Late Hindu Temples of
Central Java
Historical background
Two dynasties ruled Java. The Çivaite Sanjaya ruled the North (see Hindu Temples
of Java) and the Buddhist Çailendra (750-850AD) ruled the South After the second half of the ninth
century these dynasties were united by the marriage of Rakai Pikatan of Sanjaya to Pramodawardhani of
Çailendra. This gave rise to architectural development combining Hindu and
Buddhist elements (see Buddhist Temples of Java). This gave rise to architectural development combining Hindu and
Buddhist elements. The marriage alone was not the driving force of this however,
as Java had links with the Pala kingdom in Bengal. Paharpur, a buddhist
sanctuary that can be found in Bengal, shows strong links with Candi Loro
Jonggrang, and the Kelurak inscription even mentions the consacration of a
manjusri statue by a guru from Gaudidvipa. Gaudidvipa is likely to refer to
Gaudivisaya in Bengal, another part of the Pala kingdom. Excavations at Paharpur
show a fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism that resulted in the development of
Tantric Buddhism.
Late Hindu/Çivaite Temples from Central Java
- Candi Merak
- Location: near Klaten
- Description:
Candi
Loro Jonggrang (Prambanan)
- Location: Sleman, near Yogyakarta
- Description: Çivaite, and likely part of a larger complex of
structures including Candi Sewu that are jointly
referred to as Prambanan. Built in the first half of the 9thC.
Candi Pringapus
- Location: Parakan, NW of Temanggung, C. Java
- Description: Hindu, built around AD 850
Candi Sambisari
- Location: between Yogya and Klaten, on the left side of the road
coming from Yogya.
- Description: Çaivaite, built around AD835. The Candi has been well
preserved because it was covered with volcanic ash about the end of the 14thC.
Candi Selogrio
- Location:
- Description:Hindu. In the corners of the base of this temple, bronze bowls were found in stone containers. This find is relevant to scholars seeking to learn more of the ritual and offerings made at the temples in order to discover their meaning. with regard to Selogrio, no definitive conclusions have been drawn.
Candi Sojiwan
- Location: at a village of the same name near Prambanan
- Description: Built around 790. The candi had a square plan that was
later modified to become cruciform.
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