Muara Takus Temple.

Muara Takus site is a site which is located in the Buddhist temple in the village Barelang, District XIII Koto, Kampar, Riau, Indonesia. The site is located approximately 135 kilometers from the city of Pekanbaru.
Site Muara Takus surrounded by walls measuring 74 x 74 meters, made of white stone with a ± 80 cm high walls, outside their area there is also an earthen wall measuring 1.5 x 1.5 kilometers, surrounds this complex sampal to the edge of the Kampar River Right. Inside the complex there are several buildings of the temple, called the Temple of elder / older, Temple Young, Mahligai Stupa and Palangkaraya.
Archaeological experts have not been able to determine exactly when the temple site was established. Some say the fourth century, some say the seventh century, the ninth century, even in the eleventh century. However, this temple is considered to have been there in the golden age of Srivijaya, so some historians consider this region is one of the central government of the kingdom of Srivijaya.
In 2009 Muara Takus nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Description of the site.

Barelang temple is the oldest temple site in Sumatra, is the only heritage sites that shaped temple in Riau. The Buddhist temple that is a proof that Buddhism once flourished in this area.
The temple is made of sandstone, river stones and bricks. Unlike the existing temple in Java, which is made of andesite stone taken from the mountain. Muara Takus making materials, especially clay, taken from a village called Pongkai, located approximately 6 km downstream of the site Muara Takus. Pongkai name probably derived from the Chinese language, means hole Pong and Kai means the soil, so the soil can mean hole, caused by excavation in the manufacture of the Muara Takus. Former pit that is now submerged by the reservoir inundation Hydropower Koto Panjang. But in the Siamese language, is similar to the word Pongkai Pangkali which can mean a river, and the temple site is indeed located on the banks of the river.
The main building in the complex is a large stupa-shaped tower which is mostly made of bricks and a small portion of yellow sandstone. Within the site there are Muara Takus temple building called the Old Temple, Temple Young, Stupa Mahligai and Palangkaraya. In addition to the buildings in the temple complex was also found that the mound is estimated as burning human bones. While the outside of this site there are also buildings (former) made of brick, which has not been established types of building.

Mahligai temple.

Mahligai or Mahligai Stupa Temple, the temple is considered the most intact. The building is divided into three parts, the legs, trunk, and roof. This stupa has a rectangular foundation berdenah and measuring 9.44 mx 10.6 m, and has 28 sides that surround the base of the temple with the entrance located next to the South. At the base there is a double lotus ornament, and at the center stands the cylindrical tower building with 36 hand-shaped petals on the bottom. The upper part of the building is circular. According Snitger, first on all four corners of the foundation there are 4 statues of a seated lion made of andesite. In addition, based on research conducted by Yzerman, formerly the top of the tower there is a stone with leaves oval paintings and reliefs around. The building is believed to undergo two stages of development. Allegations in based on the fact that at the foot of the building that now there is a foot profile building long before the building was enlarged.

Old temple.

Old Temple or Temple Firstborn is the largest building among other buildings on the site Muara Takus. The building is divided into three parts, the legs, trunk, and roof. The foot is divided into two. The size of the first leg height of 2.37 m while the second has a height of 1.98 m. Entrance stairs on the side of the West and East sides are decorated with stone lions. Each stair width of 3.08 m and 4 m. Judging from the rest of the base of the building has the shape of a circle with a diameter of ± 7 m and a height of 2.50 m. The size of the building foundation of this temple is 31.65 mx 20.20 m. The foundation of this temple has 36 sides that surround the base. The upper part of this building is a roundabout. There is no space at all inside the Temple Firstborn. Buildings made of bricks with an additional sandstone that is only used to make the corners of the building, pilasters, and seam-seam under foot barrier perbingkaian temple by limiting the body's legs and body with perbingkaian foot on foot. Based on 1983 research note that this temple has undergone at least two phases of development. Indications of this can be seen from the profile of the building enclosed by another wall which forms a different profile.

Youngest temple.

Youngest temple form is not much different from the temple elder. Only at the top of the quadrilateral. He stood on the west temple Mahligai with a size of 13.20 x 16.20 meters. In the east there are small stupas and there is a staircase made of white stone. Part of the foundation of the building has 20 sides, with a plane on it. On the field there is a lotus. Research conducted by Yzerman, managed to find a hole in the outskirts of padmasana stupa in which there are soil and ashes. In the land obtained three pieces of gold pieces and one piece again found in the bottom of the hole, which is etched with images tricula and three letters Nagari. Below the hole, square piece of stone found on the bottom side turned out to be etched with images tricula and nine characters. The building is divided into two parts according to the type of material used. Approximately half of the northern part of the building is made of sandstone, while the southern half of the building is made of brick. The boundary between the two parties to follow the profile shape of the building is made of sandstone. This suggests that part of the building is made of sandstone has been completed then added part of the building is made of brick.

Temple Palangkaraya.

The temple building is located on the east side Stupa Mahligai the temple body size 5.10 mx 5.7 m with a height of about two meters. The temple is made of brick, and has an entrance facing north. Palangkaraya temple in the past allegedly used as an altar.

Architecture.

Barelang temple is one of the Buddhist sacred buildings in Riau. Characteristics which indicate the sacred building is the building of the Buddhist religion is a stupa. Stupa shape is derived from early Indian art, almost an artificial mound covered with a semicircular brick or pile and given a peak of Meru. Stupa is characteristic of Buddhist sacred buildings and the changing form and function in its history in India and other Buddhist world.

