Candi Sewu
Encyclopedia
Sewu is an 8th-century Buddhist temple located 800 meters north of Prambanan
in Central Java
. Candi Sewu is actually the second largest Buddhist Temple in Central Java after Borobudur
. Candi Sewu predates "Loro Jonggrang". Although originally only around 249 temples are present, the name in Javanese translates to 'a thousand temples,' which originated from popular local folklore
; The Legend of Loro Jonggrang
. The original name of this temple compound is probably Manjusrigrha.
(dated from 782) and Manjusrigrha inscription
(dated from 792) which was found in 1960, the original name of the temple complex was probably “Manjus’ri grha” (The House of Manjusri). Manjusri
is a Boddhisatva in Buddhist teaching. Sewu Temple was probably built in the 8th century at the end of Rakai Panangkaran
administration. Rakai Panangkaran (746 – 784 AD) was a famous King from the Medang Kingdom. The temple was probably expanded and completed during Rakai Pikatan's rule, a Sanjaya dynasty
prince whom married to a Buddhist princess of Sailendra
dynasty, Pramodhawardhani. Most of his subjects retained their old religion after the return of Sanjaya dynasty. The proximity of the temple to Prambanan Temple which is a Hindu Temple suggests that the Hindus and Buddhist lived in harmony in the era that the temples were built. The scale of the temple complex suggests Candi Sewu was a Royal Buddhist Temple and was an important religious site of the past. The temple is located on the Prambanan Plain
, that is between the southern eastern slopes of Merapi volcano
and the Sewu mountain range in the south, near the present border of the Yogyakarta province and Klaten Regency, in Central Java. The plain houses many archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away, suggesting that this area was an important religious, political, and urban center.
The temple was severely damaged during the earthquake
in Java in 2006. The structural damage is significant and the central temple suffered the worst. Large pieces of debris were scattered over the ground and cracks between stone blocks were detected. To prevent the central temple from collapse, the metal frame structures were erected on four corners and attached to support the main temple. Although some weeks later in 2006 the site were re-opened for visitors, the whole part of main temple remains off-limits for safety reasons.
The entrance is found on all four cardinal points, however judging from the layout of the temple complex, the main entrance is located on the east side. Each of the entrances were guarded by twin Dvarapala
statues. This large guardian statues have been better preserved and replicas can be found at Jogja Kraton
. There are a total of 249 buildings in the complex arranged in a Mandala
pattern around the central main hall as an expression of the view of the universe of Mahayana Buddhism. The smaller temples are called Perwara (guardian) temples, consist of 240 temples with similar design and arranged in four rectangular concentric rows. Two outer rows are arranged closer and consists of 168 smaller temples, while two inner rows are arranged in certain interval and consist of 72 temples than the outer ones. The 249 temples that are located in the second precinct all were made with a square frame but varied by different statues and orientations. Many of these statues are now gone and the arrangements on the current site are not in the original orientations. The statues are comparable to the statues of Borobudur
and were likely made of bronze.
Along the north-south and east-west central axis at a distance of about 200 meter, between 2nd and 3rd row of smaller temple are located the penjuru (main directions) or perwara utama (main vanguard) temples, a couple on each cardinal points facing each other. The perwara utama temples are the second largest ones after the main temple, however only eastern twin perwara utama and a northern one still remains today. These smaller temples encompass a larger sanctuary that has been heavily looted.
Behind the 4th row of smaller temples lies the stone paved courtyard where the main temple stood on the center.
The central chamber can be reached from the eastern room. The central chamber is larger than other rooms with a higher roof. Now all the five rooms are empty.. However the lotus carved stone padestal in central chamber suggested that the temple once contains a large bronze
Buddhist statue (possible the bronze statue of Manjusri
), probably reaching 4 meters tall. Now the statue is missing, probably being looted for scrap metal over centuries. However another theory suggested that the main statue was probably constructed from several stone blocks coated with vajralepa plaster.
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
in Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
. Candi Sewu is actually the second largest Buddhist Temple in Central Java after Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
. Candi Sewu predates "Loro Jonggrang". Although originally only around 249 temples are present, the name in Javanese translates to 'a thousand temples,' which originated from popular local folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
; The Legend of Loro Jonggrang
Loro Jonggrang (Legend)
The Legend of Loro Jonggrang is a Javanese popular legend from Central Java telling the story of love and betrayal, the knight and the cursed princess...
. The original name of this temple compound is probably Manjusrigrha.
History
Based on the Kelurak inscriptionKelurak inscription
The Kelurak inscription is an inscription dated 704 Saka , written in Sanskrit with Pranagari script, discovered near Lumbung temple in Kelurak village, located not far north of Prambanan temple, Central Java, Indonesia...
(dated from 782) and Manjusrigrha inscription
Manjusrigrha inscription
The Manjusrigrha inscription is an inscription dated 714 Saka , written in Old Malay with Old Javanese script. The inscription was discovered in 1960 on the right side of stairs entrance of Sewu pervara no. 202 on west side. Sewu temple is located approximately 800 meters north of Prambanan...
