Dieng Temple

Dieng Temple is a group of temples located on Dieng Plateau in Wonosobo, Central Java. The vicinity is 2000 meters above sea level, extending around 1900 meters long and 800 meters wide from north to south. This group of Shiva temples is estimated to be built late in the 8th century until early in the 9th century, and becomes the oldest temples in Java. No written information has been discovered until today concerning the history of Dieng Temple, although scholars consider that these temples were built by kings of Sanjaya dynasty. A stone inscription dated 808 AD, which is the oldest inscription written in ancient Javanese, was discovered in Dieng area. A statue of Shiva found in the area is now kept in the National Museum in Jakarta. Dieng Temple was probably built in two phases. The first phase lasted between late in the 7th century and the first quarter of the 8th century, which comprised the construction of Arjuna, Semar, Srikandi and Gatutkaca temples. The second phase was to continue the first one, lasting until around 780 AD.
Dieng Temple was rediscovered in 1814, when an English soldier was on vacation to Dieng and saw a cluster of temples submerged in lake water. In 1956, Van Kinsbergen organized an effort to drain the lake in which the temples compound was situated. The Dutch government continued the work in 1864, while Van Kinsbergen documented the temples and took the picture of them.
The overall site of Dieng Temple group occupies an area as wide as 1.8 x 0.8 km. Temples in this group are categorized in three compounds and one individual temple named after characters (wayang) from the Mahabharata. The three compounds are Arjuna, Gatutkaca, and Dwarawati, while the individual temple is Bima.
a. Arjuna Compound
Arjuna compound is located in the middle of Dieng Temple area, comprising 4 temples in a row from north to south. Arjuna is in the southernmost of the four, followed by Srikandi, Sembadra and Puntadewa temples. Right in front of Arjuna, there is another temple called Semar. The four temples in this compound face west, except Semar that faces Arjuna Temple. This compound is in the most intact condition compared to the other compounds in Dieng.
Arjuna Temple. This temple resembles temples in Gedong Songo complexes, and is laid out on 4 m2 square plan. The temple’s body stands on a 1 meter high base. On the west side, there is a stairway to access the door into the temple’s small interior. The door has a corbelled roof, projecting around 1 meter from the temple’s body, while a high-relief sculpture of Kalamakara in is attached to its upper frame.
The temple’s north, south, and west walls are adorned with slightly projecting stone arrangement that forms a framed recess to place a statue. Each frame is tiled with patterned pieces of flat stone. The lower frame is decorated with a pair of dragon heads with open mouth.

A water channel (jaladwara) is placed right under the recess. Above the frame, there is a sculpture of Kalamakara without its lower jaw. In each of the left and right sides of the north door, there is a niche to place a statue. Today there are no statues in the two niches.
The temple’s roof comprises layered cubes in ever-decreasing size to the top. The roof’s top has already crumbled. Each corner of the cubes has a recess and ornaments in the shape that looks like a crown with pointed top. Most of the ornaments are in damaged condition.

In the middle of temple’s interior, there is a carved stone that looks like a yoni. A damaged statue is attached to the outer corner of the temple’s rear part.
Semar Temple. This rectangular temple is situated right in front of Arjuna temple. The temple’s plain base is around 50 cm high. Stairs to access the temple’s interior is placed on the east side. The door has no corbelled roof. The doorframe is tiled with patterned pieces of flat stone and a dragon head on its lower end. Above the frame, there is a high-relief sculpture of Kalamakara without its lower jaw.
A small window is placed on each of the left and right sides of the door. There are two holes that function as window on each of the temple’s south and north walls, and three holes on the west (rear) wall. The temple’s interior is empty. The temple’s limasan (four-sloped) roof is a plain, without ornaments. The roof’s top has crumbled, which makes it not possible to describe the original form. It was said that Semar Temple was a storage to keep weapons and ritual objects.

Srikandi Temple. This temple is located to the north of Arjuna Temple. Standing on a 50 centimeter high base, this temple is laid out on a square plan. The temple has a staircase and corbelled roof on the east side.

The temple’s walls carry sculptures of Vishnu on the north, Shiva on the east, and Brahma on the south, all of which have deteriorated. As the roof has crumbled, the original form is not recognizable.

Sembadra Temple.  This temple stands on a 50 cm high base on a square plan, with projecting parts on its south, east, and north sides that resemble corbelled roof. The door is placed on the west and has a corbelled roof. The projecting parts and corbelled roof have made the temple looks like a polygon. Blocks of stone are arranged in front of the temple as a footway that leads to the door.


The first impression of Sembadra is that this temple looks like a two-storeyed building because its cube-shaped roof has almost the same size as that of the temple’s body. The roof’s top has crumbled, which makes it not possible to describe the original form. On each of the roof’s four sides, there is a small niche to hold a statue.
Puntadewa Temple. Like that of other temples, the size of Puntadewa Temple is not too big, but this temple looks higher. The temple stands on a 2-meter high stratified-base and has two flights of stairs with stone banister to access the interior. The stairs are in two flights to fit the stratified base.







