Kalasan Temple, which is also known as Kalibening Temple,
is located 2 kilometres
away from Prambanan Temple. The exact location is in Kalibening
Village, Tirtamani, Sleman, The
Special Region of Yogyakarta. It is in the sideway of Yogyakarta-Solo
road. The distinctive feature of this
temple is that the surface is covered with vajralepa, some kind of
ceiling-plaster carved on soft stone or batu
halus. This kind of thing also exists on a temple nearby called Sari Temple. Both of the
temples are Buddhist and according to a Kalasan Epigraphy (778 AD) founded not
far from there, the construction is to honor a goddess by the name of Tara.
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| Picture Yogyatouristresorts.blogspot.com |
The temple itself was
built by Maharaja Tejapurnama Panangkarana, the ruling king at that time, with
the advice from Syailendra monks. Panangkarana
then become the second king of Hindu Mataram Kingdom. The temple itself is the
tangible proof that there used to be Wangsa Syailendra, the ruler of Sriwijaya,
in Central Java. The characteristics of the temple are in accordance with the
division of authority between Wangsa Syailendra (Buddhist) and Wangsa Sanjaya
(Hindu).
Because it is very near Prambanan Temple, it can be the
alternative if you want to explore the temples around this famous temple. The
admission price is only IDR2000,- (about 25cents) and you can take as many
autographs there. As to the way to reach it, you can go there by renting a car
or by bus if you are in a group. Because of its antiquity, you can perform a
historical tour there.
The
temple is squared-shape and the roof is octagonal and is topped with a stupa (dome enclosing an image of
Buddha). Too bad, the condition of the temple now is not really good; in fact,
only the southern part of the temple that is still in a fine figure. However,
it has been restored two times up until now (in 1927 & 1929). The temple
itself is ornamented with beautiful carvings and consists of Buddha’s statues
or arca. In addition, there is also
an image of Gana or a distended-stomach midget whose task was to carry goods on
his shoulder. It is said that the carvings on the temple are very neat and
enchanting that it must be constructed by highly competent people at that
time.
In the lower part of the temple, you can see or
curvilinear motif like the tail of a shrimp commonly found on old temples like
this. Around it, there are ornate called jambangan which add the beauty of
Kalasan Temple. There is also a hollow decorated with an image of god holding a
lotus. On every portal of the temple, you will see a head of Kala (some kind of
fowl) with a flower bud on its comb. As said before, the best spot for this
temple is in the south. There, the condition of the building is still
well-preserved. There is a big Banaspati, a perpendicular row adorned with
spiral plants and makara. If you want
to see the glimpse of Kalasan Temple’s beauty, it is the right area for you.
Despite the fact that the temple is
not really well-preserved, it’s not a reason to miss out this place. Even, you
can witness the greatness of Wangsa Syailendra in Central Java through this Buddhist
temple and it certainly is a priceless historical site.
