Beautiful Ancient Temples of Indonesia, Borobudur, Prambanan, Ratuboko, Sewu, Plaosan, Mendut, etc Options

[Majapahitans]

@ Majjy, how come u can speak ninhonjin??

You mean how come I can speak Nihon-Go (Japanese language) to a Nihon-Jin (japanese people).....
I studied for about a year or so, now I simply don't have a time to continue my Japanese course.....


Next temple


Candi Mendut





Richly decorated wall of Mendut Temple potray the Boddhisatvas....

Together with Pawon and Borobudur, these three temple formed a pilgrimage trail.
From Mendut to Pawon and finished at Borobudur. During Waisak sacred day Buddhist from all over Indonesia are converged at Mendut to walk about 3 kilometres to Pawon and Borobudur.



Three metres high Dhyani Buddha Vairocana statue, carved from a single andesite stone inside the chamber of Mendut temple.
The Buddha is in seated position, quite unusual in ancient Indonesian statue. The hand performing Dharmachakra-mudra (hand gesture symbolizing the turning wheel of Dharma). In his left (unseen, pardon my camera lens incapability... ) is stone statue of Boddhisatva Avalokitesvara, and at his right is Boddhisatva Vajrapani.



Stone Stupa at Mendut Monastery.

At Mendut there's a Buddhist monastery where monks stays as sangha, to follow Buddha's teachings.




Buddhist shrine in javanese style, surrounded by lotus pond. Mendut Monastery.




The Sakyamuni Buddha statue in this shrine actually is the gift from Buddhist followers of Zenyo-Ji Temple, Kawasaki, Japan in July 24th 2002.
The statue modeled after Buddha of Muryoo-Ji temple (777 AD) Nara, Japan. This gift is to stregthen the brotherhood between Japanese and Indonesian Buddhist.

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Mar 4 2007, 09:38 AM

[purnomor]

Awesome statue!

[haqine]

^Since it was so hard to contacted Mas Maja (your inbox full ), so i just post my question here...
Perhaps all of you want to know too.

Mas maja, in this video there is a tittle, Boelan 9 Tahoen 2604.
What year was it ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QvyLkdl1_s

Thank you!

BTW, awesome statue!

[Majapahitans]

^Since it was so hard to contacted Mas Maja (your inbox full ), so i just post my question here...
Perhaps all of you want to know too.

Mas maja, in this video there is a tittle, Boelan 9 Tahoen 2604.
What year was it ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QvyLkdl1_s

Thank you!

BTW, awesome statue!

Sorry to my belated response hagine..... maap banget, baru dig old threads stuff....

the term "Boelan 9 Tahoen 2604" is based on Japanese Calendar used during Japanese occupation in Indonesia.
You know..., Japanese during WWII were ruled by fascist militaristic government that insist in divinity of their emperor, Tenno Heika.
The Japanese Era calendar is based on the historical (partly legendary) event, first emperor of Japan that ever ruled the island as the descendants of Amaterasu Omikami, Japanese Sun Goddess.


Anyway..., just want to revive old threads (instead of discussing ancient central Javan temple in Majapahit threads.... )


Plaosan Lor


The twin main temple of Plaosan Lor


Kinnara and Kinnari guarding the Kalpataru tree of life

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: May 25 2008, 11:30 AM

[situmorang87]

Salam kenal Mas Maja!

Anyway, I'm pretty sad that Borobudur couldn't make it to be one of World 7 Wonders last year. Nevertheless, I'm confident that the world are still admiring this magnificient building!

Wow, this thread is superb!

How could I change the thread title btw?

[Majapahitans]

Salam kenal Mas Maja!

Anyway, I'm pretty sad that Borobudur couldn't make it to be one of World 7 Wonders last year. Nevertheless, I'm confident that the world are still admiring this magnificient building!

Wow, this thread is superb!

Salam kenal juga... (kayaknya kita udah kenalan di threads lain....)

Yeah me to quite disapointed that Borobudur couldn't make it to the lists of the New Seven Wonders, while some of far simpler monuments with less intricate design and less architectural technical achievements, such as Jesus the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brasil, and Petra in Jordan could make it to the list.... It should be Angkor and Borobudur

Btw you're welcome to contribute your tought and maybe picture to this thread...

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: May 25 2008, 02:21 PM

[Bhaskara]

Poor haqqy! That was last year's question!