Stupa based functions can be divided into three, namely :

* Stupa which is part of building something.
* Stupa stand-alone or in groups but each one as a complete building.
* Stupa which complements the group as ancillary temples.
Based on the above functions can be concluded that the buildings in the complex Muara Takus occupy the second function, ie stupas stand-alone or in groups but each one as a complete building.
Architecture Muara Takus stupa itself is unique because it is not found elsewhere in Indonesia. The temple forms have in common with Buddhist stupas in Myanmar, stupa in Vietnam, Sri Lanka or ancient stupa in India during the period of Ashoka, the stupas which have the trappings of a wheel and a lion's head, similar to the statues found in complex Muara Takus.
Lion statue itself is philosophically an element of decoration of the temple that symbolizes the good aspects that can defeat the evil aspect or aspects of the 'light' that can defeat the aspect of 'evil'. Buddhism in the decorative motifs of lions can be connected with the meaning of the Buddha, it is seen from the nickname given to the Buddha as the 'Lion of the Sakya family'. As well as the teachings given by the Buddha is also described as the 'voice' (simhanada) that sounded loud in all directions of the compass.
Initiatives Silpa texts written in that there are four types of lions that are considered good, among others:
Udyatā: lion depicted on both hind legs, his body in the reverse position and look back. This attitude is called simhavalokana.
Jāgrata: lion depicted with a very wild face (mattarūpina). He sat with his claws being raised to the top. Often called khummana Simha.
Udyatā: lion depicted in sitting position with the back foot and are usually placed on a high place. Jhmpa-known as Simha.
Gajakrānta: lion pictured sitting with his feet on the third king of the elephants. One front paw raised in front of his chest as if ready to pounce. This lion is called Simha Kunjara.
In the complex Muara Takus itself there are two temples that have a statue of a lion, the eldest temple and temple Mahligai. In Temple Firstborn lions found in front of the temple or on the steps of the temple entrance. In Temple Mahligai lions are found in all four corners of the foundation. This lion statue placement, based on the concept that comes from Indian culture, intended to keep the sacred building of evil influences because the lion is a symbol of the power of light, or both.
Based on research R.D.M. Verbeck and E. Th. van Delden alleged that the Muara Takus building was once a building which consists of a Buddhist monastery and a few temples.

Background of the establishment.

The temple is a sacred building that developed in the Hindu-Buddhist. Holy building was created as a means of worship to the deities of Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism and Buddhism came from India so that the concepts used in the establishment of a sacred building similar to the concept that developed and used in India, the concept of holy water. Sacred buildings should be near the water is considered holy. The water will be used as a means of ritual. The role of water is not only used for ritual ceremonies, but technically it is also necessary in the development and maintenance and survival of the building itself. The establishment of a sacred building somewhere is indeed a potential to be considered sacred, and not the building that potential is sacred. So in building construction business building sacred artists always consider the potential sanctity of the place where the building will be erected.
To stay awake and maintaining the sanctity of a place, it must be maintained area around the center point of the building or Brahmasthana and the four points of the compass which Lokapala god (keeper of the wind) is to protect and secure the area as Wastupurusamandala that blend the supernatural and the real world. Then performed ceremonies to purify the land. In this case the water was very instrumental during the ceremony, because in addition to purify well water to fertilize the area. Resulting in the establishment of a sacred building efforts, in addition to the potential for ground sanctity to note is the presence or availability of water in the area. This is similar to the concept of Indian culture which states that the existence of the mountain Meru as the abode of the gods dikeilingi by the seven seas. Then logically and umun to note that the establishment of most of the sacred building where he was always near water.
Geographical circumstances Sumatra region which has a large river flows strongly supports the concept of the Indian culture. With the flow of the great river of the water can easily be obtained for the purposes of ritual. In addition to water factors, economic factors may also be behind the establishment of a sacred building. The flow of the river in Sumatra in the past is a transportation route for trade. At first the number of traders who came a little. But over time due to waiting for the right time to sail they live around the area. It requires places of worship to religious and sacred buildings erected. Because it is not possible establishment of a sacred building or temple without the support of society for the survival of the founders of the holy building. Then tune with the growth and rapid trade somewhere in general will appear also sacred buildings or temples to be used as a ceremonial ritual by economic actors that have been familiar with the magical to the building of the temple, play a role in the function of social development / economic and trade ,
Power factor is also influential in the construction of a temple. An empire that conquered a territory, of course, there are the remains of which can describe the characteristic of the kingdom. It could be the remains of inscriptions and temples.

Some aspects of the establishment of the temple.

Of a building of the temple we can see some aspects of life. At this Barelang temple Dapa aspects that we see among others:
Technological aspects: The materials used are brick. The size of the bricks used to build this temple vary in length between 23 to 26 cm, width of 14 to 15.5 cm and a thickness of 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Bricks in the past to have a better quality of brick at the present time. This is because the clay used is filtered until absolutely no other components apart from the clay, such as sand. In addition, there is a "stuffing" in brick, usually in the form of husk. The intent of this field, so that a strong brick. Adhesion between the bricks using kosod system. Kosod system is a system of gluing bricks by rubbing brick by brick else where on the field the gosokannya given water. This system can also be found at sites in East Java and can still be found in Bali. Brick gluing system uses kosod cause adhesion between the bricks will be tightened from year to year.
Social aspect: The construction of this temple is done worked together and performed by people crowded. Likewise during the worship ceremony there are differences in status, the master of ceremonies and his followers.
Religious aspects: seen from the shape Barelang temple stupa, which shows this temple as a place of worship of the people of Buddhism, especially Mahayana
Thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. sunarnobambang86@gmail.com
author:
https://plus.google.com/105319704331231770941.
name: Bambang Sunarno.
http://primadonablog.blogspot.com/2015/12/muara-takus-temple.html
DatePublished: December 22, 2015 at 20:18

Tag : Muara Takus Temple.

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