Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, initiated India’s commitment to aid in the restoration of the renowned Prambanan Temple, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Prambanan Temple Compounds are situated at the intersection of Indonesia’s Yogyakarta Special Region and Central Java province on the island of Java. This complex includes several temples, such as Prambanan Temple, also known as Loro Jonggrang or Candi Prambanan, alongside Sewu Temple, Bubrah Temple, and Lumbung Temple. Prambanan Temple, the centerpiece of the site, was originally comprised of 240 temples of various sizes.
The history of this temple is rich and intricate.
Origins of a Hindu Temple
During the eighth and ninth centuries, the Sanjaya dynasty ruled the Mataram Kingdom in Central Java, marking a period that saw the resurgence of Shaivite Hinduism on the island. Their reign faced opposition from the Sailendra dynasty, a formidable Buddhist royal lineage. Under Sailendra leadership, Javanese art, architecture, and technology experienced significant advancement, resulting in the construction of numerous temples and shrines between 700 and 900 CE, while Java gained prominence as a hub for Buddhist scholarship during this era.
After the reign of Samaratungga from the Sailendra dynasty, Rakai Pikatan from the Sanjaya dynasty is thought to have wed Samaratungga’s daughter, Pramodhawardhani, ruling from 842 to 856 CE. He is credited with commissioning the Prambanan Temple as a magnificent Hindu sanctuary.
In his scholarly article “Magnificent Prambanan and Borobudur Temples” (2026), researcher Hary Gunarto explains that the temple’s construction symbolized the restoration of the Hindu Sanjaya dynasty after a lengthy period of Buddhist Sailendra influence. Although the precise date of its construction remains ambiguous, historical inscriptions indicate that the temple was consecrated in 856 CE.
For approximately a century, Prambanan functioned as a major pilgrimage destination. However, around 929-930 CE, the political focus of the Mataram Kingdom shifted to East Java, a transition often attributed to the eruption of Mount Merapi, though some historians suggest other political and economic factors were involved.
As Central Java became less populated, Prambanan fell into neglect, eventually becoming obscured by vegetation and volcanic debris. The site remained largely undiscovered until European explorers stumbled upon it in the early 19th century.
The identity of the first individual to rediscover Prambanan remains a topic of scholarly discussion. One potential early visitor was Mpu Tanakung, a 15th-century East Javanese poet, who described an ancient temple complex near a mountain stream, noting its desolate surroundings. Scholars have drawn parallels between his description and Prambanan.
Another key figure linked to the site’s rediscovery is Thomas Stamford Raffles, the Lieutenant-Governor of Java during the British period (1811–16), who actively documented the ancient monuments of Central Java. However, an earlier European account was provided by C A Lons, an official with the Dutch East India Company, who, in 1733, while visiting the Javanese sultan’s court, toured several temple ruins and reported his findings to his superiors, as noted by Roy E Jordaan in “In Praise of Prambanan” (1996).
Since then, Prambanan has experienced multiple restoration efforts, often disrupted by World War II and Indonesia’s quest for independence. According to Jordaan, the primary temple’s reconstruction, which commenced in 1918, was completed in 1953, under Indonesia’s new national flag, with inauguration ceremonies officiated by Soekarno, the nation’s first president.
A Symbol of Religious Harmony
The union of the Hindu ruler Rakai Pikatan and a Buddhist princess is often viewed as a representation of religious harmony, which is also reflected in the architectural design of Prambanan. The temple features a stupa-like structure atop its main edifice, and numerous decorative sculptures exhibit Buddhist artistic influences.
Gunarto remarks, “Numerous Buddhist temples, including Candi Sewu, Candi Bubrah, Candi Lumbung, Candi Kalasan, Candi Plaosan, and Candi Sari, were constructed contemporaneously with Candi Prambanan.” This concentration of both Hindu and Buddhist monuments in close proximity highlights the religious coexistence that characterized Central Java in the 9th century.
In contemporary Indonesian language, the term “candi” refers to an ancient Hindu or Buddhist temple or shrine, while Prambanan is believed to derive from the village that once encompassed the temple complex. The site features three principal temples dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, adorned with relief panels illustrating scenes from the Ramayana. In front of these temples are three additional shrines dedicated to the divine animals that serve them.
Each of the four sides of the temple is equipped with a stairway leading to a distinct chamber, or cella. The eastern stairway leads to the main chamber, which houses the statue of Shiva. “The western chamber features a statue of Ganesa, Shiva’s elephant-headed son, while the northern chamber hosts the renowned statue of Durga as Mahisasuramardini, depicting the demon she has just vanquished, hidden within a slain buffalo. Locally, she is referred to as Loro Jonggrang,” writes Jordaan.
The Prambanan Temple Compounds were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 and were designated as a National Cultural Property in 1998. Additionally, a national law enacted in 2010 reinforces the protection and conservation of this significant cultural site.
Nikita contributes articles for the Research Se…
