Bahal Buddhist Temple, Indonesia

Address

Bahal Buddhist Temple Desa Bahal, Padang Bolak, Sibatu Padang Lawas Utara, North Sumatera Utara 22741, Indonesia

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Candi Bahal, also known as Biaro Bahal (biaro, derived from vihara, a monastery) is Vajrayana Buddhist candi complex in Bahal village, Padang Bolak, Portibi, Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located about three hours from Padangsidempuan or 400 km from Medan. The complex includes three candis: Candi Bahal I, Candi Bahal II, and Candi Bahal III. The temple site is linked to Pannai Kingdom circa 11th to 13th century CE.

Puranic Significance

The three temples of Bahal are separated by a distance of about 500 meter. The complex of the temple is known locally as biaro (from vihara or monastery. The names of three of the Bahal temples indicate connections with Nepal and Sri Lanka. Bahal is a term still used in Nepal to refer the two-storied temples of the Vajrayana, a major sect which influenced Buddhism in Indonesia. Rampant lions carved flanking the temple of Biaro Bahal I was similar to carvings at Polonaruva, the 11th-century capital of Sri Lanka. The complex is the largest in North Sumatra. All three temples of Bahal were constructed of red bricks, while the sculptures were constructed of sand stones. Each temple is surrounded with a perimeter red brick wall about 1 meter thick and 1 meter tall. A gate on the eastern wall provide entrance gateway into the temple; the gate is extended outward with 60 cm tall walls in both sides. The main temple of each complex is located in the center. The architecture of this temple is similar to Jabung temple located in Probolinggo, East Java. Mostly neglected and in the state of ruins, partly due to its isolated location.