Plaosan Temple: between a love story, Buddha statue, and superb sunset
It was a bright and sunny afternoon when I came here. It had been months since the last time I was here. As usual, I chose the terrace of the north-side temple and opened my lunch box. A rice with soya-bean cake mixed with chili sauce and a cup of coffee. Simple lunch menu but I felt wonderful just because I ate my favorite menu at my favorite temple.
Plaosan Lor, is a temple near Prambanan. Located in the east-north side of Prambanan, this temple was officially became my favorite one since the first time I came here and heard about the romantic story of the temple.
This temple was built by a king from Sanjaya Dynasty. The king's name was Rakai Pikatan. She married to Pramodhawardhani, a daughter of Samaratungga from Syailendra Dynasty. Rakai Pikatan was Hindu while Pramodhawardhani was a Buddhist. Rakai Pikatan adored and loved his wife very much. According to several sources, Rakai Pikatan built Plaosan Lor temple as a gift for her wife. Although he is Hindu, he built Buddhist's temple to proved his love to his wife. For me, It is such a romantic love story. Although his wife has a different religion but it doesn't mean that a marriage can not last forever.
After I finished my lunch, I walked around and found the Bodhi tree. From its appearance I can say that this is an old tree. The tree was twisting the stones. The Bodhi tree side is also my favorite. Just try to capture some photos here. The temple looks beautiful from here.
Not far from the Bodhi tree, there was a Mandhapa - an open 'stage' made from stone with many Buddha statues that suround it. Almost of the statues at Mandhapa had lost their head. From the story that had been told by the security officer, there was a theft - Buddha's head theft - that had occured about several years ago here. And eventhough some of the heads had been found but they didn't join the head with the body.
It was almost sunset. I went back to the temple terrace, hoping to see the superb sunset. While I was waiting for sunset, I had this imagination. I imagined that I was Pramodhawardhani, sitting in my own temple, admiring of the nature's beauty around the temple, and feeling blessed for the love that has given to me from my lovely one. And, yeah! I even imagined that my hubby - Rakai Pikatan - hugged me from backside and whispered romantic words only for me.
And as the sunset came in, I became speechless. All the imagination about me becoming Pramodhawardhani had faded away. It was the amazing sunset I've ever seen. The orange-blueish sky was perfect and it became more perfect with the existence of the color of the temple's stone. Obviously, I had an amazing silhouette of the temple's gate here!
A few seconds after the sunset, I decided to leave this temple. The security guard smiled at me and thanked me for my visiting. Before I left this place, I stared at the temple again. Although this temple is not as famous as the neighbour - Prambanan, I mean - but this temple absolutely has its own beauty that hard to resist.
And surely, I will always come back to this place. Soon!
Plaosan is a temple situated in the Bugisan village, Java Indonesia. It is an ideal for the history lovers It’s a ninth century Hindu temple; consist of 174 small buildings, 58 shrines and the 116 stupas. I have visited this temple with my uncle when I was 15 year old. I have an again plan to enjoy this Buddhist temple again with your sharing information. But now I am planning my tour.
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