(dated from 792) which was found in 1960, the original name of the temple complex was probably “Manjus’ri grha” (The House of Manjusri). Manjusri
Manjusri
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
is a Boddhisatva in Buddhist teaching. Sewu Temple was probably built in the 8th century at the end of Rakai Panangkaran
Panangkaran
Panangkaran was the ruler of Mataram Kingdom between AD 760—780, the kingdom of which its power centralized on Java island of Indonesia. Crowned as Rakai Panangkaran, he was the immediate successor of Sri Sanjaya, the founder of Sanjaya Dynasty...
administration. Rakai Panangkaran (746 – 784 AD) was a famous King from the Medang Kingdom. The temple was probably expanded and completed during Rakai Pikatan's rule, a Sanjaya dynasty
Sanjaya Dynasty
The Sañjaya Dynasty was an ancient Javanese dynasty that ruled the Mataram kingdom in Java during first millennium CE. The dynasty was an active promoter of Hinduism in ancient Java.-Origin and formation:...
prince whom married to a Buddhist princess of Sailendra
Sailendra
Sailendra is the name of an influential Indonesian dynasty that emerged in 8th century Java.The Sailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism and covered the Kedu Plain of Central Java with Buddhist monuments, including the world famous Borobudur.The Sailendras are considered to be a...
dynasty, Pramodhawardhani. Most of his subjects retained their old religion after the return of Sanjaya dynasty. The proximity of the temple to Prambanan Temple which is a Hindu Temple suggests that the Hindus and Buddhist lived in harmony in the era that the temples were built. The scale of the temple complex suggests Candi Sewu was a Royal Buddhist Temple and was an important religious site of the past. The temple is located on the Prambanan Plain
Prambanan Plain
Kewu Plain or also known as Prambanan Plain is a fertile volcanic plain that lies between Merapi-Merbabu complex in the north, Bantul lowlands and Sewu limestone range in the south, Bengawan Solo river valley in east, and the Progo River in the west, and Kedu Plain on northwest...
, that is between the southern eastern slopes of Merapi volcano
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
and the Sewu mountain range in the south, near the present border of the Yogyakarta province and Klaten Regency, in Central Java. The plain houses many archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away, suggesting that this area was an important religious, political, and urban center.
The temple was severely damaged during the earthquake
May 2006 Java earthquake
The May 2006 Java earthquake occurred at 05:54 local time on 27 May 2006 , in the Indian Ocean around south-southwest of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, near Galur, on the southern side of the island of Java , 10 km below the seabed, with a magnitude of 6.2, according to the U.S....
in Java in 2006. The structural damage is significant and the central temple suffered the worst. Large pieces of debris were scattered over the ground and cracks between stone blocks were detected. To prevent the central temple from collapse, the metal frame structures were erected on four corners and attached to support the main temple. Although some weeks later in 2006 the site were re-opened for visitors, the whole part of main temple remains off-limits for safety reasons.
The temple complex
The temple complex is the largest Buddhist compound in the Prambanan area, with rectangular grounds that measure 185 meter north-south and 165 meter east-west.The entrance is found on all four cardinal points, however judging from the layout of the temple complex, the main entrance is located on the east side. Each of the entrances were guarded by twin Dvarapala
Dvarapala
Dvarapala is a door or gate guardian often portrayed as warrior or fearsome asura giant, usually armed with a weapon, the most common is gadha mace...
statues. This large guardian statues have been better preserved and replicas can be found at Jogja Kraton
Yogyakarta Sultanate
Yogyakarta Sultanate is a Javanese monarchy in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.-History:...
. There are a total of 249 buildings in the complex arranged in a Mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
pattern around the central main hall as an expression of the view of the universe of Mahayana Buddhism. The smaller temples are called Perwara (guardian) temples, consist of 240 temples with similar design and arranged in four rectangular concentric rows. Two outer rows are arranged closer and consists of 168 smaller temples, while two inner rows are arranged in certain interval and consist of 72 temples than the outer ones. The 249 temples that are located in the second precinct all were made with a square frame but varied by different statues and orientations. Many of these statues are now gone and the arrangements on the current site are not in the original orientations. The statues are comparable to the statues of Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
and were likely made of bronze.
Along the north-south and east-west central axis at a distance of about 200 meter, between 2nd and 3rd row of smaller temple are located the penjuru (main directions) or perwara utama (main vanguard) temples, a couple on each cardinal points facing each other. The perwara utama temples are the second largest ones after the main temple, however only eastern twin perwara utama and a northern one still remains today. These smaller temples encompass a larger sanctuary that has been heavily looted.
Behind the 4th row of smaller temples lies the stone paved courtyard where the main temple stood on the center.
The main temple
The main temple has a cross-like 20 corners polygon ground plan, with 29 meters in diameter and it soars up to 30 meters high. On each four cardinal points of the main temple, are projected outward structures each with its own stairs and entrances into each rooms and crowned with stupas, thus forming a cross-like layout. All of the structures made of the andesite stones. These four rooms are all connected with outer corner galleries with balustrades. From the findings during the reconstruction process, the original design of central sanctuary only consisted of a central roomed temple surrounded by four additional structures with open portals. In the next phase, doorways were later constructed and narrowed to create door frames to attach wooden doors, some of the holes to attach doors were stil visible. The doorways join the temples together into one main building with five rooms.The central chamber can be reached from the eastern room. The central chamber is larger than other rooms with a higher roof. Now all the five rooms are empty.. However the lotus carved stone padestal in central chamber suggested that the temple once contains a large bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
Buddhist statue (possible the bronze statue of Manjusri
Manjusri
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
), probably reaching 4 meters tall. Now the statue is missing, probably being looted for scrap metal over centuries. However another theory suggested that the main statue was probably constructed from several stone blocks coated with vajralepa plaster.
External links
See also
- Candi of IndonesiaCandi of IndonesiaCandi are the Hindu and Buddhist temples and sanctuaries of Indonesia, mostly built during the 8th to 15th centuries...