Singosari Temple – Great Historical Heritage

Singosari temple is a building that has not been

fully completed. However, it preserves high
value of art, especially statues arts. It is the peak
of ancient Indonesian art heritage.

Singosari Temple is located in a calm valley and

a quiet village, among the Tengger Mountains
and Mount Arjuno at altitude of about +500 m
above sea level. Singosari Temple can be
reached about 40 minutes from Malang (East
Java, Indonesia), precisely in the village
Candirenggo, Singosari District (about 10 km
north of the city of Malang).

The name of this temple was mentioned in the Nagarakertagama Book Pupuh 37:7 and 38:3, and also in
Gajah Mada Inscription (1351 AD) that was found in the courtyard of the temple, as a memorial place for
Singhasari last king who died in 1292 AD.

The temple is located in a 8 hectares (200 x 400 meters) area. Inside the complex there is also the ruins of
the building foundation, the ruins of the temple buildings and Papak and Ringgit temple ruins, and some
statues. Papak and Ringgit temple are actually located about 300 meters southwest of Singasari Temple.

If we go to Singosari from the northwest direction, on the left and right side of the entrance stands a pair
of giant statues (about 3.70 meters high). There is a park nearby giant statues that usually used by citizens
surrounding the area to do something to spend their leisure time.

Discovering two giant statues near the square, some experts suspect that the area had once been the center
of the kingdom Singhasari. Giant statues are usually placed close to the palace or near temple entrance.
On the tongues of men, when the worker would place the statues on concrete floor, they could not lift
them. But at night, the statue could be lifted. Therefore, when it will be caught up in the daytime, statues’
eyes are covered with cloth.

Singosari temple was discovered in the early 20th century. It was found corrupted, especially on the top
of the tower roof. In 1934 the temple was restorated. For this purpose, the temple was demolished, and
then was built back layer by layer. Because the missing part was quite a lot, the repair hasn’t been perfect.
The workers could only built until the 2nd level of floor. The final rebuilding finished at 1936.

Singosari temple entirely was made of andesite stone with facing the west direction. Square diagram with
the size 14 x 14 meters and a height of 15 meters. The building is composed of the lowest level or shelf,
foot-high temple, a slender body, and the roof-shaped pyramid. The foot part built on a high 2 meters
shelf. Above the shelf there is part of foot temple. At the foot of the temple there are cubicles and
viewer/display building. In each side of viewer/display building there is a niche to put the statue. There is
“Kala”s head ornament that has not finished yet. Viewer/display building is usually shown in the body.
Viewer building also found in the body of the temple. But the niches are smaller and not too deep. At the
top there are also niche of kala headdress (the ornament had been finished). From the west side of the
steps, We can surround the temple through the top shelf (the hall) from the west steps. The steps
are connected with viewer building and the center chamber (main chamber) of the temple. In the main
chamber there are a lingga and yoni. On the bottom floor of the middle chamber there is a trench system.
To the left and right of the entrance there are small recesses in which there are statue of Mahakala and
Nandīśwara. We can enter other chamber through a corridor around the shelf, once containing a statue of
Durga (north booths), Ganesha (the east chamber), and Shiva-Teacher (south room). Durga and Ganesha
were lost, whereas Teacher Shiva statue is still there.

Singosari temple was not stand-alone. There is a foundation shelf in the south. It was believed there was a
small and easily damaged building on the shelf. At the temple hall there was a statue of Prajnaparamita,
the goddess of wisdom in Buddhism. It is now saved at the National Museum, Jakarta. Other statues that
were found in the ruins of buildings are a statue of Ganesh, Chakrachakra (Bhairawa), Brahma,
Tŗnawindu, and Agastya.

Chakrachakra is the name written on the back of this Bhairawa form statue. It describes the angry of
Shiva. His full name is Chakrachakreśwara, a God who rides a wolf while holding the spear three-eyed,
large knives, hand drum (moko?), and human skulls. The body was filled with ornaments of human
skulls. Unfortunately until now the whole statue, except Prajnaparamita statue still domiciled in other
countries, at the Royal Tropical Institute, the Netherlands, so that only certain community can see the
statues. Some of them even can only see through photography. Though the statue was the result of high
art worthy of being the pride of the entire nation of Indonesia. At least, the statues could clarity that
Singosari temple was a place for King Kertanagara.

If we want a different tour, visit the temple Singosari. Enjoying a relic of history will give special
experience for us. Surely by adding the pride we become a nation of Indonesia with such a rich cultural
heritage.