Hiya, brother Situmorang! You could change the title of your thread by clicking the "edit" button (the "full edit", not the quick one) on your 1st post on your 1st page.

[Majapahitans]

I've visited Candi Banyunibo near Ratu Boko complex, I think its one of the most beautiful buddhist temple in Indonesia.



The design of roof is definitely unique.... it seems tried to mimic the roof made from organic material (ijuk roof).

Simple, clean cut, elegant, and beautiful.

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: May 27 2008, 12:17 PM

[malukupacific]

wow im bornagain evangelical christian but its is nice to see this old buildings

This post has been edited by malukupacific: Jun 22 2008, 07:27 AM

[Majapahitans]

wow im bornagain evangelical christian but its is nice to see this old buildings

You don't have to be a Hindu or Buddhist to be able to appreciate the beauty of these ancient temples....
The same as how I can appreciate the beauty of Cathedral Santa Maria in Jakarta although I'm a Muslim.

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Jun 26 2008, 12:11 PM

[Majapahitans]

More Prambanan picture.
I took this nightview of lightflooded Prambanan from Trimurti open air stage across the Opak river






Magnificent huh....

[Majapahitans]

Another picture of Mendut Temple I just upload to wiki


Mendut in cloudless sky and afternoon sun... the weather is HOT





Three main statue of Mendut Temple. At the center is Dhyani Buddha Vairocana, on the left is Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara, on the right is Boddhisattva Vajrapani.

The main room housed three beautifully carved large stone statues. The three statues are the Buddhist main divinities revered in Mendut temple which can explain the spiritual purpose of the establishment of this temple. The 3 metres tall statue of Dhyani Buddha Vairocana was meant to liberate the devotees from the bodily karma, at the left is statue of Boddhisatva Avalokitesvara to liberate from the karma of speech, at the right is Boddhisatva Vajrapani to liberate from karma of tought.

No matter how many time I've visited this temple, the serene statue of Buddha and Boddhisattva always astounds me.

[AsiaNETIK]

Hi guys..., since I have visited numbers of temples in Java, I wanna share it with you all....
Borobudur and Prambanan....?
Well that's already popular tourist destination, but indeed that two temple are exceptional beautiful wonders.....

However, have you ever visited Candi Ratu Boko, Plaosan, Sewu, Lumbung, Bubrah, Barong, Banyunibo, Ijo, Kalasan, Sari, Sambisari, Gebang, Mendut, Pawon...?
Some of these temple are easy to reach, like Kalasan that near the main road Yogya-Solo, but some are on the hill through the village, another are in the middle of sawah (rice field), some even lies underground (already excavate to reveal their original form).

Soo...
Lets our archaeological delight oddyssey begins......
(PS: I appreciate your contributions too.... )



Selamat datang...., Silakan masuk...!

Let's enter the Gate.....!

First stop:

Ratu Boko Palace



This picture shows a group of Hindu Javanese are visiting this place.....

Despite being called "candi" this complex of structure are NOT religious structure. or It's not temple. It was a secular profane living space structure.
It was a well defended palace-fort, some kind of citadel. Situated up on the hill, the Ratu Boko complex consist of:

Series of Gates

Protective wall

Roofless temple for cremation ceremony

Some walled structure of living space (pendopo). The body and roof is made from decayed material like wood or clay roof, but the base of building (palace) remains.

Small miniature of temple for religious ceremony within living space (serve like home temple)

Bathplace (pemandian), series of pools encirceled with walls and series of gates

More foundations and floor of buildings, also walled enclosure with gates.

Aeschetic small cave for meditation.

Lovely pictures there... I would love to tour Indonesia's ancient temples one day in the near future.

[Majapahitans]

Lovely pictures there... I would love to tour Indonesia's ancient temples one day in the near future.

Same here... I would LOVE to visit Cambodia's ancient temples especially Angkor in the near future....

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Oct 15 2008, 01:03 PM

[Ralf]

Interesting how some cultures develop a desire to build architectural wonders, while other ancient cultures seem to have never felt the urge to impose man-made structures on their landscape. I was thinking about the ancient culture of Australian Aborigines. Their civilisation was rich in story and religion, but from my understanding they remained esentially tribal/nomadic for about 40,000 years, without ever aspiring to build any large permanent structures. Perhaps the daily labour of being hunter/gatherers, never allowed these people the luxury developing city structures. It is often said that civilisations who chose agriculture as the main way to feed their people, rapidly went on to build cities, and create the architectural wonders pictured in this forum.

