Kalasan Temple, The Temple With The Best Relief In Ancient Times

Kalasan Temple, also known as Kalibening Temple, is a Buddhist temple from the 8th century located in Kalasan, Sleman, DIY. This temple is located at 13 KM from Jogja City one way to Prambanan Temple, on the north side of Jl. Solo or 2 KM from Prambanan Temple.

According to the description of Kalasan Inscription dated 778 AD written in Sanskrit using Pranagari script, this temple was built on the will of teacher Sailendravamçatilaka (Gem of Sailendra Dynasty) who succeeded in persuading Maharaja Tejapurnapana Panangkaran (in another part of the inscription also called Kariyana Panangkaran) to Built Tarabhavanam, a sacred building for Dewi (boddhisattvadevi) Tara.

In addition, the monastery (monastery) was built for Buddhist monks of the Sailendra dynasty. Panangkaran is given the village of Kalaça to the Sangha (Buddhist monastic community). According to this diprasasti date, Kalasan Temple is the oldest of the temples built in Prambanan area. As one of the oldest temples in the region, Kalasan temple has various privileges.

This temple is rich in ornaments of Buddha figures such as Bodhisattva and Gana. Kala's face above the southern gate has been photographed and used by a number of foreign scholars in their books to provide an overview of the art of stone carving by Central Javanese artists since thousands of years ago. The niches in which the statue will be placed are found inside and outside the temple. The outer wall hinges are decorated with Kala carvings, gods and goddesses in scenes depicting svargaloka, the heavenly palaces of the gods, angels, and gandharvas.

The temple is facing east, with the east room as well as access to the main hall. In the larger main hall are lotus mats and thrones carved with makara figures, lions, and elephants. The beauty of Kalasan temple can also be enjoyed in the southern part of the temple. In this section there is a large Banaspati engraving, a perpendicular lane adorned with tendrils and makara-makara, which is the best Javanese art in the Hindu period. So by some parties, the relief Kalasan Temple is considered as the best relief in his time.

This temple is located in Prambanan plateau area which is rich in temple relics. Just a few hundred meters to the north east of the Kalasan Temple is located Sari Temple. Then about 2 km to the east lies Prambanan complex, Sewu Temple, Plaosan Temple, and Ratu Boko Palace.