DESCRIPTION OF PRAMBANAN TEMPLE

Summary

Prambanan Temple, located on Java Island, Indonesia, is the largest and most beautiful Hindu temple complex built in the 10th century. Constructed by King Rakai Pikatan, it stands as a significant historical and cultural landmark. The temple complex consists of a rectangular layout with three main areas: the outer area, central terraces, and the sacred inner court. Notable features include the central temples dedicated to the Hindu gods Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva, along with their respective vehicle temples. Prambanan remains one of the most stunning and visited tourist destinations in Yogyakarta.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prambanan Temple is the largest and most beautiful Hindu temple built on Java Island, Indonesia.
• 😀 The temple was constructed in the 10th century during the Hindu kingdoms by King Rakai Pikatan.
• 😀 Prambanan Temple was designed to rival the nearby Borobudur and Sewu temples.
• 😀 The temple complex is located 155 meters above sea level, in the Prambanan village, Yogyakarta.
• 😀 The Prambanan Temple is approximately 17 miles from Jakarta and about 100 meters from the Yogyakarta-Solo highway.
• 😀 The tallest temple in the Prambanan complex stands at 47 meters, 5 meters higher than Borobudur.
• 😀 The temple complex is divided into three main areas: the outer area, the central area, and the inner court.
• 😀 The outer area, which is square-shaped and 390 meters across, originally had a stone fence, now no longer present.
• 😀 The central area has four terraces, with a decreasing number of small temples, from 68 on the lowest to 44 on the highest.
• 😀 The inner court is the most sacred part, with three main temples dedicated to Hindu gods: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.
• 😀 Each main temple in the inner court is accompanied by a smaller vehicle temple, representing the mount of each god (Garuda, Nandi, and Hamsa).

Q & A

Who built the Prambanan Temple and when?

The Prambanan Temple was built in the 10th century by King Rakai Pikatan during the Hindu Kingdoms in Indonesia.

What other temples is Prambanan Temple compared to?

Prambanan Temple was built as a rival to the nearby Borobudur and Sewu temples.

Where is Prambanan Temple located?

Prambanan Temple is located on Java Island, in the Prambanan village, Boko Harjo district, about 17 miles from Jakarta.

How tall is the main temple at Prambanan?

The main temples of Prambanan stand about 47 meters tall, which is 5 meters higher than the Borobudur Temple.

What is the layout of the Prambanan Temple complex?

The Prambanan Temple complex is divided into three main areas: the outer area, central area, and inner court.

What was the original purpose of the outer area of the temple?

The outer area of the Prambanan Temple complex, which spans 390 meters square, was initially surrounded by stone fences but does not contain any temples.

How many terraces are there in the central area, and how many temples do they have?

The central area has four terraces: the first has 68 small temples, the second has 60 temples, the third has 52 temples, and the highest terrace has 44 temples, though many are ruined due to natural disasters.

What is the significance of the inner court at Prambanan Temple?

The inner court is the holiest area of the Prambanan Temple complex. It houses the three main temples dedicated to Hindu gods: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.

Which gods are represented at the Prambanan Temple, and where are their temples located?

The three major Hindu gods represented at Prambanan are Vishnu (in the north), Brahma (in the south), and Shiva (in the center).

What are the vehicle temples at Prambanan, and which gods do they correspond to?

The vehicle temples at Prambanan correspond to the animals associated with the Hindu gods: Garuda is in front of Vishnu's temple, Nandi is in front of Shiva's temple, and Swan is in front of Brahma's temple.