This temple complex is surrounded by a wall measuring 74 x 74 meters outside their area of land there are also wall measuring 1.5 x 1.5 kilometers surrounding this complex sampal to Kampar Kanan river. Within this complex there is also building an Old Temple, temple and palace Young Stupa and Palangka. Building materials consist of sandstone temple, river stones and bricks. According to the source host, bricks for this building was built in the village Pongkai, a village located on the downstream side of the temple complex. Former mining land for the bricks until recently regarded as a highly respected resident. To carry bricks to the temple, done in relay from hand to hand. This story, although not definitely truth to the idea that the construction of the temple was a worked together and performed by people busy.
Apart from the Old Temple, Temple Young, Stupa and Palangka palace, in the temple complex was also found that estimated the mound as a place of burning human bones. Outside this complex there are also buildings (former) made of brick, which has not been established type buildings.
Muara Takus Complex, the only relic of history that shaped temple in Riau. The temple that is Buddhistis this is proof pernahnya Buddhism flourished in this region. Nevertheless, archaeological experts can not determine exactly when this temple was founded. Some say the eleventh century, some say the fourth century, seventh century, the ninth century, and so forth. Clearly this temple complex is a relic of the past history.
Table of contents
[Hide]
* 1 Description complex
* 2 Architecture
* 3 Background of establishment
* 4 Some aspects of the establishment of the temple
* 5 Bibliography
* 6 See also
[Edit] Description complex
Muara Takus is the oldest temple in Sumatra, which is made of clay, sand, and bricks while the existing temple in Java is made of andesite stone taken from the mountains. Material makers of this temple, especially clay, taken from Pongkai village located approximately 6 km in the downstream complex Muara Takus. Pongkai name comes from the Chinese language means the hole and Kai Pong means any land, means that the hole caused by the excavation of land for the manufacture of these temples Takus Estuary. Former furrows now we can not find anymore because it was submerged by a hydroelectric dam inundation Koto Panjang.
The main building in this complex is a large stupa with a tower formation, mostly made of bricks and a small portion of yellow sandstone. Page of this temple square (square) surrounded by walls measuring 74 x 74 meters which is made of white stone with a high wall of ± 80 cm. Outside their area of land there are also wall measuring 1.5 x 1.5 kilometers surrounding this complex to the edge of Kampar Kanan river. Within this complex of buildings there is an Old Temple, Temple Young, palace Stupa and Palangka. Outside this complex there are also buildings (former) made of brick, which has not been established type buildings.
Muara Takus Complex, is the only relic of history that shaped temple in Riau. This Buddhist temple which is a proof that Buddhism once flourished in this region. The temple building complex located at Muara Takus among others:
1. Palace Temple: The temple is considered the most intact. The building is divided into three parts, the legs, body, and the roof. This stupa has a rectangular foundation berdenah and measuring 9.44 mx 10.6 m, and has 28 sides that surround the base of the temple with the entrance located on the South. At the base there are double lotus ornament, and in the middle standing cylindrical tower building with 36 hand-shaped petals on the bottom. The top of this building was a circle. Previously, according to DR. FM Snitger, at all four corners there are 4 foundation stone lions in a sitting position made of andesite stone. In addition, based on research conducted by Yzerman, formerly the top of the tower there is a stone with an oval leaf paintings and reliefs around. The building is thought to have two stages of development. Alleged ins based on the fact that in foot building that now there are profiles foot long building before the building is enlarged.
2. Eldest Temple (Old): that is the biggest temple in between other buildings in the complex Muara Takus. The building is divided into three parts, the legs, body, and the roof. The legs are divided in two. The size of the first leg height 2.37 m while the second has a height of 1.98 m. Stairs go there on the West side and East side are decorated with statues of lions. The width of each ladder 3.08 m and 4 m. Viewed from the rest of the base building has a circular shape with diameters of ± 7 m and height 2.50 m. The size of the building foundation of this temple is 31.65 mx 20.20 m. The foundation of this temple has 36 sides that surround the base. The top of this building is a roundabout. There is no space at all on the inside of the Temple Firstborn. Buildings made of brick with an additional arrangement of sandstone which is only used to make the corners of buildings, pilasters, pilasters, and seam-seam under foot barrier perbingkaian body temple with foot and leg body divider with perbingkaian on foot. Based on the 1983 research note that this temple has undergone at least two stages of development. Indications of this can be seen from the profile of buildings covered by another wall which forms a different profile.
