Sukuh Temple

Sukuh Temple

Sukuh Berjo located in the Village, District Ngargoyoso, 27 km east of the town of Karanganyar, situated at an altitude of 910 meters above sea level. According to historical stories, Sukuh temple was built around the 15th century by the Hindu Tantric. The temple was discovered in the British government in Java in 1815 by Johnson, resident of Surakarta. At that time Johnson was commissioned by Thomas Stanford Raffles to gather data for writing material his book "The History of Java". After the British government passed, in 1842, Van der Vlis the Dutch citizenship re-do your research and do the restoration of the temple in 1928. Sukuh located on the slopes of Mount Lawu actually a very interesting temple to dikunjungai other than the physical form and ornament, ornaments are stunning but also the right position to see the beautiful scenery around it with the cool mountain air Lawu. Local people sometimes refer to as the Temple Buttcrack Sukuh because the reliefs on the walls depict vulgar male and female organs.. .

relief of sukuh temple

It is said that this temple was the last witness the triumph of the Hindu kingdom in Java. Sukuh complex structure is very unique when compared to other temples complex in Indonesia. Sukuh complex consists of several terraces reminiscent of punden staircase structure in the time of the megaliths. Therefore, many experts say that this temple is the result of acculturation Hindu religion with belief in ancestral spirits who have been there in that area.

relief of sukuh temple

This temple is considered to be quite controversial. This is because there are symbols of sexuality can be found in the temple complex. The symbols "phallus" and "yoni" can be found in any reliefs or statues there. And unique, fertility symbols are clearly defined. Without being told by anyone else we would know what the symbols symbolize it.

The structure of the temple

Sukuh temple plan.

Sukuh the temple gives the impression of a striking simplicity to the visitors. The impression gained from this temple is quite different from those obtained from the major temples in Central Java, the other is the Borobudur and Prambanan Temple. Even the shape of the temple Sukuh tend to be similar to the Maya in Mexico's cultural heritage or cultural heritage of the Incas in Peru. This structure will also remind visitors of the forms of pyramid in Egypt. Below will be discussed further on this form.

sukuh tmple and pyramid aztec

This impression of simplicity attracted the attention of renowned Dutch archaeologist WF Stutterheim in 1930. He then tried to explain it by giving three arguments: first, the possibility of the temple sculptor Sukuh but not a bricklayer carpenter from the village and not from the palace, the temple made with a little less haste so neat or third, the political situation at that time she gave collapse of Majapahit as urged by Islamic forces Demak not possible to make a large and magnificent temples.

The visitors who enter the main door and enter the biggest gate will see the typical architectural form that is not arranged perpendicular but somewhat oblique, trapezoidal in shape with a roof on it.
The stones in this temple is slightly reddish in color, because the stones used is the type of andesite.

The first terrace of the temple

sukuh temple

The main gate of the temple Sukuh.
On the first terrace there is a main gate. At this gate there is a Sangkala in the Java language, which reads abara wong blind arches. This means that in the Indonesian language is the "Gate of the giants prey on humans". These words have meaning 9, 5, 3, and 1. If you get behind the Saka year 1359 or in 1437 AD.

The second terrace of the temple

The gate on the second terrace is damaged. On the right and left arch is usually a statue or Dwarapala doorman, was found also, but in a state of disrepair and is no longer amorphous. The gate is not on the porch roof and was not found many statues. But at this gate there is a candrasangkala also in the Java language, which reads wiku anahut elephant's tail. This means that in the Indonesian language is the "elephant tail biting priest". These words have meaning 8, 7, 3, and 1. If you get behind the Saka year 1378 or 1456 years BC. So if the number is correct, then there is a difference of nearly twenty years with the first gate on the porch!

