Prambanan Temple

Prambanan temple, as it is known nowdays is a name given to the complex of several santuaries of Siwa. In fact, it is more accurate to call it Siwa’s temple (Candi Siwa) according to the real character of the temples. Some of sanctuaries in the complex have been restored but most of them are in ruins.

There are 240 temples at the complex of Candi Siwa either big or small. But the majority of them have deteriorated, what is the left are only scattered stones. This complex of the sactuaries can be divided into 3 groups. Apparenly each temple is built to form the corresponding building.

CANDI SIWA: The central temple at the complex of Prambanan is Candi Siwa, or widely known as the temple Rara Jonggrang. It is called Candi Siwa becouse in that temple we find a statue of Siwa which is big and has essential meaning, which signifies that Siwa is a God greatly glorified in the believed of (Trimurti’s faith ). Trimurti is the worship of a Trinity of Gods : Siwa, Brahma and Wisnu. The most important of Siwa’s statue is found in the biggest room of the central temple. In other smaller rooms we see the statue of Siwa as the Mahaguru (Supreme Master) the statue of Ganesha, a god with a elephant head symbolizing happiness, and the spouse of Siwa as the ruler of universe.

CANDI BRAHMA: It is smaller then Candi Siwa, since Candi Siwa is the main temple. Candi Brahma has only one entrance as well as one chamber containing the statue of god, Brahma. This Brahma’s statue is described with four heads. It is beautiful but unfortunatly that it has been damaged.

CANDI WISNU : The other temple nearby Candi Siwa is the temple of Wisnu. It has same size as Candi Brahma. The only chamber found in this temple contains the statue of the god Wisnu. Wisnu is described as having four hands, with a club, an oyster and a cakra whic is specfically attributed to Wisnu.

LEGEND OF TEMPLE : Entering one of the room the main temple ( Candi Siwa) we will find a statue of a very beautiful princess, Rara Jonggrang. According to the legend, Rara Jonggrang was the daugther of KING Boko, which was cursed into a statue. The legend also says that a young powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso wanted to marry her Rara Jonggrang. Since she didn’t love him, She tried to avoid the marriege by asking Bandung Bondowoso a present. She would only marry him if he were really powerful man. To prove the power, Bandung Bondowoso was asked to build a thousand temples in one night. Having supernatural power, he had almost sussessfully finishe his task, but Rara Jonggrang prevents this excellent achievement. Rara Jonggrang asked the maidens of the east village of the temples to burn the hay and pond the rice in order to cause the situation like dawn time for sunrise. So when the begins to crow, all the supernatural beings flee away becouse they thought it was already dawn. Being unable to control his anger, Bandung Bondowoso cursed Rara Jonggrang into a statue that now complete the temple.

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