Candi Selagriya

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Origins

The construction date is unknown, and the the absence of decorative relief it is difficult to <date> this temple by analogy. Given the similarities between this site and Dieng, it is listed here as an early Hindu temple.

Krom (1923 I:403) describes a temple at a few kilometres North of Selagriya. This is Selagana on Mt. Sukarini. This complex comprised of three buildings, linked by stairways in a way remniscent of Dieng.

Description of architecture

The structure that the visitor sees today are some the remains of the original temple that stood on a higher mountain with the entrance facing the side of the valley (East). There used to be a stairway to the temple from the valley (observed by Junghuhn in 1840). The temple was relocated as a result of landslides and (in 2004) was being reconstructed on a lower plane. The temple comprises of a single one-roomed building, and is likely to always have been that as no other remains have been found on its original site. 

The temple comprises of a single square one-roomed building (6x6m), with protruding outer niches of 1.52m wide. The niches flanking the main entrance may have been added later to creat a narrow entrance way to the central chamber that used to be closed by a wooden door.

This temple has no ornament on the walls, or even the cornerstones and antefixes, suggesting that it might not have been competed.

Description of statues

The cella of the temple contain statues of the Hindu gods in a usual formation: 

  • Centra (inner) chamber: now empty, but would likely have contained Siva  or his vehicle Nandi.

  • Flanking niches (SE & NE): SE identified as Nandisvara by the trident. NE likely his pendant-guard Mahakala.

  • West niche: Ganesha (the head of the statue has gone missing since 1903).

  • South niche: Agastya. 

  • North niche: Durga as mahisasuramardini in the act of killing a bull-demon. Stands on the back of a bull holding its tail with her right hand and her left hand clutches the hair of the demon. Eight arms: arrow, sword, cakra, bow, shield & winged conch (cangkha).

Rediscovery and restoration

First (re)discovered in 1835 by C.L. Hartmann, Resident of Kedu. Described by Buddingh (1838). Detailed (architectural) drawings made by C.F. Wilsen in the 1840s, further work by Hoepermans (1865) visited by Friederich in 1865. Detailed research done by Van Erp in 1902 photos and drawings by De Vink (1911). 

Mounted: 7-Jan-06กก

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