Candi Cangkuang, Indonesia

Address

Candi Cangkuang, Indonesia

Kampung Pulo village,

Cangkuang, Kecamatan Leles, Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia 44119

Moolavar

Shiva

Introduction

Cangkuang is a small 8th-century Shivaist candi located in Kampung Pulo village, Cangkuang, Kecamatan Leles, Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The temple is one of very ruined temples discovered in West Java, other temples include Batujaya and Bojongmenje temple.

Puranic Significance

It is believed that this temple was built in 17th Century CE. The temple is made from andesite stones, the temple’s base measures 4.5 x 4.5 meters and 8.5 meters tall. The temple faces east, on the east side there is a flight of stairs leading to the portal and a small main room (garbhagriha). Inside the main room there is a small 62 cm tall stone statue of Shiva. The statue is damaged, the hands are broken and the face is quite eroded. On the pedestal of the statue there is a carving of Nandi’s head. The temple is quite simple and unadorned with minimal ornaments. The roof is arranged in three receding steps adorned with pseudo-lingam pinnacles. The architectural style is similar to those of early Central Javanese temples. Judging from the stone decay degradation and the simple style of the temple, experts estimate that the temple is dated from the early 8th-century, about the same age as the Dieng temples, and slightly older than temples of southern Central Java such as Prambanan.