Candi Pawon & Mendut - Spiritual Portal To The Imposing Borobudur Temple

Pawon and Mendut are believed closely related with Borobudur and what make more interesting… the three temples are sitting on a straight line from north to south.

The debate on Candi Pawon, a Buddhist shrine located 1.5km from Borobudur on the main purpose is still unclear and uncertain. There are two story related to Pawon. In Javanese language, Pawon literally means "kitchen”, derived from the root word awu or dust and probably built as a tomb that houses the dust of cremated king. But other local people believed Pawon is not a grave but as a place to keep King Indra’s weapon namely Vajranala. 

Candi Pawon

While, Candi Mendut is the oldest of the three temples thought to have acted as a way-point on the road to Borobudur. There is a huge Banyan tree at the corner of the temple compound, providing a good shade to visitors. It was first discovered in 1834 and holds the distinction of being the first ancient monument in the whole of Indonesia to be restored that stated in 1897.

Mendut view from the big Banyan tree on Lumix GX1 ISO160 14mm f8 1/500 -0.3EV

There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples. Today, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak annual ritual by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.

There is no entrance fee for Pawon but IDR3,000 will be imposed for Mendut.

Visit Malaysia 2014 - Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi Pahang

Lumix GX1 ISO400 14mm f5 1/200

Colmar Tropicale is a French-themed resort hotel located in Berjaya Hills Resort, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia. Located 2,600 feet above sea level surrounding by natural forestland. The development is inspired by the medieval French village town named Colmar located in Alsace, France, with some building elements taken from ancient surrounding villages like Riquewihr, Turckheim and Kaysersberg.

Borobudur – A Gigantic Textbook of Buddhism

Borobudur in B&W on Lumix GX1 ISO160 15mm f7.1 1/400

Built around the same time as Prambanan (or maybe early) during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the Buddhist temple is made up of 6 square bases, topped with 3 circular one with total height of 42 meter (95 feet). As Prambanan, it ‘rediscovered’ in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles after received a report about hill full of many carved stones.  It decorated with 2,672 bas-relief panels (1,460 narrative and 1,212 decorative panels) and 504 Buddha statues.  The bas-reliefs divided by a subject and location into the three realms of Buddhist cosmology: the world of desire, the world of forms and the world of formlessness. While 2,512 bas-reliefs depicting the life of the Buddha, the one of its most intriguing features of Borobudur its 10.5 meter encased hidden base support 160 panels of bas-reliefs.

Buddha statue in one of the half opened stupa looking down from the temple on GX1 ISO160 14mm f8 1/500 0.7EV

Why the relief was ever covered up remains a mystery for Karmawibhangga, the hidden piece of relief wall on the foot of Borobudur, some say it was hidden because some of the 160 panels at the base of Borobudur depict erotic and sadistic scenes unsuitable for a sacred site. But there is a scientific explanation. It is all about Borobudur’s structure and by casted the lowest part of the Borobudur it actually strengthen the building from slanting.

Every panel of Karmawibhangga, provides one complete illustration and depicts series of consequences of cause and effect, past actions and choices, and about causal law of life. The first 117 bas-panels show various actions leading to one and the same result, while the other remaining 43 panels demonstrate the many results that follow one single effect.  The interpretation of these panels is based on Casijan Chepas’s photography taken in 1890 when the encasement base of the Borobudur was dissembled and reveals the hidden foot. Today, only 3 bas-panels at southeast corner part of hidden foot revealed and visible for visitors.

Part of hidden bas-panels showing an activities against Buddhism teaching (L-R) taking drug/opium, homosexual
& drunk on Lumix GX1 ISO160 14mm f6.3 1/250 -0.3EV

The gigantic monument without legend feels tasteless. Legend is told that the architect who built Borobudur, Gunadharma done it in a single day and laid a curse on anyone who dared ascend his holy shrine. There is a mountain in south of Borobudur looks very much like the profile of a man and from Javanese folk tales that the ridge depicts Gunadharma, who is believed to keep watch over his creation through the ages.

