Mendut Temple

Central Java is an Indonesian province located in the central part of Java Island. This province borders the province of West Java in the west, Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogyakarta on the south, East Java in the east, and the Java Sea to the north. Its area is 32,548 sq km, or about 25.04% of the size of Java island. Central Java province also includes the island of Nusakambangan in the south (near the border with West Java), and Java Karimun Islands in the Java Sea.

Definition of Central Java are geographically and culturally sometimes also includes the region of Yogyakarta Special Region. Central Java is known as the "heart" of Javanese culture. Nevertheless in this province there are also other tribes who have a different culture with tribes such as the Sundanese of Java on the border with West Java. In addition there are Chinese-Indonesian citizens, the Arab-India-Indonesia and Indonesia, which spread throughout the province.

At this opportunity we are going to Magelang district and Discussed about Mendut.

Mendut background is a Buddhist temple. This temple is located in the village Mendut, Mungkid district, Magelang regency, Central Java, a few kilometers from Borobudur temple.

Mendut founded during the reign of King Indra of the dynasty dynasty. In the inscription of bertarikh Karangtengah 824 AD, mentioned that the king Indra has built a shrine called wenuwana which means bamboo forests. By a Dutch archeologist named J.G. de Casparis, this word is connected with Mendut.

[Edit] Architecture of the temple

Building materials is actually a brick temple that was covered with natural stone. The building is located on a basement high, so it looks more elegant and sturdy. The stairs go up and the entrance facing southwest. Above the basement there is the hallway that surrounds the body temple. The roof is three-tiered and decorated with small stupas. The number of small stupas built today is 48 pieces.

Decoration found on Mendut form a criss-cross decoration. Decorated with carvings of celestial beings and gods gandarwa APSARA or an angel, two monkeys and a lone eagle.

On both sides there are stairs reliefs Pancatantra and Jataka stories.

Hariti.

Boddhisatwa reliefs decorated the temple walls of which Awalokiteswara, Maitreya, Wajrapāṇi and Manjusri. In the body wall of the temple there is a relief kalpataru, two angels, Hariti (a yaksi who repent and then follow the Buddha) and Āţawaka.

Buddha in a position dharmacakramudra.

Inside the main temple there is a large Buddha statues of three: the Dhyani Buddha Wairocana with the attitude of the hands (mudras) dharmacakramudra. In front of Buddha statues there is a relief in the form of wheels and flanked by a pair of deer, the symbol of Buddha. On the left there is a statue of Awalokiteswara (Padmapāņi) and the right statue Wajrapāņi. Now in front of the statue of Buddha placed hio-hio and baskets to donate. The visitors could spark an incense and pray here.

So is a Brahmin who came from the underworld and named Dwijeswara. He is very dear to all kinds of animals.

They moved him to pray at the mountain and met with a crab on top of a mountain named Astapada, brought in clothes. Then the Brahmin said: "Kubawanya into the river, because I feel sorry for." So he went and met with a hall resting on the riverbank. Then dilepaslah the crab by the Brahmins. The Astapada was relieved of his heart. While the Brahmin rest in these halls. He slept with pleasure, her comfortable.

It is a snake who befriends a crow and a threat to the Brahmins. And the serpent said to his friend the Raven: "If any man come here to sleep, tell me, I was his prey."

The crow saw the Brahmin sleeping on the couch. Immediately out of the snake he said: "I want to prey on his comrade." That's their agreement.

The crabs are brought by the Brahmin heard. Then said the crab in the heart: "Oh, really bad crime the Raven and the snake. Equally bad behavior. "Occurred to him that the crab indebted to the Brahmins. He wants to pay off its debts, so he thought. "There's my strategy, I will be friends with both." Then said the crab, "O my two friends, will kupanjangkan your neck, so that more enjoyable if you want to eat the Brahmin." - "I agree with you suggest, with immediately." So said the crow and the snake both. The two-handed both of them join their necks and disupit on there and here by the crab, and both broke instantly. Death to the Raven and the serpent.

