Candi Penataran (Penataran Temple)

Summer is here, finally….yes! Summer is supposedly in April, but hey it's May 19th 2017, rain has stopped since few days back, so it's time to travel to some place further.

Continuing my previous journey, last time I was traveling with my husband to some temples in Surakarta or people usually call it "Solo". If you hadn't read them, make sure to click the link here. So anyhow, I will continue to share with you guys about this heritage of my country, Indonesia.

Before I get into the topic, I need to share a glance of historical background about the largest kingdom ever ruled here: MAJAPAHIT. Majapahit was a huge gigantic powerful kingdom. Its territory stretched from the northern tip of Sumatra to Papua. Even Wikipedia mentions it as "vast thalassocracy", a state with primarily maritime realms, an empire at sea, or seaborne empire. They reigned from 1293 AD to around 1500 AD. The founder and also the first king was Raden Wijaya. The existence of Majapahit was highly respected throughout the world. In the 13th century, there were only two major kingdoms, China and Majapahit. In Sanskrit, Majapahit is also known as Vilvatikta (Wilwatikta. Vilva: Maja Tree, Tikta: Bitter). Thus, Javanese also recognize this great kingdom with the name Wilwatikta (Wilwotikto).

Majapahit Flag

Raden Wijaya, the first king and founder of Majapahit

This great kingdom (of course) spread tons of artifact, and other historical buildings in almost every corner of Indonesia territory. But, due to some wars (mostly civil war), those buildings have vanished and only several are left, about 9-12 historical spots remain, including Candi Sukuh (Sukuh Temple), Candi Ceto (Ceto Temple) (I wrote them in my previous blog), and Candi Penataran which I'm about to share...

I usually started this with "how to get there", but since I've received e-mails from you about how if you're from specific countries, or specific town, it is better I leave it that way. You can e-mail me to get further information. For me, it wasn't hard, yet still a pain in the a$* journey, because we had to spent 20 hours to get there. My husband was behind the wheel, poor him :-(
Well not really 20 hours, we attended my cousin's wedding in Kediri (ok that was 18 hours driving), then continued to Blitar (about 1,5 hours driving), spent one night there (hotel was pretty cheap though), visited my grandparents tombs which were buried near The First President of Indonesia: Ir. Soekarno, visited my aunt in Garum (still in Blitar), then we continued to Candi Penataran. Luckily, it was only 20 minutes driving from my aunt's place.

Candi Penataran

12:30 in the middle of the day, middle of Penataran Temple. Pic: Gumilar Aditya

Location: Village: Penataran Sub-district: Nglegok
District: Blitar Province: East Java Surface area: 180 m x 130 m

First time was reported by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in "History of Java", he mentioned in 1815, Dr. Horsfield found ruins of Hindu temple in Penataran. Judging from the artifacts and structures which still remains, this temple territory consists of several building which were instead of built simultaneously, they gradually built them in relatively long term. This temple cluster was built around 12th - 15th century, under three empire eras:
1. Kadiri Empire (1042 - 1222 AD)
2. Singasari Empire (1222 - 1292 AD), and
3. Majapahit Empire (1293 - 1527 AD)

 

 

It was mentioned in Book of Nagarakretagama (old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, king of Majapahit Empire): this Palah (Penataran) is a Dharma Ipas (shrine) to praise Rsi Saiwa-Sugata (Gods in Hindu) which were established on conferment land. The same purpose was also applied to King Srengga (King of Kadiri Empire), and it was written on prasasti (inscription) of Palah.

Now, I'm going to try to describe the cluster plan here, including the measurements. All information I gathered from the historical spot itself, and I'll try to translate it to you guys. Gonna be hard to imagine, even if I wrote this in my own language. So if you find you're getting bored and not good with numbers (like me), just click some videos I attach, then you'll know what I mean.

So, here it goes...
This Penataran cluster is divided into 3 areas:

Area I
Soon after I passed the gate, I was amazed by those 2 big Dwarapala statues. So big!

Gate is green, and as comparison, the man with black hat and red checker shirt, that's my father. And right beside him, The Dwarapala statue (right side). 

Dwarapala statue on the left side.

There is a large stone jutted out on the left side. This is commonly called Bale Agung. Made from rectangle andesite stone, size: 39m x 16,5m and height 1,5 m. In the middle of southern Bale Agung there is lower floor which is made of square andesite stone, size: 8m x 8m, and peduncles on the top of it.
Behind this lower floor there is a pendopo with size: 28 m x 10 m and 1.5 m high. Heading to south, there is a path which connects area I & II. Opposite the path there are three miniature temples of andesite stone with size: 1 m x 1 m. Behind pendopo we could see another 5 m x 5 m lot, on lower surface, still made of andesite stone, and also a temple.

Area II
Seems that first and second area are connected with a gate located south of the Anka Tahun Temple. Area II was formerly divided by two walls. In the north corner of the yard there is another surface with rectangular planes made of andesite stone with 13 m x 4 m wide.

   

We could see dragon temple from here, and another 2m x 2m floor surface. In the north there is another same surface, meanwhile on the south side the floor plan stands out with a size of 4 m x 4 m. Lots of statues (Penataran info gave the measurements, the sum, in detail, but I'll just skip it), and southern Dragon Temple there is a low stratum structure of 3m x 3m andesite, and another path which connects area II & III.
You're still with me now? Hey wake up!! :D

Area III
Both areas are separated by a gate, on the right side of the gate there are three small buildings and another floor surface.

 

 

Finally, we find main temple here, with a rectangular plan of stone andesite material, size: 32.5m x 29.5 m x 7.2 m,with another few temples spread around.

Main temple

View from main temple

View from main temple

My parents on the top of main temple

The feeling is indescribable. I was stunned again and again. Every detail, the cluster plan, the air, the weather, the view, the carvings on andesite stones, everything. Another memory of beautiful place which lingers inside me.

I feel you, I don't wanna go either.  Geez hope he's alright :p

Thank you for visiting my blog :-)

Pic: Gumilar Aditya