Friday, January 21, 2011

Ngawen Temple


Transition Temple
The building is thought to be a Buddhist temple, to be exact Vajrayana Buddhism and dedicated to the five Dyani Buddhas. The temple is expected to be built in the 9th century AD. The existence of this temple is expected to set out in the Middle Reef inscription that many AD 824. Some archaeologists say that this temple was built in the Hindu-Buddhist period of transition on the island of Java.

Different from other temples that once kusinggahi, Ngawen Temple complex has five main temple which stretches from north to south. The five main temple is dedicated to the five Dyani Buddhas and has an entrance facing east. Uniquely, the east and west of the main temples are flanked by two small rivers named Kali Kebo (west) and Blongkeng River (east). Water on the River Blongkeng if observed closely is a bit cloudy, and, according to the literature on the internet is the sulfur content in river water.

Building the main temples are no longer perfect as usual. Only the temple building on the north side are still standing strong, and even then without a roof, so that rain water will be free to enter into the main chamber of the temple. Inside the main temple is solid, there are statues of Buddha that is no longer intact. The atmosphere of the temple which was built in the transitional period of Hindu-Buddhist looks thick here, in one of the main temple there are statues in front of the yoni and there is a statue of Nandi the postal jurukunci who once found around this temple.

Lion Ornaments
The five main temple is decorated with ornamental lions are located in the corners of the foot of the temple, one thing that never found the Buddhist temples that I visited once. In the main temple is still standing strong, there are stone lions standing in a position which is located at the corners of the foot of the temple. When observed lion statue has a mouth that is gaping. In the mouth there is a kind of pipe sewers, whether rain or water god. When more observant again, the lions were male sex. Know where? Just look at (sorry) Pubic organ lions are carved with very clear by our ancestors. Also on the main temples are also sculpted reliefs of elephants and human relief. Hmm ... if the reliefs contained story as the Temple Sojiwan and Mendut?

History of discovery
This temple was first discovered in 1864 by a Dutchman named Hoepermans. He found the statue of Buddha that had been damaged and suspect that there are "something else" hidden under a hill as high as 2-3 meters. Intensive excavation commenced in 1899, and a number of Dutch archaeologists such as Brandes, Van Erp, and Vink also assist with the excavation. Van Erp discovered a structure that has a unique design and is suspected as a temple. In 1920, the rice fields surrounding the excavation area was dried and the process of excavation begins. Restoration starts from the main temple in the north and managed to construct the back of the temple, though without a roof and a lot of rocks that have reshaped the temple again. Maybe this is the reason why the walls of the temple is seen as a mixture of cement and stone, not the composition of andesite stone. Restoration process is completed by Perquin declared in 1927.

The park is Beautiful
This temple complex is quite interesting to visit. For one thing, this temple complex has been arranged with the slick. There are parks, benches, and a pond complete with teratainya. The existence of two rivers that flank the two temples also add a natural impression in this temple complex. In the afternoon Ngawen village children often play in the temple complex. It was good to break a break from big city noise and enjoy the rich history and natural harmony in this temple complex.


 Candi Ngawen


The temple building is not intact.


Kebo river on the west side of the temple complex. 


 Headless Buddha statue at the main temple.


 The walls of the temple of a mixture of cement and stone river.


 Male lion statue at the corner of the foot of the temple

No comments:

Post a Comment