Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple

Candi Prambanan or Loro Jonggrang is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, which was built in the 9th century BC. This temple is dedicated to Trimurti, the three main Hindu gods Brahma as the creator god, Vishnu as the preserver god, and Shiva as a god of destruction. Based on the inscriptions Siwagrha original name of this temple complex is Siwagrha (Sanskrit which means 'house of Shiva'), and indeed in garbagriha (main hall) of the temple sits a statue of Shiva Mahadeva three meters high which shows that in this temple of Lord Shiva are preferred.

The temple complex is located in the district of Prambanan, Sleman and sub Prambanan, Klaten, approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Yogyakarta, 50 kilometers southwest of Surakarta and 120 kilometers south of Semarang, exactly on the border between the provinces of Central Java and Yogyakarta.  It is very unique, Prambanan temple is located in the administrative area Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman, while the entrance to the Prambanan temple complex located in the village administration Tlogo, Prambanan, Klaten.

This temple is including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and one of the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia. The architecture is shaped tall and slender according to Hindu architecture in general with the Shiva temple as the main temple has a height reached 47 meters towering in the center of the complex cluster of temples are smaller. As one of the temples of the grandest in Southeast Asia, Prambanan temple the main attraction of tourists visiting from all over the world.

According to the inscription Siwagrha, this temple was built in about 850 BC by Rakai Pikatan, and continue to be developed and expanded by Balitung Maha Sambu, during Medang Mataram kingdom.


Temple Complex

The entrance to the building complex is located in the four corners of the wind direction, but the direction toward the building is to the east, the main entrance of this temple is the east gate. Prambanan temple complex consists of:

1. 3 Trimurti temple: the temple of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma
2. 3 Wahana temple: temple Nandi, Garuda, and Geese
3. 2 Temple Apit: located between rows of Trimurti temples and temples rides in the north and south
4. 4 Temple Kelir: located in the 4 direction right behind the entrance to the inner courtyard or the core zone
5. 4 Temple Stakes: located at the 4 corners of the pages or the core zone

224 ancillary temples: 4 rows are arranged in concentric with the number of temples from the innermost to the outermost rows: 44, 52, 60, and 68


Then there are a total of 240 temples in the complex of Prambanan.

Originally there were 240 large and small temples at Prambanan temple complex. [13] But now only 18 temples; ie 8 main temples and 8 small temples in the core zone and 2 ancillary temples. Many ancillary temples have not been restored, of 224 perwara only 2 that have been restored, leaving only a pile of stones scattered about. Prambanan temple complex consists of three zones; The first is the outer zone, the second is the middle zone consisting of hundreds of temples, the third is in a zone which is the zone of the main temple is the holiest place eight and eight small temples.

Prambanan temple complex cross-section of the plan is based on a square yan land consists of three sections or zones, each zone is bordered pages andesite stone wall. The outer zone is marked with a square fence on each side along the 390 meters, with the orientation of the Northeast - Southwest. Unless the remaining southern gate, part of another gate and walls of the temple are many missing. The function of the outer courtyard is not known; the possibility of park land is sacred, or dormitory complex Brahmin and his students. Perhaps first building standing in the outer courtyard is made of wood, so it had rotted and destroyed nothing left.

Prambanan is one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia apart from Angkor Wat. The three main temples called Trinity and dedicated kepadantiga main god Trimurti: Shiva the Destroyer, Vishnu the Preserver and Brahma the Creator. Shiva in this temple complex are preferred and more exalted than the other two gods Trimurti. Shiva temple as well as the main building of the largest and highest, 47 meters tall.