Temple Sewu

Sewu is a Buddhist temple built in the 8th century within just eight hundred meters to the north of Prambanan. Sewu is the second largest Buddhist temple complex after Borobudur temple in Central Java. Sewu older than Borobudur and Prambanan. Although originally had 249 temples, the temple community is called "Sewu" means thousand in the Java language. This naming is based on the legend Loro Jonggrang.

Temple Sewu

Administratively, complex Sewu located in Hamlet Bener, Bugisan Village, District Prambanan, Klaten regency, Central Java Province.

history:

Based Kelurak inscription which dates to the year 782 and Inscription Manjusrigrha in 792 and was discovered in 1960, the original name of this temple is "Prasada Vajrasana Manjusrigrha". Prasada term meaningful temple or shrine, while a significant Vajrajasana Vajra (diamond or lightning) reigned, while Manjushri-grha meaningful House Manjushri. Manjusri is one Boddhisatwa in the teachings of Buddha. Sewu temples have been built in the 8th century BC at the end of the reign of Panangkaran. Panangkaran (746-784) is a renowned king of ancient Mataram kingdom.

This temple complex may be restored and expanded during the reign of Rakai Pikatan, a prince of the dynasty of Sanjaya who married Pramodhawardhani of the Sailendra dynasty. After Sanjaya dynasty ruling the people still embraced earlier religion. The existence of a patterned Sewu buddha temple adjoining the temple Prambanan Hindu-style show that since time immemorial in Java Hindus and Buddhists live in harmony and religious intolerance. Because the majesty and breadth of this temple complex, believed to be Sewu temple Buddhist temple of the Kingdom, as well buddhist center activities that are important in the past. The temple is situated in Prambanan valley that stretches from the southern slopes of Mount Merapi in the north to the mountains Sewu in the south, around the border of Yogyakarta and Klaten regency, Central Java. In this valley are scattered temples and archaeological sites within just a few hundred meters of each other. This suggests that this region is an important area in the religious sector, politics, and urban life of the ancient Javanese society.

This temple was badly damaged by an earthquake in May 2006 in the Yogyakarta and Central Java south. Very real damage to building structures and the main temple suffered the most severe damage. Fragments of rocks scattered on the ground, cracks and fissures between the rocks visible connection. To prevent the collapse of buildings, metal frame mounted on four corners of the building to support and hold the body of the main temple. Although the site was reopened to visitors a few weeks later after the earthquake in 2006, all the main temple remain closed and must not be entered for security reasons.

Now, after restoration, the metal frame supporting the main temple had been removed and visitors can enter the room in the main temple.

The temple complex:

Sewu temple complex is a collection of the largest Buddhist temples in the area around Prambanan, with landscape the size of land 185 meters north-south and 165 meters east-west. The entrance of the complex can be found in the four winds, but look at the composition of the building, known to the main door is located on the east side. Each entrance guarded by a pair of statues Dwarapala. Giant-sized statue guard height of about 2.3 meters is in fairly good condition, and the replicas can be found in Kraton Yogyakarta.

Originally there were 249 temples in the complex's buildings are arranged to form a mandala wajradhatu, the embodiment of the universe in the Mahayana Buddhist cosmology. In addition to the main temple of the largest one, the stretch of the central axis, the north-south and east-west, at a distance of 200 meters from each other, between the lines of the 2nd and 3rd ancillary temples (guards) there is a small temple 8 Penjuru, candi- this temple is the second largest in size after the main temple. Original in every corner of the wind there each pair facing each other over the temple, but now only parts of the twin temples of the eastern and northern parts of the temple are still intact. Based on the research foundation of the building, estimated that only one corner of the temple in the north and one in the southern corner of the temple was built, both facing east. That means it may indeed parts of the north east side of the temple and parts of the east side uselatan was never (no time) was built to complement the initial proposal.

Ancillary temples (guards) that are smaller originally consisted of 240 pieces with a similar design and is composed of four concentric rows. Judging from the deepest part (middle), the first line consists of 28 temples, and the second row consists of 44 temples are arranged with a certain distance intervals. Two outer rows, the third row consists of 80 temples, while the fourth line the outer consists of 88 small temples are arranged close together.

The fourth line of ancillary temples, there are two types of ancillary temples draft; The fourth line (outermost) has designed a form similar to the first line (the deepest), namely on the cross section of wicket door, while the second and third row has a higher design forms with different wicket door. Many statues and ornaments that have been lost and its composition has changed. These ancillary temples filled Dhyani Buddha statues. Found four types of Dhyani Buddha in the complex Sewu. Buddha statues that used to fill these temples with statues of buddha similar mengkin in Borobudur

The temples are smaller around the main temple of the greatest but some parts are no longer intact. Behind the 4th row of small temples are bare stone yard and stood in the middle of the main temple.

The main temple:

The main temple has a plan that resembles a 20-angle polygon cross or cross with a diameter of 29 meters and height of buildings up to 30 meters. At each corner of the wind there is a building structure that juts out, each with its own staircase and room arrangement and crowned with a stupa. The entire building is made of andesite. The room at the four compass points are inter-connected by galleries fenced corner ledge.

Based on the findings at the time of restoration, estimated the initial design of the building is only a single-roomed temple. The temple was later expanded by adding additional structures around it. The door is made to connect additional buildings to the main temple and created the main temple building with five rooms. The main room in the middle of the larger with a higher roof, and can be entered through the eastern space. Now there are five statues in this room. But based on the foundation or carved stone lotus throne in the main room, supposedly first in this room there are bodhisattvas Manjushri or buddha statue out of bronze whose height reaches 4 meters. But now the statue was gone, may have been plundered to take the metal since centuries ago.

building information

Location : Hamlet Bener, Bugisan, Prambanan, Klaten regency, Central Java

Indonesian country

Coordinates : 7 ° 44'37 "latitude 110 ° 29'37" BTKoordinat: 7 ° 44'37 "latitude 110 ° 29'37" E

Client : Sailendra

Completion Around 782 AD

Temple structural system of the composition of andesite stone blocks that interlock

Type : Temple

Size : base area 185 meters north-south and 165 meters east-west, 30 meter high main temple