Between 7th century and the beginning of 8th century AD, there was a Hindu Kingdom in Central Java called Kalingga. By the end of the first half of 8th century, circa AD 732, King Sanjaya changed the name Kalingga into Mataram. Later, Mataram was ruled by the descendants of Sanjaya (Sanjaya Dynasty). During the reign, the dynasty built Shiva temples on Dieng plateau.
By the end of King Sanjaya’s reign, King Syailendra from Sriwijaya Kingdom (in Palembang) came to expand his territory. He succeeded in conquering the southern part of Central Java and drove Hindu Mataram Kingdom to the northern part of Central Java. The sovereignty of King Syailendra, a Buddhist, was succeeded by his offspring, Syailendra Dynasty. Therefore, within a century from AD 750-850, Central Java was controlled by two rulers, Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty and Buddhist Syailendra Dynasty. During this era temples in Central Java were built extensively. As a result of different faith adopted by the dynasties, temples in the northern part of Central Java were the Hindu ones while the ones in the southern part of Central Java were Buddhist. Both dynasties were bound by marriage when Rakai Pikatan (AD 838 - 851) wedded Pramodawardhani, the son of the great King Samarattungga of Syailendra Dynasty.
Most temples in Central Java were built using blocks of andesite. Typically, the buildings face east and their figure is bulky. The temple itself stands in the middle of its precinct. Between the base of the temple and its body, there is a wide platform that serves as a place to conduct ‘pradaksina’. Above the door frame and the niches, there are sculptures of Kala heads (Kalamakara) without a lower jaw. The roof of a typical Central Java temple is always wider than the body, and it is topped with a ratna (a lotus flower-shaped masonry) or a stupa. The repeated pattern on the roof is overtly visible.
Temples in Central Java are unique not only because of their location and shape of the building, but also because of their distinctive high relief sculpture. Objects in the relief sculpture are naturally rendered and always face frontward. There are no distinct boundaries between fragments, while some parts are left without sculptures. There are numerous sculptures of rounded Kalpataru, a sacred tree, which project from the background, all over the walls of Central Java temples.
Central Java and Yogyakarta also have tens of temples, which are mostly related to the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram under the reign of either Sanjaya or Syailendra dynasty. This website has yet to include all of them. Many temples, especially small ones, are not covered in in documentation such as: Abang, Asu, Bogem, Bugisan, dan Candireja,Dawungsari, Dengok, Gampingan, Gatak, Gondang, Gua Sentana, Gunungsari, Gunungwukir (Canggal), Ijo, Kelurak, Marundan, Merak, Miri, Morangan, Muncul, Ngawen, Payak, Pendem, Pringapus, Retno, Sakaliman, Sojiwan, Umbul and Watugudig.
By the end of King Sanjaya’s reign, King Syailendra from Sriwijaya Kingdom (in Palembang) came to expand his territory. He succeeded in conquering the southern part of Central Java and drove Hindu Mataram Kingdom to the northern part of Central Java. The sovereignty of King Syailendra, a Buddhist, was succeeded by his offspring, Syailendra Dynasty. Therefore, within a century from AD 750-850, Central Java was controlled by two rulers, Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty and Buddhist Syailendra Dynasty. During this era temples in Central Java were built extensively. As a result of different faith adopted by the dynasties, temples in the northern part of Central Java were the Hindu ones while the ones in the southern part of Central Java were Buddhist. Both dynasties were bound by marriage when Rakai Pikatan (AD 838 - 851) wedded Pramodawardhani, the son of the great King Samarattungga of Syailendra Dynasty.
Most temples in Central Java were built using blocks of andesite. Typically, the buildings face east and their figure is bulky. The temple itself stands in the middle of its precinct. Between the base of the temple and its body, there is a wide platform that serves as a place to conduct ‘pradaksina’. Above the door frame and the niches, there are sculptures of Kala heads (Kalamakara) without a lower jaw. The roof of a typical Central Java temple is always wider than the body, and it is topped with a ratna (a lotus flower-shaped masonry) or a stupa. The repeated pattern on the roof is overtly visible.
Temples in Central Java are unique not only because of their location and shape of the building, but also because of their distinctive high relief sculpture. Objects in the relief sculpture are naturally rendered and always face frontward. There are no distinct boundaries between fragments, while some parts are left without sculptures. There are numerous sculptures of rounded Kalpataru, a sacred tree, which project from the background, all over the walls of Central Java temples.
Central Java and Yogyakarta also have tens of temples, which are mostly related to the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram under the reign of either Sanjaya or Syailendra dynasty. This website has yet to include all of them. Many temples, especially small ones, are not covered in in documentation such as: Abang, Asu, Bogem, Bugisan, dan Candireja,Dawungsari, Dengok, Gampingan, Gatak, Gondang, Gua Sentana, Gunungsari, Gunungwukir (Canggal), Ijo, Kelurak, Marundan, Merak, Miri, Morangan, Muncul, Ngawen, Payak, Pendem, Pringapus, Retno, Sakaliman, Sojiwan, Umbul and Watugudig.
