INDONESIA YOGYAKARTA -PRAMBANAN (PART 11)

240 CANDIS

MAIN SQUARE

The entire Candi Loro Jonggrang Complex is divided into 3 squares ,viz, the main or the first square which is in the center, the second square which is lower and the third square which is lower and the third square which is the lowest. All there are each surrounded by walls and are connected with one another by entrances.

The main square is surrounded by a stone-wall (110x 110m) and forms the first square of the Candi Loro Jonggrang Complex. There are 6 big temples in the main square standing in 2 rows from North to South. At the west side we find the 3 bigger temples, the Siva Temple as the main temple flanked by the Vishnu Temple (north of it) and the Brahma Temple (south). All are facing east.

On the east side there are 3 smaller temples, which used to be called the Candii Vahana( the carriage) and which are facing west. This name is in fact not correct, because from these three temples only the middle one contains a carriage of Siva, ie.Nandi.The other two temples ( for convenience sake the northern one called temple A and the southern one temple B) have neither the carriage of Vishnu nor that of Brahma.

They might have been reserved in former times for certain personification of Siva.

At the north end and south end of the square, between the 2 rows of temple mentioned above, are the 2 Candi Apit. In each corner of the square and exactly in front of each entrance, there are small temples; the temples in the comers are called Candi Sudut and the temple in front of the entrances are the Candi Kelir.

SECOND SQUARE

Parallel with the surrounding walls of the main square ( the first square) stand the surrounding walls of square No 2 on a lower level. This square is 222 x 222 m large and has its entrance in the center of each wall. In the square we find 224 Candi Perwara ( minor temples) 16 x 6m, 14 m high) which stand in 4 rows of 68, 60, 52 and 44 constructions. All these temples are practically completely in ruins. 2 of them, however, have been restored by the Archeological Service.

THIRD SQUARE

The third square is larger (390 x 390 m) but its walls do not run parallel with the 2 former ones, but is more slanting to south west, while the other two are both facing the points of the compass.