Its roof, which is a big cube, resembles that of Sembadra Temple. The roof’s top has crumbled, which makes it not possible to describe the original form. On each of the roof’s four sides, there is a small niche to hold a statue. The door has a corbelled roof and frame tiled with patterned pieces of flat stone.
The temple’s interior is narrow and empty. Each of the side and back walls has a window with a frame embellished with ornaments resembling those on the door’s frame. The temple is encircled by stone arrangement around half a meter from the base. To its front, there is a square stone arrangement that encloses two stone objects.
To the north, pieces of stones are arranged in rectangular pattern that surround two stone objects resembling wide-mouthed jar.
b. Gatutkaca Compound
Gatutkaca compound comprises 6 temples of Gatutkaca, Setyaki, Nakula, Sadewa, Petruk and Gareng, although at present it is only Gatutkaca that is in relatively intact condition. The other five temples have fallen into ruin.
The base is 1 meter high and constructed in two layers on a square plan, with projecting parts on its south, east, and north sides that resemble corbelled roof. The door is placed on the west and has a corbelled roof. Stairs on the temple’s base are covered by the corbelled roof.

Gatutkaca temple also gives an impression of two-storeyed building, as the roof and body have the same form. The roof’s top has crumbled, which makes it not possible to describe the original form. On each of the roof’s four sides, there is also a small niche to hold a statue. The temple is encircled by stone arrangement around half a meter from the base. In front of this temple, there are piles of stone blocks from the other four temples, awaiting restoration.
c. Dwarawati Compound
Dwarawati compound comprises 4 temples of Dwarawati, Abiyasa, Pandu, and Margasari, although at present it is only Dwarawati that is in relatively intact condition. The other three temples have fallen into ruin.

The base of Dwarawati Temple is rectangular, which is similar to that of Gatutkaca Temple. There is a corbelled roof at each of its four sides. The temple sits on a 50-centimeter-tall platform. There are access stairs and a doorway at the west side. The stairs and the doorway are plain without any etching.
In the middle of north, east and south sidewalls, there is a niche that looks like a corbelled roof, which used to hold a relic. The curved roof of the niche is pointing upwards at its top. The front part of niche corbels is decorated with a simple flowery design. The same design is also found at the upper part the corbel sides. Three out of four niches are presently empty without any relic found in them.

At a glance, the temple seems to be a two-storyed building since the shape of temple roof is similar to that of the body. There are four sides of the roof and on each side there is a recess to place a relic. Those recesses are vacant. On the front yard of the temple, there are arrangement of stones that resemble a lingga and a yoni.
d. Bima Temple
Standing on a hill, this solitary temple is the biggest structure among the temples in Dieng. It also has different shape from typical Central Java temples. The temple is laid out on a square base, yet because on each of its four sides has a projecting corbelled roof, this temple looks as if it is laid on an octagonal plan.

The front corbelled roof projects around 1.5 meter, which leads to the temple’s main chamber. Corbelled roofs on the other three sides serve as niches to hold a statue, although at present no statues are there.
The roof has five layers in ever-decreasing size to the top and follows the temple body

 pattern. Each layer is embellished with lotus sculptures and framed-recess that holds a kudu, statue of human’s upper body that seems looking at the outside. Similar ornaments are also found on Kalasan Temple. The roof’s top has crumbled, which makes it not possible to describe the original form.

Bubrah Temple

 
Bubrah temple is located in the tourism area of Prambanan, Bener hamlet, Bugisan village, Prambanan subdistrict, Klaten Regency, Central Java province. Little is known about this temple, which leaves only its already damaged base and a heap of stones previously constructing the temple’s walls. The name Bubrah (Javanese) means badly damaged condition. It is not obvious whether the temple is called bubrah because it is already 'bubrah' ( in damaged condition) or because it really is the name.

The size of the Buddhist temple is relatively small, built on a square plan extending from north to south. It is difficult to find out the exact size of the temple since the area of the temple is surrounded by locked fence. The base is about 2 m high. Reliefs in symmetrical pattern are carved along the upper edge of the base, but none are found on the walls of the base. A staircase used as an entrance way to the platform lies on the east side of the base.

