Prambanan Temple

Candi Prambanan or Loro Jonggrang is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, which was built in the 9th century BC. This temple is dedicated to Trimurti, the three main Hindu gods Brahma as the creator god, Vishnu as the preserver god, and Shiva as a god of destruction. Based on the inscriptions Siwagrha original name of this temple complex is Siwagrha (Sanskrit which means 'house of Shiva'), and indeed in garbagriha (main hall) of the temple sits a statue of Shiva Mahadeva three meters high which shows that in this temple of Lord Shiva are preferred.

The temple complex is located in the district of Prambanan, Sleman and sub Prambanan, Klaten, approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Yogyakarta, 50 kilometers southwest of Surakarta and 120 kilometers south of Semarang, exactly on the border between the provinces of Central Java and Yogyakarta. It is very unique, Prambanan temple is located in the administrative area Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman, while the entrance to the Prambanan temple complex located in the village administration Tlogo, Prambanan, Klaten.

Name Prambanan is derived from the name of the village where the temple stands, believed to be the change of the name of the dialect of Javanese language of the term theology Hindu Para Brahman means "Brahman Supreme" is Brahman or the eternal realities highest and greatest that can not be described, which is often equated with the concept of God in Hindu religion. Another opinion considers the Brahman may refer to the heyday of the temple was formerly filled by brahmins. Another opinion put forward the notion that the name "Prambanan" comes from the root word mban in the Java language that is meaningful to bear or have a task, refer to the Hindu gods who took on the task to organize and run the harmony of the universe.

The original name of this Hindu temple complex is the name of Sanskrit; Siwagrha (House of Shiva) or Siwalaya (Natural Shiva), based shivagrha inscription which is dated 778 Saka (856 AD). Trimurti glorified in this temple complex of three main temples venerate Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. But Shiva Mahadeva who occupy the main hall in the temple of Shiva is the god most venerated in this temple complex.

This temple is including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and one of the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia. The architecture of the building is tall and slender shape in accordance with Hindu architecture in general with the Shiva temple as the main temple has a height reached 47 meters towering in the middle of the complex cluster of temples are smaller. As one of the grandest temples in Southeast Asia, Prambanan temple is the main attraction of tourists visiting from all over the world.

According to the inscription Siwagrha, this temple was built in about 850 BC by Rakai Pikatan, and continue to be developed and expanded by Balitung Maha Sambu, during Medang Mataram kingdom.