The third terrace of the temple

On the third terrace there is a large courtyard with the main temple and some relief on the left and the statues on the right. If the visitors want to visit this holy temple, the rock staircase is relatively higher than the previous stone staircase to go. In addition too narrow aisle. It is said that architecture is deliberately made so. For the main temple is similar to the shape of the vagina, according to some experts, is designed to test the virginity of the girls. According to the story, if a girl is a virgin climb, so will her hymen tear and bleed. But if he was not a virgin anymore, then when the stepping stones of these steps, the fabric will tear and wear off.

Just above the main temple in the middle there is a square that looked like a place to put offerings. Here there are traces of incense, incense and incense is burned, so it looks one often used for worship.

Then on the left side of the main temple there is a series of reliefs that are the main mythology Sukuh and has been identified as a relief Sudamala Song of the story. The order of relief is as follows.


Relief first.

relief of sukuh temple

Depicted on the left side of the Sahadeva or Sahadeva, Nakula and twin brother is the youngest of the five Pandavas. Both are sons of King Pandu Madrim, his second wife. Madrim died while Nakula and Sahadeva were little and they are cared for by Dewi Kunti, wife of Pandu major. Kunti then nurture them along with three sons of Pandu: Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna. This relief depicts a squatting Sadewa and followed by a clown-servant or attendant. Faced with a heroine Sadewa terlihatlah the Goddess Durga is also accompanied by a clown-servants.

Relief second.

relief of sukuh temple

On this second relief image carved Goddess Durga which has turned into a raksasi (giantess) who faced terrible. Two giant horrible and Kalañjaya Kalantaka Batari accompany Durga was furious and threatened to kill Sadewa. Kalantaka and Kalañjaya is an incarnation of goddess condemned for not respecting God and should be born as an ugly giant. Sadewa tied to a tree and threatened with death by the sword for refusing to release Durga. Behind it, among others, there is Semar. Visible form of ghosts that hover above the trees and the right side there are two small owls. This seems awful painting is a painting in the woods Setra Gandamayu (Gandamayit) where the disposal of the gods who were expelled from heaven because of a violation.

The third relief.

relief of sukuh temple

In this section we described how Sahadeva with punakawannya, Semar dealing with the blind hermit named Tambrapetra and her daughter at the hermitage Prangalas Padapa Ni. Sadewa will cure him of his blindness.

Relief fourth.

relief of sukuh temple

The scene in a beautiful park where the Sadewa was chatting with her daughter Tambrapetra and Ni Padapa and a clown-servants in the monastery Prangalas. Tambrapetra thank you and give his daughter to Sadewa to marry.

Relief fifth

relief of sukuh temple

This painting is a scene of a power struggle between Bhima and the two giants Kalantaka and Kalañjaya. Bima with extraordinary powers are being raised both these giants to be killed with nail pañcanakanya.

The statues of Garuda

Inscription in sukuh temple

Then on the right there are two statues of Garuda, which is part of the quest story Tirta Amrita (the water of life) is contained in the book Adiparwa, the first book of the Mahabharata. At the tail there is an inscription on the Garuda.

statues of a turtle in sukuh temple

Then as part of the story Amrita search in this section there are three statues of a turtle which symbolizes the earth and the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Form it resembles a tortoise table and there is a possibility it is designed as a place to put offerings. A truncated pyramid whose top represents the peak of Mount Mandaragiri taken for churning the ocean to find Tirta Amrita.
See the story of the Sea Finding Amrita Screenings


Several other buildings and statues

In addition to the main temple and the statues of turtles, eagle and reliefs, was found also some animal-shaped sculptures wild boar (wild boar) and saddled elephant. In the ancient times of knights and nobility berwahana elephant.

relief of sukuh temple

Then there were the Horseshoe berelief building with two human figures in it, and right next to think that face each other. Some argue that these reliefs symbolizing the womb of a woman and left of the figure represents the evil and the right figure represents virtue. However this is not so clear.

relief of sukuh temple

Then there is a small building in front of the main temple called the temple pewara. In the center, the building is perforated and there is a small statue without a head. This sculpture by some of the reasons often given are sacred offerings.