduism in Indonesia today, Prambanan also tells a story of ancient Hindu history.
Sources: NDTV, Indian Express
