Candi Gatotkaca: One of Java’s Oldest Temples

Candi Gatotkaca is not one of the better-known temples of the Dieng Plateau, let alone Java. At the time of writing, it had not even been added as an attraction on the ‘Sights’ section of Tripadvisor. In some ways, this seems odd. After all, it is positioned right at the entrance gate to the well-known Arjuna Complex. Furthermore, it is set right across the road from the Museum Kailasa, which is the main museum on the Dieng Plateau. Yet somehow the tourists walking between these two attractions seem to give Candi Gatotkaca short shrift, almost as if it wasn’t there. However, due to its great age and its membership of a second, ‘hidden’ temple complex at Dieng Plateau, Candi Gatotkaca is more interesting than it might appear on casual inspection.

A kala-makhara arch on the outer walls

In terms of its decoration, Candi Gatotkaca can seem rather austere. It has much less carving than the other temples on the plateau. In terms of exterior ornamentation, the main thing of note is the use of kala-makhara  arches. You will find some excellent examples above the niches on the outer walls. There may once have been one of these arches over the main entrance as well, but it was not possible to include it in the reconstruction. Apart from that, the other feature which is likely to capture your interest is the large, well-preserved yoni which is found inside the temple. This is perhaps the finest example of yoni which is still in situ at Dieng, though there was no sign of the linga.

With regards to the form, it is said to be a mixture of the two main temple plans found on the Dieng Plateau: the square plan and the cruciform plan. It has a fairly simple cella platform, with a short staircase extending out from the main entrance. The roof has an interesting brickwork yet most of the superstructure is missing. This gives it something of an artificially square and stumpy appearance. Its original roof would probably have been tiered like Candi Arjuna. While you are inside the temple, it is also worth checking out the step-corbelled ceiling, which is another common feature of the Dieng temples.

The front view of Candi Gatotkaca, the traces of other structures in the foreground

Apart from this, there are a couple of other facts about Candi Gatotkaca which might enhance its interest for the visitor. Firstly, it is usually classified as one of the oldest temples in all of Java. For instance, in a recent book by Samba Ditta and David Beynon, they suggested a dating for the temple of somewhere between 650 and 750 AD. This makes it one of the oldest Hindu temples in all of Java, dating from the original penetration of the religion into the island. At this point, the architecture of the Javanese temple was still in its infancy and the shrines were comparatively simple compared to the later glories of the Mataram kingdom.

A second point which is worth knowing is there were once two complexes of ancient temples in the vicinity of Candi Gatotkaca. Today, the Arjuna Complex is in reasonably good repair and has been a well-known sight since the days of the Dutch East Indies. Yet right alongside there was another complex, which included six temples. However, until about a decade ago Candi Gatotkaca was the only one of these temples which amounted to more than a pile of rubble. At that time, Candi Setyaki was reconstructed, becoming the second of this second group to re-emerge in something approaching its original form. In the coming years the other four temples- Candi Nakula, Candi Sadewa, Candi Petruk and Candi Gareng- might also see the attentions of restorers. Until then, they will remain piles of bricks in the Dieng mist.

The temple is set in a sunken garden, with a lush hillside in the background

Candi Setyaki: Kalas and Makharas

This is the first of a trio of posts which will focus on lesser-known temples of the Dieng Plateau: Candi Setyaki, Candi Gatotkaca and Candi Bima. Located on the edge of the main Arjuna Complex, Candi Setyaki includes many of the same motifs and architectural features of its nearby cousins. However, with its wealth of stone-carving motifs, Setyaki is a particularly appealing example and is surely worth making the short detour to see.

Like most of the Dieng temples, Candi Setyaki was probably built during either the 8th or 9th centuries, making it one of the oldest Hindu shrines in the Indonesian archipelago. Like most of the Dieng temples, Setyaki is small and box-like compared to those on the Prambanan Plain, but things become more interesting once you start paying attention to small sculptural details. For instance, Setyaki has a frieze of unusual figures around the base, some of which are still crisply carved. The frieze features a woman in a squatting position who is dangling a pair of bells from thick chains. Her weighty ear-rings and necklace suggests she is of high birth.

