REVIEW OF PLAOSAN TEMPLE: THEN TWIN TAMPLE AS THE SYMBOL OF LOVE
Plaosan Temple; a
temple constructed by Rakai Pikatan for her wife, Pramodhawardhani. The
architect is combination of Hindu and Buddha. Plaosan temple is situated in
Bugisan hamlet, Prambanan village, Klaten sub district, Central Java. It is
about 20 Km eastward Yogyakarta or 1.5 Km from Sewu temple.
Plaosan complex is divided into 2 groups, namely the
North Plaosan Temple and the South Plaosan Temple. Both of the temples have
square terrace that is encircled by wall, a pillbox for meditation at the west
part and dome on other side. Because of that similarity, the appearance of both
temples are the same when they are seen from distant so that Plaosan temple is
also called the twin temples. Plaosan temple is actually a temple compound. The
Buddhist temple is divided into two parts, Plaosan Lor (lor: north) and Plaosan
Kidul (kidul: south). It is estimated to be built in the beginning of the 9th
century during Rakai Pikatan reign. This argument is supported by Cri Kahulunan
inscription dated 842 AD which stated that Plaosan Lor was built by Queen Sri
Kahulunan with the support from her husband. It was estimated that Queen Sri
Kahulunan is Pramodhawardhani, the daughter King Samaratungga from Syailendra dynasty.
She married to Rakai Pikatan from Sanjaya dynasty. Pramodhawardhani was a
Buddhist while Rakai Pikatan was a Hindu. The temple was known as the symbol of
their amalgamation.
The North Plaosan
Temple has middle courtyard encircled by wall with the entrance at the west
side. In the middle of the courtyard, there is a hall as wide as 21.62 m x 19
m. At the eastern part of the hall, there are 3 altars, namely north, east and
south altars. The pictures of Amitbha, Ratnasambhava, Vairochana, and Aksobya are
at the east altar. Samantabadhara statue and Ksitigarba figure is at the north
altar, while Manjusri picture is at the west alter. The South Plaosan
temple also has a hall at the center that is encircled by 8 small temples that
is divided into 2 ranks and each rank consists of 4 temples. There also
pictures of Tathagata Amitbha, Vajrapani with vajra attribute at the utpala and
Pranjaparamita who was considered "the mother of all Buddha". Some
other pictures can still be found but not at their original places. Manujri
figure that according to a Dutch scientist named Krom is significant can also
be seen.
Part of this bas relief has unique picture of man and
woman. There is a man described as sitting cross-legged with worshipping hands
and a figure of a man with vara mudra and vse at his leg encircled by six
smaller men. A woman is described as standing with vara mudra hands, while
there are book, pallet, and vase around her. Krom explains that figures of
those man and woman are descriptions of supporting patron from two
monasteries.
The entire complex of Plaosan temple has 116 ancillary domes and 50
ancillary temples. Ancillary domes can be seen on each side of the main temple,
as can smaller ancillary temples. Walking northwards, you can see open building
called Mandapa. Two inscriptions can also be found; they are the inscription on
gold coin at the north of the main temple and an inscription written on a stone
in the first line of the ancillary temples.One of the characteristics of
Plaosan temple is the smooth surface of the terrace. Krom explains that such a
terrace is different from other temples of the same time. To his opinion, it is
related to the function of a temple by that time that is predicted to keep
canonical texts owned by Buddhist monks. Other prediction by Dutch scientists,
if the number of monks in that area is small then the terrace might be used as
a place for Buddhists to pray.
Shinta Purnamasari
NIM :130766
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