Bubrah Buddhist Temple, Indonesia

Address

Bubrah Buddhist Temple, Taman Martani , Kalasan , Sleman , Daerah Istimewa Yogyakart, Klurakbaru, Tlogo, Prambanan, Klaten Regency, Central Java 57454, Indonesia

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Bubrah is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located within the complex of the Prambanan Temple Archaeological Park, in Central Java, Indonesia. Experts believe that the temple was designed as a part of the greater Sewu temple compound (Manjusrigrha complex). The original name of this temple is unknown, however the local Javanese named the temple “candi bubrah”, which means “ruined temple” in the Javanese language. The name reflect the conditions of this temple during its discovery, which was a heap of 2 metres tall stone ruins. Bubrah means broken, in ruins or disorderly in Javanese, it has been in a state of ruins for many years, until it was reconstructed between 2011 and 2017.

Puranic Significance

Bubrah temple is a Buddhist temple, and was built around the 9th century during the era of the Mataram kingdom that ruled Central Java and some parts of Eastern Java. The temple is closely related to Sewu temple which is located around 300 metres to the north. Bubrah temple believed was constructed around the same period or slightly later after the completion of nearby Sewu and Lumbung temple, all three being a Buddhist-style mandala. After the move of the capital to eastern Java circa the 11th century, the temple was neglected. For centuries later, it fell into disrepair, buried under Mount Merapi volcanic debris and shaken by earthquakes. The temple was in ruins during its rediscovery back in the early 19th century, along with nearby Prambanan and Sewu temple compound. During its rediscovery, the temple took form of a 2 metres tall mounds of stone, thus the gave the name Bubrah which in Javanese means “ruins”. Throughout the 20th century, nothing much had been done to restore and reconstruct the temple, as the temple stones were left scattered around the area. In 1992, the temple was included within the area of Prambanan Archaeological Park or Prambanan Temple Tourism Park, along with nearby Lumbung, Sewu, and Prambanan temples, registered as Prambanan Temple Compound and recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple plan measures 12 x 12 metres and facing east side, with flight of stairs, portico and portal facing east. The design of the temple is similar to the Apit temple within the Sewu temple compound and Sojiwan temple not far south. The roof is lined with rows of smaller stupas, with larger main stupa as the pinnacle of the structure.