Barong Temple

Barong Temple is a heritage of Hinduism located in Candisari hamlet, Bokoharjo Village, Prambanan subdistrict. The temple is called Barong because there is an ornament of kala head inside its chamber which looks like a Barong. Barong temple, also known as Sari Suragedug temple, is mentioned in Ratu Baka inscription (856 AD) in Sanskrit language and written in ancient Javanese letter. The inscription describes that a king, named Sri Kumbaja or Sri Kalasodbhava built three lingas, Krttiwasalingga with Dewi Sri as his mate, Triyarbakalingga with Dewi Suralaksmi as his mate, and Haralingga with Dewi Mahalaksmi as his mate.
It is estimated that the description refers to Barong temple. Pereng inscription (863 AD), also in Sanskrit language and written in ancient Javanese letter, mentions that in the Javanese year of 784 (860 AD) the king Rakai Walaing Pu Kumbhayoni granted a field and two hills at Tamwahurang for the maintenance of a Shiva shrine called Bhadraloka. Scholars believe that Sri Kumbaja or Sri Kalasodbhava is Pu Kumbhayani and the Shiva shrine is Barong temple.
Unlike other temples in Central Java, Barong is a stepped-mound, a pre-Hinduism style of shrine. The temple consists of three terraces with diminishing size to the top. The first terrace is 90 x 63 m2 in dimension and the second terrace is 50 x 50 m2. Base on the location of its staircase, this Hindu temple faces west. The staircase to go into the second terrace is 4 m high and 3 m wide, lies in the middle of the west side.

And staircase to go into the third terrace is 25 x 38 m2 in dimension is lies around 5 m on the second terrace. The staircase has stone railings on its left and right sides. The bottom of each railing is decorated with ukel statue which has no clear shape. The staircase walls are decorated with relief of kalpataru leave which is partly damaged. The top of the staircase has roofed-gate that leads to the porch.

The walls of the terrace are supported by blocks of andesite covered with layers of white stones on its surface. The walls of the porch are plain, without decoration from bottom to the top. A niche, which has no clear function, is situated close to the southern end of the west wall of the third terrace.

At the upper platform, considered as a sacred place, there are two buildings in 8 x 8 m2 dimension, standing in line from north to south. The first building is at the southern end and the second in the middle of the platform, facing the staircase. Ruins of the building on the north end have not been restored to their original condition.
The two buildings have no entrance doors to the temple body, because there is no space inside, however, researches indicate that the temple has a cavity. The niches are empty, although Shiva-styled statues of 3 goddesses and 4 gods were said to be found during temple restoration. The four sides of each building only have niches to put statue in. A plain carving of Kalamakara statue, complete with its lower jaw, is placed above the niche frame.

No reliefs are found on the walls and base, except simple carvings of leaves and human figure. The roof of the temple is composed of horizontal layers with pointed top. The roof’s edge has ratna and kumuda pattern.

Banyuniba Temple

Banyuniba Temple is located at southern side of Cepit hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Sleman sub-district. It is around 200 m from Barong temple and about 1 km to the southwest of Yogya-Solo highway. This Buddhist temple faces west and stands alone within a plantation area. About 15 m in front of the Banyuniba temple, there is a small river.

Banyuniba Temple was discovered in a ruined condition. The first investigation and reconstruction of the temple were done in 1940. According to the research, it is estimated that Banyuniba Temple consists of three main temples which face to the west and surrounded by lines of ancillary shrines arranged in three rows to the south and three rows to the east. At present only the main temple that has been successfully restored and none of ancillary temples remain. At the back yard of the Banyuniba temple there is a hole in the ground, like a well.

Banyuniba Temple is relatively small, only 11 m high and around 15 m long. The body of the temple stands on a 2.5 m high stone platform and is laid out in the middle of neatly arranged andesite stones. The difference in size between the platform and the temple’s body forms a walkway, which is wide enough for one person to pass through. The wall of the temple and the upper edge of the platform are full of decorations in the patterns of creeping plants and leaves rambling out of a jar.  There are decorations like Kala head called 'jaladwara’ in every corner of the temple’s base. These decorations function as a gutter of rain water. The roof of the temple has a dome (dagoba)  shape with a stupa on top.

At the front porch lies a 1.2 m wide staircase as an access to the walkway at the temple platform. The top of the staircase is decorated with a couple of dragon head with open wide mouth.

The entrance door has a porch with curved-roof projecting around 1 m from the body of the temple. The front side of the porch is full of creeping plant decorations. A Kalamakara without its lower jaw is carved above the door frame.

At the inner side of the wall above the door frame there is relief depicting Hariti sitting in sedentarily position flanked by two peacocks and surrounded by children. A relief of Kuwera or Avataka in sitting position is carved on the southern wall of the porch. To his left and slightly to the back, a servant sits with right hand on the thigh.

On each of the four walls of the temple there are windows, through which the temple’s interior can be seen. Above the frame of each window there is an ornament of Kalamakara, whereas to its left and right side there is a niche containing carved figures of the divinity such as kinara and kinari, hapsara and hapsari, also Hariti and Avataka. Hidden between kalamakara and the window frame, there is a carving of man in sitting position.

There is no statue at the chamber of the temple, but the entire wall is decorated with relief of child and male figures in various positions, such as a child hanging on a branch of tree, people sitting and hugging each others, and etc. A statue of cow in sitting position is placed in the temple’s court. It remains uncertain whether the statue is still on its original location or has been moved.