The Indian Influence in Indonesia

The cultural history period in Indonesia started with the entry of the Indian influence. This influence came through Hinduism and Buddhism religion and culture, especially physical culture in the form of temple monumental buildings and other artefacts.

Sanskrit language and Pallawa letters had been used in South India about 400 A.D. The discovery of 7 inscriptions in West Java written by King Purnawarman and 7 inscriptions in East Kalimantan (Borneo Island) all written by King Mulawarman in Sanskrit and Pallawa ensure that the entry of Indian influence to Indonesia was in 400 A.D.

The evidence of Indian influence in Indonesia. This evidence was the discovery of Hinduism artefacts, mainly in Kutai Kingdom, East Kalimantan and in Tarumanegara Kingdom, West Java. These artefacts are from the 4th—5th century A.D.

A Secret Revealed
The custom of honouring the foot prints was not only found in Indonesia, but almost in every cultural centre in the world. The most popular one was the foot prints of Buddha . In many places in Hindustan, the foot prints of Budha are found and much honoured by the followers.

The Indian influence grew stronger in Indonesia and reached its peak in the 7th–8th century A.D. Kalasan Temple which was built in the 9th century was strongly influenced by South India. This fact was supported by the existence of a flat stone in halfcircle shape in front of the entrance into a temple which was similar to moon stone shape in Buddhist temples in South India and Ceylon.

Borobudur Temple in Central Java.

The golden period of Indian influence. The significant influence of India in Indonesia was proven by many religious heritage in the form of temples such as Borobudur and Prambanan Temples.

In the periodization of Indonesian cultural history, the periode was called Indonesian-Classical Period. This term ”classical” is used to mark a cultural period when it reached the golden period.

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Inscriptions

What is an inscription? An inscription is an ancient writing which is carved or scratched on stone, metal, pottery, wood, brick, and lontar (a kind of palm) leaves. This writing was made regarding a decision of a land to be Sima (perdikan or tax-free land), building of a sacred place, and the solutions of legal problems.

Various letters and languages on the inscription. Letters used to write inscriptions were Pallawa, Jawa Kuno, Pra-Nagari, Dewanagari, and Arabic. Meanwhile, the languages were Sanskrit, Melayu Kuno, Jawa Kuno, Bali Kuno, and Arabic.

Sewu Temple. Based on the discovery of Manjusrigha inscription at the complex of Sewu Temple, a fact was revealed that Sewu Temple was built during Rakai Panangkaran period. Then, the building was continued by Rakai Panaraban (the ancestor of King Balitung).

Plaosan Temple. Based on the finding of short inscription in the complex of the temple which mentions the name Rakai Pikatan, some experts said that Plaosan Temple was built by the initiative of Rakai Pikatan.

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The Building of Temples

How was a temple built? On Kitab Silpasastra, a book containing knowledge about how to make a relief, statue, and temple, there is no description of how these stones ware constructed into a temple. There are various opinions about how the big and high temples were build.

The method and process of temple building. As the first step, with his authority, the king ordered his people to find and gather huge stones to be carried to the location of the temple. The building of Prambanan Temple is one of the evidence of a king’s authority. At that time, the kings of Sanjaya Dynasty ordered their people to gather huge stones to build a temple.

The second step, these stones were cut into pieces. The cutting should be based on the guidance of Kitab Silpasastra. These pieces were piled up onto the foundation and base of the temple.

The third step is the building of the temple’s body and top. After the bottom of the temple was built, then this part was covered by soil. This soil mound was used as a way to pull the huge stones which would be piled up as the temple’s body and top. The higher the temple building, the higher the mound around it, and the wider the area of the mound as well.

A Secret Revealed
The privilege of a king, ” buat haji/gawai haji” that enabled a king to empower his people to build a temple was not regarded as an order. According to Hinduism and Buddhism, giving your energy to build a temple is a kind of devotion to your belief. This fact explains as well as answers the question of why in 8th - 10th century A.D., particularly in Central Java, there were many big temples . This also reveales the fact that the building of temples in Indonesia was not a forced labour.

Another way to build the temple’s body and top was by pulling the huge stones upward using levelled wooden ladders. When the temple’s building was higher, the ladder should be higher, wider, and also longer.

