Picture: borobudur.tvTemple of Ijo (the green temple) is located at the top of a hill known as Gumuk Ijo, the highest hill in Prambanan. Bukit Ijo is on 410 meter from the surface of the sea, and Temple of Ijo is on 357,402 - 395,481 meter above the surface of the sea. If we stand on the temple and take a look to the south, we can see valley with abrupt terrace or escarpment, however it has magnificent panorama.
Temple of Ijo consists of several temples with leveled terrace. The most sacred terrace is on the back yard and on the top. This reminds us to one of the megalithic cultural heritages or artefacts, that is punden with steps. It is still unknown about the period of its establishment, however from the profile of temple, motif of kala-makara accessories, langgam arca and relief of the temple in naturalist style, it has similarity with another temples around which was built from VIII-X Masehi, therefore it is predicted that the temple was established also at the same period.
Based on several researches on the site, it is known that there are 17 structures lied on 11 terraces with steps on the site. The temple yards are the entrance to the main temple, longwise from west to east. The top temple yard (11th terrace) is the most sacred one where we can find walls sorrounding, eight lingga patok, the main temple, and three perwara temples aligning on the front of the main temple.
The renovated are the main temple and the middle perwara temple. The main temple has entrance at the westward. On the out wall there are relung for arca of Agastya, Ganesha, and Durga. Those artefacts are now kept in Kantor Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala Yogyakarta.
In the temple there is lingga-yoni symbolized the god of Siva with the goddess of Parvati. Thus it can be concluded that the temple is dedicated for Hindu Siva with lingga, called lingga kultus. On the middle perwara temple there is arca of lembu (nandi). In Hindu's mythology, nandi is the vehicle of the god of Siva.
The other structures of the Temple of Ijo are on the 9th terrace, ruins of batur eastward. On the 8th terrace there are three temples and four batur, also two stone inscriptions. On of the inscription was found at the top of the entrance F-coded. The inscription is in one meter height written as Guywan, by Soekarto it is read as Bhuyutan which means asceticism. The inscription now becomes one of the collection of Museum Nasional Jakarta. The other stone inscription is 14 cm high, 9 cm long, with 16 sentences consisting of repetitive mantra of condemnation "Om sarwwawinasa, sarwwawinasa".
Picture: theindonesiantourism.blogspot.com
The inscription does not mention number of year, however from paleographic point of view, it is predicted from VIII-IX Century, therefore there is a possibility that Temple of Ijo comes from the same period. On the 5th terrace there is a temple with two batur, and on the 4th terrace and the 1st there is only one temple. Somehow, on the 10th, 7th, 6th, 3rd, and the 2nd terrace there is no temple or building.
Source: gudeg.net
In the temple there is lingga-yoni symbolized the god of Siva with the goddess of Parvati. Thus it can be concluded that the temple is dedicated for Hindu Siva with lingga, called lingga kultus. On the middle perwara temple there is arca of lembu (nandi). In Hindu's mythology, nandi is the vehicle of the god of Siva.
The other structures of the Temple of Ijo are on the 9th terrace, ruins of batur eastward. On the 8th terrace there are three temples and four batur, also two stone inscriptions. On of the inscription was found at the top of the entrance F-coded. The inscription is in one meter height written as Guywan, by Soekarto it is read as Bhuyutan which means asceticism. The inscription now becomes one of the collection of Museum Nasional Jakarta. The other stone inscription is 14 cm high, 9 cm long, with 16 sentences consisting of repetitive mantra of condemnation "Om sarwwawinasa, sarwwawinasa".
Picture: theindonesiantourism.blogspot.comThe inscription does not mention number of year, however from paleographic point of view, it is predicted from VIII-IX Century, therefore there is a possibility that Temple of Ijo comes from the same period. On the 5th terrace there is a temple with two batur, and on the 4th terrace and the 1st there is only one temple. Somehow, on the 10th, 7th, 6th, 3rd, and the 2nd terrace there is no temple or building.
Source: gudeg.net