3. Candi Young: the form is not much different from the Temple Firstborn. It's just at the top of the quadrilateral. He stood in the west of the temple palace with a size of 13.20 x 16.20 meters. In the east there are small stupas and there is a staircase made of white stone. Part of foundation building has 20 sides, with a field on it. In that field there is a lotus. Research conducted by Yzerman, managed to find a hole on the outskirts of Padmasana stupa in which there is soil and ash. The land was obtained three pieces of gold pieces and one piece again at the bottom of the hole, which is incised with images of tricula and three letters of Nagari. Under the hole, found a piece of square stone on the bottom side was etched with the image tricula and nine fruit characters. The building is divided into two parts according to the type of materials used. Approximately half of the northern buildings made of sandstone, while the southern half of the building made of brick. Boundary between the two sections following the shape profile of the building made of sandstone. This suggests that part of the building made of sandstone have been completed later added parts of the building made of brick.
4. Temple Palangka: stupa is located on the East side of the temple palace with body size 5.10 mx 5.7 m with a height of about two meters. This temple is made of brick, and has an entrance facing north. Temple Palangka in the past allegedly used as an altar.
[Edit] Architecture
Muara Takus is one of the Buddhist shrine in Riau. Characteristics that show the building is a sacred Buddhist building is the stupa. The form of the stupa itself comes from the early Indian art, almost an artificial mound covered with semicircular brick or pile and given the peak of Meru. Stupa is a typical Buddhist shrine and change shape and function in its history in India and in other Buddhist world. Based on the function of the stupa can be divided into three, namely:
1. Stupa which is part of building something.
2. Stupa which stands alone or in groups, but each as a complete building.
3. Stupa is a complement to the group as a chapel.
Based on the above functions can be concluded that the building complex in Muara Takus occupy the second function, namely the stupa which stands alone or in groups, but each as a complete building.
Architectural building Muara Takus stupa itself is very unique because it is not found anywhere else in Indonesia. The form of this temple have in common with Buddhist stupa in Myanmar, stupas in Vietnam, Sri Lanka or the ancient stupa in India in the period of Ashoka, the stupa which have wheels and head ornaments a lion, similar to the statues found at Muara Takus complex.
Lion statue itself is philosophically a decorative element of the temple that symbolizes the good aspects that can defeat the evil aspect or aspects of 'light' which may defeat aspects of the 'evil'. In Buddhist teachings lion motif decoration can be connected with Buddha's meaning, it can be seen from the nickname given to the Buddha as 'the lion of Sakya family'. And teachings given by the Buddha is also described as 'sound' (simhanada), which sounded loud in all corners of the compass.
Silpa Prakasa written in the script that there are four types that are considered good lion, among others:
1. Udyatā: lions are depicted on both hind legs, his body in a reverse position and look back. This attitude is called simhavalokana.
2. Jāgrata: lions are depicted with the face of a very savage (mattarūpina). He is to be sitting with his claws raised to the top. Often called khummana Simha.
3. Udyatā: lion depicted in the posture with the hind legs and are usually placed on a high place. Jhmpa-known as Simha.
4. Gajakrānta: lions are depicted sitting with his feet on the third king of elephants. One front leg raised in front of chest as if ready to pounce. This lion is called Simha kunjara.
In Muara Takus complex itself there are two temples which have stone lions, the temple and the temple palace Eldest. In the Temple Firstborn lion statue found in front of the temple or on the steps of the temple entrance. In the Temple palace stone lions found in the four corners of the foundation. Placement of this lion statue, based on concepts derived from Indian culture, intended to keep the sacred buildings from evil influences because the lion is a symbol of strength or a good light.
Based on the research R.D.M. Verbeck and E. Th. van Delden suspected that Muara Takus building was formerly a building consisting of Buddhist monasteries and several temples.