In these reliefs there are paintings of animal stories or fables that are known from Pancatantra or Jataka. The full story is presented below. But the story is presented below is somewhat different version with paintings in relief this:

There is a turtle living in the lake Kumudawati. The lake was very picturesque, many tunjungnya beranekawarna, there are white, red and (lotus) blue.

There are female male swan, wander looking for food at the origin Kumudawati lake water from lake Manasasara.Adapun name of the goose, the Cakrangga (name) gander, the Cakranggi (name) a female goose. They were living together at the lake Kumudawati.

So already lamalah friends with the turtles. The Durbudi (name) of the male, while the Kacapa (name) of the female.

So it was already nearly dry season. The water in the lake Kumudawati increasingly mengeringlah. [Both] goose, the Cakrangga and the Cakranggi then said goodbye to their friend the tortoise; the Durbudi and the Kacapa. He said:

"O friend we asked ourselves out of here. We want to go from here, because the more mengeringlah water in the lake. Especially before the season we kuasalah kemarau.Tidak far from water. That's why we want to fly from here, fled to a mountain lake called Hima Manasasana. Very pure water is clear and deep. Do not dry out even though the dry season. That's where our goal comrade. "So said the angsa.Maka kurapun answered the tortoise, he said:

"Oh friend, our great love to you, now you will be leaving us, trying to own your life.

Is not (state) with us by you, can not be far from water? Wherever you go we will go, in your joys and sorrows. This is the result of our friendship with you.

Goose replied: "Well the turtles. We no sense. It's no wood, ye pagutlah center, we'll bite the ends there and here with my wife. There is strong we'll bring you fly, [just] do not loose your bite, and again do not talk. Everything that we overcome as long as we fly you later, you should not be reprimanded as well. If someone had asked not to be answered too. That's what you should do, do not comply with our words. If you do not follow our instructions will not work you get to their destination, will end up dead. "So said the goose.

Then dipagutlah middle of the wood by the tortoise, the tip and base pecked by a swan, there and here, the men chant, right kiri.Segera carried by geese flying, will wander into the lake Manasasara, expected destination. It has been far they fly, and came in above fields Wilanggala.Maka are male and female dogs who take shelter under a mango tree. Si Nohan male dog name, the name of the female Babyan. So mendongaklah female dog, see the geese fly, they both fly the tortoise. Then he said. "O my father, behold, there it is very improbable. Turtles flown by a pair of swans! "Then the male dog answered:" It is impossible for your words. Since when there is a turtle that was brought by the geese fly? Not the tortoise but dry buffalo dung, nests karu-karu! Presents for children geese, there it was! "So said the male dog.

Heard the words of the dog by the tortoise, became angry thought. Bergetarlah mouth because it is considered dry buffalo dung, nests karu-karu.

So mengangalah the tortoise's mouth, loose wood dipagutnyam fell to the ground and then eaten by wolves and the male swan betina.Si shame not complied with his advice. Then they continued on flying to the lake Manasasara.

This story is about two friends of children of merchants. One day Dharmabuddhi find the money and told his friend Dustabuddhi. Then they both hid the money under a tree. Every time they needed money, Dharmabuddhi take part and share fairly. But Dustabuddhi not satisfied and one day take all the money left. He then accused Dharmabuddhi and dragged him to court. But Dustabuddhi finally caught and punished.

[Edit] Relief 4 (Two different parrot)

Two different parrot.

This relief depicts the story of two brothers but different parrot behavior because the one trained by a highwayman. While that one by a priest.

Right next to Buddhist temple there Mendut Mendut. This former monastery is a Catholic monastery that later divided their land to the people in the 1950s. Then these people's lands purchased by a Buddhist foundation and on it built the monastery. In this monastery there are dormitories, places of worship, parks, and several statues of Buddha. Some of them are donations from the Japanese.