On Sunday, more precisely on 22 May 2011, I was with friends visiting satria mandala museum or commonly called national museum. We visited the museum in order to fulfill the task. My brother also joined us because he wanted to see the contents of the museum and he had never been to the museum. I chose to discuss Kalasan inscriptions contained in the museum.
Kalasan Inscription is a relic from Sanjaya Dynasty of Old Mataram Kingdom which dates to the year 700 Saka, or 778 M. This inscription was found in the district of Kalasan, Sleman, Yogyakarta. It was written in Pranagari letters (North India) and Sanskrit.
This inscription mentions, that the Master of the King managed to persuade the Maharaja Tejahpura Panangkarana (Kariyana Panangkara) which is a family of mustika Sailendra (Sailendra Wamsatilaka) at the request of the family dynasty, to build a shrine to the goddess Tara, and a monastery for priests, and Rewarding for village Kalasan The sanggha (Buddhists). The sacred building is Kalasan temple.
Kalasan Inscription is a relic from Sanjaya Dynasty of Old Mataram Kingdom which dates to the year 700 Saka, or 778 M. This inscription was found in the district of Kalasan, Sleman, Yogyakarta. It was written in Pranagari letters (North India) and Sanskrit.
This inscription mentions, that the Master of the King managed to persuade the Maharaja Tejahpura Panangkarana (Kariyana Panangkara) which is a family of mustika Sailendra (Sailendra Wamsatilaka) at the request of the family dynasty, to build a shrine to the goddess Tara, and a monastery for priests, and Rewarding for village Kalasan The sanggha (Buddhists). The sacred building is Kalasan temple.
 |
| Me and Kalasan Inscription |
 |
| Kalasan Inscription |
Ancient Mataram kingdom in Central Java with the Earth's core is often called Mataram. The area is surrounded by Mount Sindoro, Mountain Cleft, Mount Merapi-Merbabu, Lawu, and Sewu Mountains.
This area is also drained by the River Bogowonto, the Progo River, River Elo, and the Solo River. That is why this area is prosperous. In Mataram was ruled by dynasty or two dynasties, namely Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty (in the north), and Buddhist dynasty (in the south). In terms of making the temple, the two dynasties can work together, but in the political power struggle occurred
About Tara, she is the daughter of Sri Dharmasetu name of the Soma dynasty. From marriage to the king Samaragrawira Sailendra Dynasty (around 802 - 819), she gave birth to Balaputradewa who became king of Sriwijaya. Based on the news, Sri Dharmasetu was regarded as the king of the kingdom of Srivijaya, or in other words, Balaputradewa inherit the throne from his grandfather. Popular theory is proven wrong, because according to the inscription Kelurak, Sri Dharmasetu is subordinate Dharanindra (Samaragrawira father) who was assigned to care for Kelurak Temple. Thus, Sri Dharmasetu is the Javanese, not the people of Sumatra, especially once the king of Sriwijaya.
Generally, a temple built by the king or ruler of the kingdom in his time for various purposes, such as to place of worship, a residence for monks, the center of the kingdom or the site of the religious teaching and learning activities. Information on Kalasan loaded in Kalasan inscription written in the year 700 Saka (778 AD). The inscription was written in Sanskrit using letters pranagari. In the Kalasan Inscription explained that religious advisers have suggested that Maharaja Tejapurnama Panangkarana dynasty establish a shrine to worship the goddess Tara, and a monastery for Buddhist monks. According to the inscription of King Balitung (907 AD), which is defined as Tejapurnama Panangkarana Panangkaran Rakai, son of King Sanjaya of Mataram Hindu Kingdom.
This area is also drained by the River Bogowonto, the Progo River, River Elo, and the Solo River. That is why this area is prosperous. In Mataram was ruled by dynasty or two dynasties, namely Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty (in the north), and Buddhist dynasty (in the south). In terms of making the temple, the two dynasties can work together, but in the political power struggle occurred
About Tara, she is the daughter of Sri Dharmasetu name of the Soma dynasty. From marriage to the king Samaragrawira Sailendra Dynasty (around 802 - 819), she gave birth to Balaputradewa who became king of Sriwijaya. Based on the news, Sri Dharmasetu was regarded as the king of the kingdom of Srivijaya, or in other words, Balaputradewa inherit the throne from his grandfather. Popular theory is proven wrong, because according to the inscription Kelurak, Sri Dharmasetu is subordinate Dharanindra (Samaragrawira father) who was assigned to care for Kelurak Temple. Thus, Sri Dharmasetu is the Javanese, not the people of Sumatra, especially once the king of Sriwijaya.
Generally, a temple built by the king or ruler of the kingdom in his time for various purposes, such as to place of worship, a residence for monks, the center of the kingdom or the site of the religious teaching and learning activities. Information on Kalasan loaded in Kalasan inscription written in the year 700 Saka (778 AD). The inscription was written in Sanskrit using letters pranagari. In the Kalasan Inscription explained that religious advisers have suggested that Maharaja Tejapurnama Panangkarana dynasty establish a shrine to worship the goddess Tara, and a monastery for Buddhist monks. According to the inscription of King Balitung (907 AD), which is defined as Tejapurnama Panangkarana Panangkaran Rakai, son of King Sanjaya of Mataram Hindu Kingdom.
