Candi Panataran
Panataran remained in use for many centuries and over time buildings were
added to the compound. Krom identifies Panataran with Palah mentioned ina
late 12th C edict. The lintel on the main shrine is dated 1323, the
guardian figures on the terrace 1347, and one smaller shrine 1369 - this
corresponds to around 1454 AD, implying that the complex was in use for 4
centuries. The temple complex was important, and King Hayam Wuruk visited it a
number of times on his royal tours.
Devoted to Ciwa.
180m x 60m in three yards. First yard has three main buildings: a main
<terrace> or balai agung, the pendopo terrace dated 1297 Saka (1375AD)
and the dated temple (1291 Saka in the door or 1369AD). Middle yard has the
Candi Naga as the main buiding. Eastern yard has a three storeyed temple with
Ramayana reliefs starting with Hanoman’s arrival on Langka up until the death
of Kumbakarna. The story should be followed by walking counter clockwise from
the SW side. On level two there are scenes from the Krisnayana depicting how
Krisna married Rukmini. Start from the West side from the right (north)
staircase and walk clockwise. No
reliefs on level 3 where there are dragon and winged lion reliefs. The top part
of the temple is missing: it was likely made of wood. Outside (SE) of the the
yards there are two important remains, a washing place dated saka 1337 (1415AD)
and a west ward looking washing place which is 200 m removed to the east. [Aneka
Candi Kuno di Indonesia, Drs. R. Soetarno]
The complex houses the Panji and Ramayana reliefs, and other reliefs depict the stories of Bubuksah and Sri Tanjung. [see stories]
The temple was first rediscovered in 1815 but remained virtually unknown until 1850. The complex was in a bad state of decay, and the superstructure of most buildings had disappeared. The pendopo and the naga temple almost certainly had wooden superstructures. The first restorations were locally planned and executed in 1901, even though in that year the Central Government installed a Committee in charge of such works. Two masons set to work under supervision of an inspector of the local Public Works Department.
Panataran was to be the first major restoration that Krom, the second head of the OD was to take charge of. Krom preferred minimal restoration to prevent decay - so unlike Brandes who he succeeded at the OD - and he must have been appalled by what he found at Panataran where he started excavating the grounds in 1915. Krom returned to the Netherlands in that year, and the restoration proper was started under FDK Bosch his successor at OD.
The dated temple was the first to be restored. Many of its missing parts were found such that a rebuild was made possible using some blank stones to give support where the original stones were not to be found. Next followed the Naga temple. The restorations were completed in 1918.