Tara Temple

Tara Temple, the oldest Buddhist Heritage in Yogyakarta

Borobudur is always called a lot of people when talking about the building of Buddhist temples. In fact, there are many types of Buddhist temple located in Yogyakarta, one of which is closely related to the Borobudur Temple Tara. The temple is located in Kalibening, Kalasan was built by the same drafter Borobudur, the Rakai Panangkaran. Because of its location in the Kalasan, the temple is better known as Kalasan.

Approximately completed in 778 AD, the temple Tara became the oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta. The temple was built as a tribute to the marriage of the Sanjaya Dynasty Pancapana by Dyah Pramudya Ward of Sailendra dynasty. Besides as a wedding gift, the temple is also a response to the proposal between the king to build another shrine to the goddess Tara and convents for priests.
 

Tara Temple building shaped square base with each side measuring 45 meters high and 34 meters. Tara Temple building is vertically composed of three parts, namely temple foot, temple body and temple roof. The foot of the temple is a building that stands on a square stone base and a wide stone. In that section there is a staircase with makara ornament at the end. Meanwhile, around the foot of the temple there are ornate tendrils coming out of a pot.

At the center of the temple juts out. Parts of the outer surface of the temple there is a room that is decorated figure of the god who holds a lotus flower in a standing position. The southeast has a space in which there is a throne decorated with motifs backed lion standing on the backs of elephants. The room can be entered from the viewer who is on the east side.

Octagonal temple roof and consists of two levels. There is a Buddhist statues depicting humans are on the first level while the second level there are statues depicting Buddha Yani. The highlight of the temple  square symbolizing Semeru summit with ornate stupas. At the border of the body with the roof of the temple there is a temple flower Khayangan bodied creatures dwarf called Gana.

If you look at the detail of the temple, you will also find beautiful reliefs on the surface. For example, relief gods trees and clouds and their occupants Khayangan being played sounds. The residents Khayangan it brings fiddle, clams and camara. There is also a picture of the flower buds, leaves and tendrils. Relief at Tara Temple is distinctive because it is lined with ancient cement called Brajalepha, made from the sap of certain trees.

Around the temple there are stupas with about 4.6 m totaling 52 pieces. Although stupas were no longer intact because it was impossible assembled parts intact, you can still enjoy it. Visiting temples history of the temple is known by the lettered inscription Panagari, you will increasingly recognize the greatness of Rakai Panangkaran had even built a shrine in Thailand.

The temple is also a proof that in the past there have been attempts to reconcile religion with one another. Evidently, Panangkaran Hindu temple built on a proposal Tara Buddhist monks and dedicated to the well Pancapana Buddhist. The temple is also the one that became a shrine that inspired Atisha, a Buddhist from India who had visited Borobudur and spread Buddhism to Tibet. From the brief urain Tara Temple is one of the best travel destinations deserve your visit.