Mendut Buddhist Temple, Indonesia

Address

Mendut Buddhist Temple, Jl. Mayor Kusen, Sumberrejo, Mendut, Mungkid, Magelang, Jawa Tengah 56501, Indonesia

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple located in the village of Mendut , in the Mkelong Regency, Mungkit Subdivision of Central Java , Indonesia . The temple is located at a distance of 3 km east of Borobudur . The three Buddha temples of Mendet, Borobudur and Pavon are located in a straight line. There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples. It is not known, however, the exact rituals found in the temples.

Puranic Significance

Built in the early ninth century AD, it is the oldest of three temples, including Menduttu, Pavon and Borobudur. The temple was built and completed during the reign of King Indra of the Silent Dynasty. An inscription dated 824 AD that the Silent King built a sacred building called Indra Venuvana. Which means “bamboo forest”. Dutch archaeologist JG de Casparis discusses the temple mentioned in the Karantenga inscription in association with the Menduttu temple. It was discovered in 1836 as a ruined bush. The plan of the base of the temple is square in shape with 13.7 meters on each side. The base is 3.7 meters above the ground. 26.4 meter high temple faces northwest. The stairs, projected from the northwest side square high floor , are adorned with a statue of Capricorn on each side , and on the sides of the stairs are found basic embossed carvings of horoscopes depicting the animal story of the Buddha’s teachings . The square terrace around the body of the temple is a rite of passage or circumambulation. It is said to walk clockwise around the perimeter of the temple. There are many embossed sculptures on the outer walls. The main room has three large carved stone statues. One of them is a 3 meter tall meditative Buddha statue. That Buddha, known as the Virosana Buddha, is the one who frees the devotees from bodily karma. To the left of the statue is the statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitar . He is the one who frees the devotees from the karma of speech. On the left is the statue of Vashrapani . He is the one who frees the devotees from the karma of thought.

Festivals

During the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe the annual Vaisakhi ritual. Then they walk through Meerut to Borobudur via Pavon. The ritual is a major Buddhist prayer.