Prambanan Temple (PART 1)

Prambanan Temple

(How To Read The Ramayana Story On Prambanan Reliefs)

 

Hi Nusantara lovers wherever you are... At this time I will discuss about Prambanan Temple. Prambanan temple is located on the border between the province of Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces. Prambanan is one of the most beautiful Hindu temple in Southeast Asia.

            Prambanan temple complex built in the 9th century by Sanjaya Dynasty of Mataram Kingdom. This temple has a height of 47 meters. Prambanan temple complex has three main temples namely:

1.    Siwa temple, located in the middle. This is the biggest temple in Prambanan.

2.    Brahma temple, located on the south

3.    Wisnu temple, located on north

            In front of the main temple there are three smaller temples as a symbol of god’s vehicles who are in the main temple. In front of Siwa temple, there are Nandi temple. This means that Nandi (Bull in English) is the vehicle of Siwa. In front of Brahma temple there Angsa temple. This means that Angsa (Swan in english) is the vehicle of Brahma. In front of Wisnu temple there are Garuda temples, this means that Garuda is the vehicle of Vishnu. Garuda is a mythical bird.

One of the things that are special in the Prambanan is reliefs of Ramayana story on Siwa temple and continued on the Brahma temple. This article will specialize in how to read these reliefs and interpretation of the reliefs images in each panel. Below is a picture of the Siwa Temple and line drawings are included to read the story from the 1^st panel to 41^st panel.

For the story discribing of each panel, please see the explanation below:

1.    On the left, looks Wissnu sitting above the outside world of Ananta. Ananta world just emerging from the sea that there are lots of fish. On the back of Wisnu, Garuda was seen giving a blue lotus flower to Wisnu. In front of Vishnu, seen the king who asked Wisnu to come down to earth to combat the acts of Ravana who was making a mess.

2.    We can look at the condition of Ayodya palace gardens. The king was sitting with the empress and talk about something, suddenly there came a man who said that there are guest that want to facing the king. Behind the king, seen the princess. In front of the King, seen his son that one of them is Rama. Rama is the incarnation of Wishnu who was destined to kill Rahwana who was making a mess. Elephants and horses, is a symbol of the greatness of the king.

3.    Seen the palace condition and the hermit of Wiswamitra as guests sit in a place that is rather high, being asked the king to give his son permission to participate with the hermit while holding the dish as a victim. In front of the hermit sat the king and his wife seated behind him. On the right look Rana along with her brother, Lakshmana.

4.    Wiswamitra, Rama, and Lakshman on his way to a place of Wismamitra hermit through the forest that are not safe because of what a giant woman named Tataka. They met with tataka and Rama kill him.

5.    Seen a place of the Wiswamitra hermit being destroyed by the giants. After that, Rama and Lakshmana came there and kill the giants. Marici, leader of the giant was thrown into the sea and the other giants killed. After being safe, Wiswamitra serving-dish.

6.    In the palace of king Janaka, the Wiswamitra’s friend, there are Wiswamitra, Laksmana, Rama, and King Janaka. Because of Wiswamitra instigation in the champion, Rama can draw the Janaka’s magic arrows (on the right). The nearby of this visible Shinta, the daughter of King Janaka and his entourage, who later Sinta became the wife of Rama because Rama wins the champion.

7.    After marriage, Rama returned to Ayodya with Sinta and Laksmana. On the way to  home, they met Parasurama (bearded) who heard that Rama can draw the magic arrow of king Janaka. Parasurama challenges Rama to draw his bow, and if he is successful, he can kill Parasurama. But, if Rama failed draw the Parasurama’s arrow, Parasurama would to kill him.

8.    Rama shown to draw the arrows of Parasurama and win the race. But he don’t want to kill Parasurama and asked him to give what he want to be released as its own. Parasurama pick off his paradise that has been owned and Rama shot it to disappear.

9.    In the palace of Ayodya, Dasarata has decided to appoint Rama as his successor. Outside the palace was held serving-dish and the whole city is decorated, suddenly the second wife of Dasarata, namely Kekayi who knew that Rama was to become the successor of King Dasarata, come face to Dasarata by giving out the warning that in the past, Dasarata promised once promised to Kekayi that he will pass two requests. Kekayi asked that Rahma must exiled to the forest and raised Barata, the children of Kekayi‘s, to be appointed as instead.

10.    Seen the conoration of Barata, Rama’s brother or Dasarata’s son from his second wife, Kekayi. The city are crowded, visible the troupe of dancer and a set of musical instrument.

 (To Be Continued-> Part 2)