[Majapahitans]

Interesting how some cultures develop a desire to build architectural wonders, while other ancient cultures seem to have never felt the urge to impose man-made structures on their landscape. I was thinking about the ancient culture of Australian Aborigines. Their civilisation was rich in story and religion, but from my understanding they remained esentially tribal/nomadic for about 40,000 years, without ever aspiring to build any large permanent structures. Perhaps the daily labour of being hunter/gatherers, never allowed these people the luxury developing city structures. It is often said that civilisations who chose agriculture as the main way to feed their people, rapidly went on to build cities, and create the architectural wonders pictured in this forum.

I think that's true, Aborigine hasn't developed agriculture and rely on hunter/gatherers cause this.
Some culture rely on simple material the nature has offer.

Aborigin hasn't developed the necessary technology to build monuments. They seems hasn't developed further from stone age. And hasn't developed metal tools to cut stones.

Still they culture are unique because blend in harmony with nature.


More pics

Prambanan





















I think Prambanan is the most picturesque temple in Java

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Oct 16 2008, 09:29 AM

[Krrish]

Just amazing, if I had a time machine I would love to go back in history and see myself how these beauties were built.

[anakjakarta84]

right now, what is indonesia comprised of? it seems in danger of losing out its 'past' civilization to the process of islamization and westernization...

I think neither Islamization nor modernization (aka Westernization) caused Indonesia to ‘suffer a massive reversal’ in terms of culture as you said. I just think that it’s Indonesians who do not think that mixing them together is possible since both Islamization or modernization do not dictate culture; they do not mean we have to adopt Arabic/Middle Eastern or Western culture. And I have to say that this is actually a difficiency or backward mentality of our people. I mean look at the many Chinese mosques in Indonesia and China. You wouldn’t know that they’re mosques until you get in there or until someone tells you that they’re mosques. They look like any typical, traditional Chinese buildings. And this is how they preserved their cultural identity. And look at how Indian women wear Saris to meetings/lectures?? Coming to meetings does not necessarily mean wear ties, suits and shoes. My cousin once used Baju Bodo and Lipa’ Sabbe (the traditional female Makassarese/Buginese outfit) to a Mall in Jakarta (because she just came from a wedding and didn’t have time to change) and everyone just stared at her. They’re probably thinking, “Why is she wearing traditional outfit in a mall??” It wasn’t her intension, but hey why not?? Do you have to wear shirts and jeans to the mall?? And traditional outfits only belong in weddings and family pictures? It’s time that we open up our minds. I like Kebaya, but the Batik people wear today is basically Western clothing with Batik printed on them. And please let’s not add Javanization to Islamization and Westernization. And how about having traditional homes? Rumah Joglo? Rumah Gadang? Tongkonan? And all the other houses whose names I don’t know. Or mosques and churches that look like the ancient Hindu temples? Do the Bible or Qur’an say how houses of worship should look like Western or Arabic houses of worship? Many Indonesians probably think that by becoming more Westernized, Westerners will like us more. Is that true? Let’s all speak English, wear shirts, jeans and suits, try to copy how Westerners behave and replace all our traditional values with Western values. You’ll see how the number of tourists in Indonesia will plummet. Our ancestors often wore traditional clothing, our generation only sees it in TV, weddings and other traditional ceremonies, who knows when if ever our children will see them?

but i wish people could also connect with it in their daily lives, rather than have them there as a masterpiece for tourists buses only.

I agree, we need to live it out or to be constantly conscious of this cultural identity of ours that is slowly being swept away. So we need to prevent this from happening. The guys who have sarongs at their homes, go get it right now and wear it the whole day today (if you’re staying at home). If you’re already wearing a sarong, then go to the next stage and get something more complex from your closets. Then slowly go up the ladder from buying a trash can out of rotan up to buying a traditional house (later in the future). Oh yeah, and we should also remember to stop inserting English words when speaking Indonesian. And we also should use our local language more often or learn it if we don’t know/forgot it.

Like Bali does...., a living cultural heritage.

Yeah, but mas, I think it’s just our people’s fault to think that converting to Islam or Christian means leaving our ancient architecture. Architecture and religion have nothing in common.

[Bhaskara]

anakjakarta... I think I'm falling in love with you....

[Majapahitans]

anakjakarta... I think I'm falling in love with you....

Nah Lho....!!!