An unusual motif from the base of Candi Setyaki

Less unusual but also beautifully rendered are the kala-makhara arches which can be found over the main entrance and also the niches on the body of the temple. The kalas at Dieng are mostly jawless, featuring only the upper row of teeth. They are also noteworthy for their giant, bulging eyes which evoke the demonic nature of these beings. The example shown below is surrounded by a rich background of swirling foliage which gives a more abstract effect. Unfortunately, the statuary which would once have filled the niche has long since been lost.

A kala head can be seen over a niche in the body of the temple

Another kind of monster which is encountered at Candi Setyaki is the makhara, a kind of stylized sea-monster which is often found in the company of kalas. There is a particularly good example at Candi Setyaki, which is set at the base of the main entrance. It would originally have been one of a pair but its right-hand side counterpart is now missing. Nevertheless, its graceful shape and gaping mouth, which contains a smaller, lion-like monster, make it a memorable piece of statuary.

The stone makhara on the steps of the Hindu shrine

Candi Setyaki is not a complete structure. The roof of the temple is missing. However, there are still hundreds of unplaced stones which are being stored in the immediate vicinity, so further restorations seem possible. It is also clear that Setyaki also had several candi perwara or satellite temples. The base of one of these is in reasonable condition but the rest are completely ruinous. In terms of the main temple, it is estimated that 70% of the stones are original and the rest are modern replacements. Due to its sculptural detail, it is worth seeing even in its partially ruined state.

The main entrance of the temple is framed by a kala-makhara arch

Candi Ngempon: Old Mataram’s Rich Heritage

The last few years have seen a flurry of temple reconstructions in Central Java, greatly expanding the range of ancient temple complexes which are available to travellers. At this point the guidebooks have yet to catch up; you won’t find even the more impressive temple reconstructions like Candi Ijo or Candi Merak in the Lonely Planet guidebook, let alone a minor site like Candi Ngempon. At present the only detailed information about it is in Indonesian, so this post tries to fill that gap.

Candi Ngempon is in Ngempon village (the Ng- village names are a decidedly Javanese phenomenon), which is found in the hills of the regency of Semarang, the capital city of Central Java province. In February 2013 the Indonesian newspaper Republika Online ran a story that a landslide struck a settlement just two hundred metres away from the candi (temple). It was on the perimeter wall of the candi complex which prevented the landslide from entering the sanctuary. As Republika put it, Candi Ngempon was almost buried again: the temple was first excavated in 1952. What Republika does not make clear is the roots of Java’s landslide problem in rampant deforestation; the trees bind the soil together on Java’s steep hillsides. Many landslide disasters have followed the felling of forests above villages in recent years.

In 1952 the temple was first uncovered by a farmer called Kasuri who was hoeing in his fields. Over the following years more and more andesite building blocks were uncovered and eventually the whole area was excavated. Ten Hindu statues were found, depicting Rara Jonggrang, Ganesha and other mythological beings. Excavations also turned up a compartmented box, with a number of ceremonial items inside. This is an example of a ritual deposit which was made as part of the consecration of the temple complex. These deposits are sometimes known as the ’embryo’ of the sanctuary.

The restored temples of Candi Ngempon

They are the foundations of nine, small temples at the site, however only four of the temples have been restored till now. Like their nearby cousins at Gedong Songo and Candi Pringapus, they have a square base, numerous niches for statuary, jawless kala heads over the doors, traces of decoration on the lintels, and appealing, three-tiered roofs. Based on these features, they can easily be classified as part of the ‘Northern Style’ of Central Javanese candis. The Northern style was the earliest phase of temple architecture on the island. In truth, the temples of Candi Ngempon appear rather small and box-like, especially compared to those on the Prambanan Plain, but they are of great historical significance.