[Edit] Background of establishment
The temple is a shrine that developed in the Hindu-Buddhist period. This shrine was created as a means of worship for Hindu deities and Buddhist religions. Hinduism and Buddhism originated in India so that the concepts used in the establishment of a sacred building together with the concepts developed and used in India, namely the concept of holy water. Sacred building should be near the water is considered holy. The water was later used as a means of ritual. The role of water is not only used for ceremonial rituals, but also technically required in the development and maintenance and survival of the building itself. Establishment of sacred buildings in a place indeed where the potential to be considered sacred, and not a potential building held sacred. So in the sacred business of building buildings artists always consider the potential purity of a place where the building will be erected.
To stay awake and maintain the sanctity of a place, it must be maintained in the area around the center of the building or Brahmasthana and the four cardinal points where the god Lokapala (keeper of the wind) is to protect and secure the area as Wastupurusamandala that blend the supernatural and the real world. Then performed various ceremonies to purify the land. In this case, water is critical during the ceremony, because in addition to purify well water to nourish the area. So in an effort to the establishment of a sacred building, in addition to the potential sanctity of the land to be considered is the existence or availability of water in the area. This is similar to the concept of Indian culture which states that the existence of the Meru mountain as the abode of the gods dikeilingi by seven seas. So the reason and umun to note that the establishment of most of the sacred building where he was always near water.
Sumatra geographical circumstances which have large rivers flow strongly supports the concept of the culture of India. With the big rivers flow with water easily available for the purposes of ritual. In addition to water factors, economic factors may also be behind the founding of a sacred building. The flow of the river in Sumatra in the past is a transportation route for trade. At first the number of traders who came a little. But over time due to waiting for the right time to sail so they live in the surrounding area. Then requires the place of worship for religious communities, and established the sacred building. Because it is impossible the establishment of a sacred building or temple without support from the community founders for survival these holy buildings. So in tune with the rapid growth and trade at a place in general would appear too sacred buildings or temples to be used as a place to perform rituals by the economic actors who have known the magic of building the temple, play a role in the functioning of the development of social / economic and trade .
Power factor is also influential in the construction of a temple. An empire that succeeded in conquering a territory, of course there are the remains that can describe characteristics of a kingdom. It could be the remains of the temple inscriptions as well.
[Edit] Some aspects in the establishment of the temple
From a building of the temple we can see some aspects of life. In the temple of Muara this Takus Dapa aspects that we see among others:
1. Aspects of technology: The material used is brick. The size of bricks used to build this temple was varied, the length between 23 to 26 cm, width 14 to 15.5 cm and thickness 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Bata in the past have a better quality of brick on the present. This is because the clay that is used is filtered until there is really no other components other than clay, such as sand. In addition, there is a "stuffing" in the brick, usually in the form of chaff. The purpose of this field, so strong brick. Bonding between the bricks using kosod system. Kosod system is a system of gluing brick with rubbed brick by brick how else where in the field of gosokannya were given water. This system can also be found on sites in East Java and still can be found in the area of Bali. Brick bonding systems that use kosod cause bonding between the bricks will grow strongly from year to year.
2. Social Aspects: The development of this temple is done worked together and performed by people busy. Likewise, when the ceremonies of worship there is a difference of status, namely master of ceremonies and his followers.
3. Aspects of religion: look of the temple of Muara Takus the form of stupas, which shows this temple as a place of worship of people to Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism.
Bibliography
* (En) Institute for Archaeological Field. 1998. Periodic SANGKHAKALA Archaeology.
* (En) Ministry of Education and Culture. 1996. Results Restoration of Cultural Objects and Findings PSP I. Project development and Antiquities Heritage Centre. Jakarta
* (En) Haryono, Arose. 1986. Relief and Sculpture Lion-Temple Temple Period In Central Java: Research on Function and His understanding. Research Report. Yogyakarta
* (En) Kempers, A. J. Bernet. 1959. Ancient Indonesian Art. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press
* (En) Siagian, Renville. 2002. TEMPLE as arts and cultural heritage of Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Yayasan Cempaka Kencana
* (En) Soekmono, R. 1974. Temple, Functions and His understanding. Dissertation. Jakarta
* (En) Asylum PSP Prov. West Sumatra and Riau. 1995. AMOGHAPASA Archaeology Bulletin. Batusangkar