The building of the temple did not use any adhesive or cement like in the present time’s buildings. The huge stones were just joined. One of the stones was holed and the other one was given a kind of brace. So, when the building of the temple collapsed, the stones would not shatter.

The placement of the god statue in the temple. After all parts of the temple were built, the last process was placing the statue of god in the temple. If a temple was used as monument, then the statue placement involved a great ceremony that was the burial of king’s ashes ceremony in the base of the temple.

A Secret Revealed
At the time the temple was found, there were many missing ” temple stones ” because of many reasons. Therefore, new stones were needed to replace the missing ones. However, as the renovation principle ordered to maintain the originality of archaeological heritage, then these new stones were given special marks, so the next generation will be able to recognize the difference between the new stones and the original ones .

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Determining The Age of Temples

Some archaelogists use several methods to determine the age or the building period of a temple. The first one is based on the inscription. For example, Manjusrigrha Inscription was dated in 792 A.D. Manjusrigrha is the real name of Sewu (hundred) Temple. Sivagrha Inscription which was dated 856 A.D. is related to Prambanan Temple. Kalasan Inscription which was dated 887 A.D. is related to Kalasan Temple.

The building period of a temple can be seen from Candrasengkala. ”Gapuro buto mangan wong” is candrasengkala at Sukuh Temple which means that the temple was built on 1437 A.D. (the last period of Majapahit).

The second method is by comparing the art of the building or the temple architecture. This method is used if there is no inscription found. For example at Gedongsongo Temple. Based on the architecture of the temple, especially regarding the shape of the temple’s foot frame, the complex of Gedongsongo Temple is predicted to be from the same period as the complex of Dieng Temple which was built in 8th century A.D. during the reign of Sanjaya Dynasty.

Gebang Temple in Yogyakarta. Based on the shape of the temple’s foot which has high proportion, Van Romandt, an archaeologist said that Gebang Temple was built during the old period (730 - 800 A.D.).

The third method is by conducting a palaeography research. Paleography is the science which studies the types, shapes, characteristics, and the development of ancient letters. According to archaeologist N.J. Krom and Stutterheim, Sewu Temple was built in the end of the 9th century.

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The Shapes of Temples

The changes on the shapes of temples. During the 10th century A.D., there was a moving of cultural center from Central Java to East Java. Because of this movement, the shapes of cultural products like temples also changed.

Brahu Temple at Trowulan area, East Java. Brahu Temple is believed as a place to keep the ashes of the dead body of Prabu

Brawijaya’s from Majapahit. This temple was built through some phases like the temples in Central Java, but it was made from bricks.

Central Java temples.

• Temples were built before 1000 A.D.

• The shape of the buildings are large.

• The top of the temple is in the shape of gem (ratna) or stupa.

• The reliefs are protruding and the paintings are naturalistic.

• Most of the temples face east direction.

• Most of the temples were made from andesite (natural) stone.

East Java temples.

• Temples were built after 1000 A.D.

• The shape of the buildings are slim.

• The top of the temple forms a cube.

• The reliefs only slightly protrude and the paintings show sign/symbolism like wayang (Javanese puppet made from leather).

• Most of the temples face west direction.

• Most of the temples were made from bricks.

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The Symbolical Meaning of Temples in Hinduism and Buddhism

The symbolical meaning of a temple from Hinduism perspective. The foot of the temple represents the lower level of life (Bhurloka). Bhurloka is the environment where living creatures or ordinary people live.

The body of the temple represents the intermediate level of life (Bhuvarloka). Bhuvarloka is the place where humans leave their worldly nature to be half-god creatures. This is why in the body of the temple there is the statue of a king. It means that the body of the king has been purified.

The top of the temple represents the higher level of life (Svarloka). Svarloka is the place of gods, the most sacred and free from death.

The symbolical meaning of a temple from Buddhism perspective. The foot of the temple represents the world of desire (Kamadhatu). Kamadhatu is the world where desire plays significant a role in life.

The body of the temple represents the world of forms (Rupadhatu). Rupadhatu is the world which is free from overwhelming desires, but human is still bound to its names and forms.

The top of the temple represents the formless world (Arupadhatu). Arupadhatu is the world which has no orientation to names and forms.

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