Gampingan Temple

Reading the Book of Nirvana in the temple
Not all temples have a distinctive beautiful relief because generally only decorated by statues and reliefs that are common in almost all temples. One of the beautiful relief is typical  Gampingan temple , a temple was accidentally discovered by a brick craftsman in Gampingan Village, Piyungan, Bantul in 1995. Despite its small size and was no longer intact, the temple was still rich in charming relief.

One of the reliefs that can be found in this temple are animal relief at the foot of the temple. Relief animal looks so natural that can be known animal species depicted. Quite rare temples have such relief, at least just Mendut and Prambanan are known to have a similar relief. All relief is decorated with tendrils background, ie padmamula (lotus plant roots) are believed to be the source of life.


Looks kind of animal is a bird that dominates. There is relief that crows seem to have a large beak, sturdy body, the wing inflates upward and fan-shaped tail. There are also reliefs depicted woodpecker has a crest on its head, beak rather long, pointed wings and do not inflate. In addition, there is also a rooster that had a chest swelled and fluffy wings down.

Making reliefs of birds in large quantities in this temple relates to community belief in the power of birds. It is believed, the bird is a manifestation of the gods as well as the messenger of the gods or nature nirvana. Birds are also associated with absolute freedom achieved after successful man left the world, a symbol of the human soul separated from his body.

Relief animal that is often described is a frog. The community believed that the frogs have supernatural powers that can bring rain, so the frog is also believed to increase productivity, the rain brought frogs could improve crop yields. Frogs often emerge from the water also symbolizes the renewal of life and resurrection to a better direction.

Until now, the relief still leaves the question of whether a fable (animal story fairy tale to children) as Mendut animal or picture that deliberately to show purposeful. The question arises because the description of the animal in the temple was not found in books containing fables, such as the Jataka, Sukasaptati, Pancatantra and derivative versions.

The temple was probably built between the years 730-850 AD is believed to be the temple of the god Jambhala (God of fortune, the son of Lord Shiva). It was based on the discovery of Arca Jambhala when extracting. Jambhala described as being in a state of trance, her eyes closed while sitting cross-legged. The body was decorated by iconographical elements (asanas) which has the form of a lotus leaf symbol are 8 pieces as chakras in the human body.

Figure Jambhala in this temple is different from those in other temples. Generally, Jambhala other temples depicted with wide eyes staring devotees accompanied with a variety of ornaments that symbolize wealth and luxury. It is believed, based on the depiction of these different motivations worship, not to invoke prosperity but guidance in order to achieve true happiness.

Visiting the temple was going to lead us to rethink about the path we have taken to achieve happiness and prosperity. Relief dominated by animals that live in the surrounding environment could be the realization of local wisdom that era in representing a message of nirvana: to prosper and avoid disaster, people should maintain harmony with nature. So what? You are interested in visiting one of the best travel destinations ?