Picture Stories - Historical Places - Visit Mendut Temple

The modestly sized Mendut Temple is included into the UNESCO World Heritage site of Borobudur Archaeological Park together with the mammoth Borobudur Temple and relatively tiny Pawon Temple. These 3 ancient temples all lie in a straight line - a long axial path with Pawon in the centre, strongly suggesting a religious connection between them. Mendut and Pawon faces north-west, an unusual direction for Buddhist temples but it is the direction towards Borobudur. Archaeologists generally believe that all 3 were structures that form part of a single complex. It was also said that a road with walls on both sides once linked them together. But, nobody is certain on the nature of their relationship.

At present time, they are associated by celebration of a very important event in the Buddhist calendar - Sakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment. Wesak or Waisak as it is called in Indonesia falls on the day of a full moon and usually correspond to a date in the month of May or June in the western calendar. A large procession of monks and pilgrims from all over Indonesia and the world starts from Mendut through Pawon and onto Borobudur for the main and final ritual of symbolic attainment of ultimate wisdom. The complete journey comprising of 6 kms walk between temples, an uphill climb, chanting and circumambulating on ascending levels of platforms to the peak of the gigantic shrine is quite an endeavour.

Mendut Temple is the oldest of the temples along the axial path, completed in the 9^th century during the reign King Indra of the Sailendra Dynasty. It could be in the year of 824. Dutch archaeologist JG de Casparis deduced from inscriptions on the temple that this was the sacred building called Venuvan or ‘Bamboo Forest’. Within the single-cella temple, archaeologists also found an older structure probably dating back to 1^st century CE. Originally, it was a large walled complex surrounded by a brick enclosure measuring 110 by 50 m. However, only the main temple structure has been partially restored.

Uniquely, this temple has three magnificent statues of Buddha and 2 boddhisatvas occupying the cella. The striking symmetrical arrangement of their positions and complementary body gestures bind them into a triad that holds special spiritual meaning. Each of these huge statues has been carved from a single piece of rock on site and later the walls and roof built around them. This overcame the problem of moving the huge sculptures through the smaller doorway.

View from the east. Buddhist temples usually face east, the direction of the rising sun but this temple is oriented along a North-west/South-east axis. The terrace on the elevated square-platform base provides the path for circumambulation around the temple.

It was believed that the aerial perspective share a similar form like that of Borobudur - a tantric mandala. There is probably another tier structure on top of the existing flat roof, crowned by a stupa. The ruins were found under a mound of volcanic ash in 1836. Restoration works started in 1897 and only ended in 1925. Many original blocks including key ones essential to define reconstruction under anastylosis principles were never found.

Remains of the vestibule to the front and only entrance of the temple. The building blocks are also crafted from andesite or volcanic stones. The inner wall surface are adorned with bas reliefs of Hariti (Goddess: protector of children, easy birth, child-rearing and parenting), her male counterpart Atavaka, Kalpataru the ‘wish-fulfilling tree’ and devatas (deities) flying in heaven.

Gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni measuring 30m in height sits in the middle. His hands are raised and held in a ‘preaching’ position, legs down (characterised by some as ‘European’) and feet resting on a stone lotus.

The ‘triad’: Buddha is flanked by boddhisatvas Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani – in next pictures – on his right and left respectively. This has special spiritual meaning to local devotees. It was believed that Buddha can liberate humans from their bodily karma.

Local devotees believed ‘Boddhisatva Avalokistesvara liberates humans from their karma of speech.’ The statue has been positively identified because he is on the right of Buddha (our left) and a small figure of Jina Amitabha in his hair. The left leg is folded and left hand raised - another gesture of discussing religious matters.

Local devotees believed ‘Boddhisatva Vajrapani liberates humans from their karma of thoughts.’ He has been identified from his left position of Buddha and slightly demonic and threatening looks. He is the guardian of temples and protector of Buddha. In symmetry with the others, his right leg is folded and right hand raised - also gesturing religious discussion. (Some experts interpret this statue as that of Maitreya, ‘the saviour of humans’.)

Delightful details near the entrance. Many exquisite sculptures across outer walls of the temple illustrates children’s fables.

Experts believed that deities carved on the central panels of the 3 outer side walls correspond to the images of the Boddhisatvas inside the cella with religious meaning. The central figure on the throne in the bas relief picture is a goddess flanked by 2 other deities believed to be Boddhisatvas Maitreya and Samantabhadra.

The large central bas relief figure standing with 4 arms is ‘back-to-back’ with Sakyamuni Buddha statue in the cella. He has been identified as a form of Avalokitesvara in his role as the lord of the Three Worlds. He rules over the current age and is believed to be an outward expression of the temple’s central deity

The 3^rd panel of bas reliefs shows a goddess on the throne in the centre flanked by boddhisatvas believed to be Manjusri (left) and Khagarbha (right). These are ‘back-to-back’ to the statue of Vajrapani inside the cella.

A symbolic iron pillar rises from a lotus pond at the current day monastery sited within the compounds of the original temple complex. The pillar is topped by an umbrella, stupa and Buddha’s eyes including the 3^rd - all representative of Buddha and enlightenment. This monastery provides meditation programs for non-residents.