Why in News?
The Prambanan Temple is in the news because of a new India-Indonesia strategic partnership
signed, to restore and preserve the 9th-century Hindu complex.
About
- Advanced Tech Integration: Experts plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools to identify and catalog scattered architectural blocks across the grounds.
- Prambanan Shiva Festival (): The complex hosted the Prambanan Shiva Festival, featuring spiritual events like the chanting of 1,008 Shiva mantras and cultural performances.
- Cultural Diplomacy: The project is a key pillar of India's Act East policy, aiming to strengthen civilisational ties through heritage conservation beyond the popular tourist hub of Bali.
Key Features
- Significance: It is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat.
- Dedication: The complex is dedicated to the Trimurti—Shiva (the Destroyer), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Brahma (the Creator).
- Architecture:
- Characterized by tall, pointed spires typical of Hindu architecture.
- The central Shiva Temple is the tallest, rising to 47 metres.
- The original compound consisted of 240 temple structures.
- Historical Origin: Built in the 9th century (around 850 CE) by the Sanjaya Dynasty, likely during the reign of Rakai Pikatan.
- Artistic Features: The walls are adorned with intricate bas-reliefs depicting the epic of the Ramayana and Krishnayana.
- UNESCO Status: It has been recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1991.
- Cultural Performances: It is world-renowned for the Ramayana Ballet, a professional dance-drama performed in an open-air theatre with the illuminated temple as a backdrop.
- Restoration Technique: Uses anastylosis, a method of reassembling structures using mostly original stones to maintain authenticity.
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