While, a second legend is related to descendant of Mataram Kingdom, Prince Monconagoo, a defiant rebellions crown prince of the Jogjakarta Sultanate. In 1758, he set out to visit the “mountain of a thousand statues” against the advice of a prophecy that royalty who climbed the mountain would die. When he did not return, the king sent his men to bring back the wayward son. Upon returning to palace, he was found vomiting blood and soon after died.

Borobudur on Lumix GX1 ISO160 14mm f8 1/200 0.3EV

Entrance fee for foreigner is IDR190,000, child IDR95,000 and parking fee at IDR5,000. While for better understand of Borobudur and it associated with other religion, local tour guide can be hired at IDR75,000. And if you have kid any who lazy to walk, you can hire a potter at IDR75,000 to carrier around.

Kraton Ratu Boko : Exotic Peaceful Hill Place of Meditation

The main gate of Kraton Ratu Boko on Lumix GX1 ISO1600 14mm f3.5 1/40 2EV

Standing majestically on a hillside plateau overlooking Prambanan temple and mystical Mount Merapi as its backdrop, Kraton Ratu Boko ruins are the remnants from glorious 8^th century of Sailendra dynasty. Rakai Panangkaran, a descendant of the Sailendra dynasty of Ancient Mataram, built it as a spiritual dwelling abode and meditation place after he relinquished the throne. It was then tradition among Maratam ancient kingdoms for ageing kings to retire in order to find spiritual peace and concentrate on religious matters.

These temple complexes also serve as a home to Buddhist monks and nuns, characterised by the cave via Wadon Cave and Lanang Cave. This cave is a place for prays separate from the monks and nuns meditation. The site takes its name from the legendary King Boko, one of the main characters in famous folk legend of Rara Jonggrang. This folklore links the Kraton Ratu Boko with the Durga statue in the Prambanan temple, and with the Sewu temples, or the Thousand Temples.  

Entrance fees before 3pm is IDR143,000 and if enter after 3pm for sunset is IDR90,000.

Plaosan Temple: Juxtaposition of Hinduism and Buddhism

Candi Plaosan Lor (North) in silhouette on Lumix GX1 ISO160, 14mm f9, 1/50 & -0.3EV

Plaosan temple, a hidden gem that stands 1 km away from the world-renowned Prambanan temple, was believed as a symbol of love.  While UNESCO has recognized Prambanan’s cultural significance, Plaosan Temple is a forgotten testament to the glory of the Maratam kingdom. It’s deserted and tourists are rarely seen. Close proximity, however, is no guarantee of fame.

Plaosan was built by Sri Maharaja Rakai Pikatan of Sanjaya dynasty for an offering to his consort, Pramodhawardani, a Buddhist from the Sailendra kingdom. Other believed that the ‘mixed-marriage’ was the political trick to conquer one and other kingdom. In fact, after the ‘marriage period’ there was a clash between the Sanjaya Hindu kingdom and Sailendra Buddhist kingdom.

Ruins of Candi Plaosan Lor at Bugisan Village on on Lumix GX1 ISO160, 14mm f9 & 1/25

Plaosan, a twin temple named Candi Plaosan Lor and Candi Plaosan Kidul at a glance looks like a Hindu temple, but closer examination reveals its striking Buddhist features.The soaring structures of the temples of Plaosan is typical of Hindu construction, while the stupas are topped at the top evoke a Buddhist design ethos.

Ruins of Candi Plaosan Lor at Bugisan Village on on Lumix GX1 ISO160, 14mm f4.5 & 1/25 convent to B&W

The entrance fee to Plaosan Complex is free but any donation is welcome. But the local people will charged IRD5,000 for the parking fee. The north (Lor) and south (Kidul) Plaosan temple separated by the road and paddy field but the condition of Plaosan Kidul is more bad than the north which most of the ruins still covered by earth.