Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TARA TEMPLE
Address: Jl. Jogja-Solo km 13 Kalasan, Yogyakarta 55282, Indonesia GPS Coordinate: S746'2.3" E11028'19.8" (view map)
Tara Temple is the oldest Buddhism temple in Yogyakarta that was built by Rakai Panangkaran, the king of Syailendra dynasty who also conceptualized the construction of Borobudur Temple.
20/02/2013
square symbolizing Semeru summit with ornaments of domes. At the interface of the temple body and the roof, there is a flower ornament of a dwarf named Gana. If you observe the temple in detail, you will also find beautiful relief on its surface; for example, relief of tree of god and cloud and the dwellers of the heaven producing sounds. The dwellers of the heaven hold rebab (two-stringed music instrument), shell, and camara. There are also ornaments of flowers, leaves and climbing plants. Relief at Tara temple is typical since they are coated with special cement called Brajalepha, made from sap of certain tree. Around the temple, there are 52 domes as high as around 4.6 meters. Even though those domes are not intact anymore, since some parts are missing, you can still enjoy them. Visiting this temple of which construction history is known from Candi inscription in Panagari letters, you will acknowledge the greatness of Rakai Panangkaran who even had the opportunity to build a holy building in Thailand. This temple also proves that in the past there was an effort to unite people of different religions. The proof is that Panangkaran who was a Hindu built the Tara temple in response to the proposal of Buddhism monks to be presented to Pancapana who is also a Buddhist. This temple is also one of the holy buildings that inspired Atisha, a Buddhist from India who once visited Borobodur and spread Buddhism to Tibet. Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo Photo & Artistic: Singgih Dwi Cahyanto Copyright 2006 YogYES.COM
Related Articles
PLAOSAN TEMPLE - The Twin Temple in Yogyakarta IJO TEMPLE - The Temple Located at the Highest Place in Yogyakarta BOROBUDUR - The Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGHTS - Exploring A Thousand Years Old Temples in Yogyakarta GAMPINGAN TEMPLE - Reading the Message from Nirvana
www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/candi/tara/ 2/3