The largest Hindu temple, is not in India, it is in Indonesia, Prambanan Temple, considered to be one of the most beautiful Hindu in the world. .
This temple is also called Candi Rara Jonggrang, and is an impressive compound of several temples, the largest one dedicated to the Trimurti. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. this is also one of the largest temples in South Asia.
This temple was started in the late 8th Century, completed by the mid 9th century by the Sanjaya Dynasty. Possibly because of the return of the Sanjayas, to power in Cental Java, and the Medang Court changing loyalty from Mahayana Buddhism, to Hinduism.
Prince Rakai Pitakan from the Sanjaya Dynasty, (had married into the Buddhist Sailendra Monarchy). Originally, it had 259 temples, the largest one is 47 meters high, (154 ft). This compound had more penwara temples added later, by the Mataram kings. These temples were used for worship and sacrifices. Unfortunately this compound of temples was abandoned. when the Mataram Dynasty moved and settled in central Java.
The plan of this temple compound is a is a mandala, There is an inscription, dating to the beginning of construction, around 856 CE. A Shivagrha, stating this temple was built to honor Shiva, Shiv-grha, or House of Shiva, also Shiva-laya, meaning the Realm of Shiva.. This inscription also tells about changing the course of the Opak River, because of being very close to the main temple. This was done by cutting the north south direction, near the outer wall of the temple. Then by filling out the course of the river more room for expansion was added to add the perwara temples.
In the main chamber of the temple, a statue of Shiva, has some resemblance ot Blitung, one of the kings, in order to deified himslef after death. The kings Daksa and Tulodong added more temples To this amazing temple compound. After the Mataran Dynasty relocated ot Central Java, the temples deteriorated. then a strong earthquake in the 16th century did damage these great structures.
Even though the people living around these temples could see this magnificent structures, and knew they must have been very important centers of worship, not much of the history was known. These people invented leyends ot explain the origin of thiese temples, one of the leyeds is well known to this day as local folklore.
In the 19th Century this amazing structures were rediscovered, the British and Dutch started the effort ot reconstruct the compound. this owrk took many, many years, at times the work was slow. This continues up to the present day.
Through the years, unfortunately people had taken statues ot use as decorations in their gardens, and other had taken stones to use in the building of their buildings and homes. At the present several of the smaller foundations are the only remains, and the government is not doing much about their reconstruction. The main Shiva Temple reconstruction was compleated in 1953, and Indonesian President Sukarno, inagurated this important reconstruction. Sadly even after this inaguration, some looting continued. In 1990 the government removed a market on the side of the temples. The rice paddies surrounding the complex were redeveloped.
At this time, this important historical complex has been declared a National Park, and has been suggested to declared this whole area, as a Sanctuary. This is one of the main tourist attraction in Indonesia, visitng by many. Across the Opek River there is the Trimurti open air, and also indoor stages, where different events are performed, like the Javanese traditonal folk dances, every night of the full Moon, since the 1960s. among other performances the Ramayana epic is also performed, other performances too. also the Hindus living in Indonesia had been using the temple for their religious ceremonies.
Today this amazing historical and important compound is includend in the UNESCO World Heritage site.a well deserved honor, and tribute to the Hindu heritage and culture from India.
It is the sign which shows that hinduism was too in the indonesia but because of the invaders influence hindu population detoriated
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