Rakai Panangkaran later became king of the Hindu kingdom of Mataram. During the period 750-850 AD region of Central Java's north ruled by the kings of the House of Sanjaya Hindu and worships Shiva. This is evident from the character of temples built in the area. During the same period Wangsa dynasty Buddhist Mahayana school that has been biased toward the ruling Tantryana flow in the southern part of Central Java. The power-sharing affect the character of the temples built in their respective areas at that time. Second Dynasty is finally united through marriage Rakai Pikatan Pikatan (838-851 AD) with Pramodawardhani, son of Maharaja Samarattungga dynasty.
To build a shrine to the goddess Tara, Rakai Panangkaran confers Kalasan Village to build a monastery and Buddhist clerics demanded. It is estimated that the temple built to worship the goddess Tara is Kalasan, because in this temple originally contained a statue of the goddess Tara, although the statue was not in place. In the meantime, is the monastery where Buddhist monks, supposedly, is sari temple is located not far from Kalasan. Based on years of writing Inscription Kalasan's estimated that the year 778 AD is the year of establishment Kalasan.
In the opinion of some archaeologists, this Kalasan has experienced three times the restoration. As proof, see the 4 corners of the temple with the feet protruding parts. Also contained incision made for the purposes of the restoration in 1927 until 1929 by Van Romondt, a Dutch archaeologist. Until now Kalasan still used as a place of worship for Buddhists, especially the flow of Tantric Buddhism and the cult goddess Tara.
In the opinion of some archaeologists, this Kalasan has experienced three times the restoration. As proof, see the 4 corners of the temple with the feet protruding parts. Also contained incision made for the purposes of the restoration in 1927 until 1929 by Van Romondt, a Dutch archaeologist. Until now Kalasan still used as a place of worship for Buddhists, especially the flow of Tantric Buddhism and the cult goddess Tara.
The building of the temple is estimated to be at a height of about twenty meters above the ground, so the overall height of the temple building reached 34 m. Kalasan temple stands on a square pedestal with a size of 45 × 45 m which form a walkway around the temple. On each side there are stairs up to the overhang of the temple are adorned with a pair of dragon heads on his feet. In front of the stairs there is a stretch of the floor of the stone structure. On the front foot of the stairs fitted stone slabs that are thin and smooth with a squiggly shape.
 |
| Kalasan Temple |
Temple building as a whole rectangular measuring 34 x 45 m, consists of the main hall and the square-shaped chambers that juts out in the middle of four sides. Foot wall around the temple are decorated with patterned Kumuda sculpture, namely kalpataru leaf out of a round pot.
Kalasan have 4 pieces of door that is located on all four sides, but the only door on the east and west that have a ladder to reach the door and the only door on the east side which is the entrance to the main room in the middle of the temple. Judging from the location of the main door can be said that the temple faced east Kalasan. Along the walls of the temple there are a basins that contains a variety of statues, though not all statues are still in place. Above all the doors and the basin is always decorated with patterned sculpture Kala. Just above the doorway, under the sculpture Kalamakara, there is a small ornament in the form of a woman sitting cross-legged holding objects in his hands. Recesses on the left and right of the door of the temple are decorated with the figure of the god in a standing position holding a lotus flower. One thing that the privilege is the used of bajralepa Kalasan to coat the outside of the temple. Bajralepa is a kind of cement that is useful to refine the ancient walls and stone preservatives that are not worn.
The top of the cube-shaped body of the temple that symbolizes the peak of Meru, surrounded by 52 tall stupa,on average, 4.60 m. Prospered boundary between the roof and the body of the temple are decorated with rows of dwarf creatures called Gana.
The roof of this temple is octagonal and two-story. The first level is decorated with niches containing statues of Buddha Manusi Buddha, while the second level is decorated with niches containing statues of Buddha Dhayani. The real top of the temple-shaped stupa, but until now has not succeeded reconstructed as many original stones are not found. When viewed from the inside, the roof looks like a cavity of the arrangement of stone circles on getting into increasingly narrow. Kalasan have 4 pieces of door that is located on all four sides, but the only door on the east and west that have a ladder to reach the door and the only door on the east side which is the entrance to the main room in the middle of the temple. Judging from the location of the main door can be said that the temple faced east Kalasan. Along the walls of the temple there are a basins that contains a variety of statues, though not all statues are still in place. Above all the doors and the basin is always decorated with patterned sculpture Kala. Just above the doorway, under the sculpture Kalamakara, there is a small ornament in the form of a woman sitting cross-legged holding objects in his hands. Recesses on the left and right of the door of the temple are decorated with the figure of the god in a standing position holding a lotus flower. One thing that the privilege is the used of bajralepa Kalasan to coat the outside of the temple. Bajralepa is a kind of cement that is useful to refine the ancient walls and stone preservatives that are not worn.
The top of the cube-shaped body of the temple that symbolizes the peak of Meru, surrounded by 52 tall stupa,on average, 4.60 m. Prospered boundary between the roof and the body of the temple are decorated with rows of dwarf creatures called Gana.
The main hall of the temple square and has entrances on the east side. In the room there is a first-story stone structure is a place to put a statue of the goddess Tara. It is estimated that the bronze statue was made of about six feet tall.Sticking on the west wall, behind the stone structure is a kind of shrine there
The temple is also a proof that in the past has been no attempt to reconcile religion with each other. Evidently, Panangkaran Hindu temple built on a proposal Tara Buddhist monks and dedicated to the well Pancapana Buddhist. This temple is also the one that inspired the sacred buildings Atisha, a Buddhist from India who had visited Borobudur and spread Buddhism to Tibet.
