Prambanan Temple or sometimes called as Roro Jonggrang temple is recognized as one of the most beautiful Hindu temples in the world. UNESCO has included it as one of the world’s heritages in 1991. Prambanan Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Indonesia, even in Southeast Asia. The temple is not only famous with its magnificent building, but also with its historical story as well as the legend behinds it.

There is a popular legend among Javanese people that relates to the built of Prambanan Temple. Most Javanese people believe that Prambanan Temple was built because of the power of Bandung Bondowoso. Based on the legend, there was a very beautiful young princess, named Rara Jonggrang. She was the daughter of King Boko. Bandung Bondowoso wanted to marry her. Roro Jonggrang would agree to marry him with one condition. It is said that Bandung
Bondowoso had to build thousand statues in one night. Bandung Bondowoso accepted this condition. When he finished his 999th statue, Roro Jonggrang played a trick on him, so he couldn’t finish all the statues. Then he became angry and cursed Roro Jonggrang to be the last statue. Many people believed that the statue of a lady, who is placed in the temple, is the statue of Roro Jonggrang. That is why the temple is also called as Roro Jonggrang temple.

Prambanan Temple is located in Prambanan village. The village is part of two residences. They are Sleman and Klaten. It is about 20 kilometers from Yogyakarta, Central Java. Based on the research done by archeologists, Prambanan Temple was built in 850 B.C. in the era of ancient Mataram. King Rakai Pikatan from Sanjaya Dynasty built this temple to honor the three greatest gods in Hindu, or known as Trimurti. They are Siwa (the destroyer), Wisnu (the keeper), and Brahma (the creator). King Rakai Pikatan was passed away before he completed the temple, so his successor, named Rakai Balitung continued to accomplish it.

A Dutchman, named C.A Lons found Prambanan Temple in 1733. Some renovations had been finished since 1855. There are 8 main temples and more than 250 minor temples in the Prambanan Temple area. The temple is about 47 meters in height. The three main temples are dedicated to Trimurti. The north one is for Batara Wisnu. The south one is for Batara Brahma. Meanwhile, the temple of Batara Siwa is placed between them. There is also a statue of Goddess Durga Mahisasuramardhini, the wife of Siva which is located within Siva’s temple. Some people believe that this statue of the goddess Durga is actually the petrified body of Roro Jonggrang, the beautiful princess mentioned in the legend. Besides those three main temples dedicated for Trimurti, there are also some temples dedicated for the animal vehicles that serve them. Those animals are Hamsa, the Wisnu’s swan whose temple is placed on the northeast; Garuda, Brahma’s eagle which is located on the southeast; and Nandini, Siwa’s divine bull in the center. Prambanan Temple is also completed with decoration, which illustrates the epic of Ramayana. That makes the temple look so beautiful. Tourists come to watch the dance and art performance that illustrates the epic of Ramayana.

By Amin Cheng