Sukuh Temple In Karanganyar, Jateng

Sukuh Temple has a trapezium shaped, which is unusual as in generally other temples in Indonesia. At first glance it looks like the Mayans Building in Mexico or the Incas in Peru. The temple is also considered controversial because some of Lingga object and Yoni to symbolize sexuality. Sukuh Temple location does not much different with Cetho Temple are located on the Mount Lawu slopes which is in Berjo Hamlet, Sukuh Village, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java. This temple is located approximately 20 kilometers from  Karanganyar Town and 36 kilometers from the Solo City.

Sukuh Temple site built by Hindu Tantrayana society found again during the reign of the United Kingdom in Java Island in 1815 by Johnson, the Surakarta Resident. Johnson was then commissioned by Thomas Stamford Raffles to gather data for the writing of his book, “The History Of Java“. Then in 1842, Van der Vlis, which nation Netherlands, examined the remains of the temple buildings. Continued in 1864–1867, Thomas Stamford Raffles wrote about this temple. An inventory was done by Knebel in 1910 and the restoration was carried out in 1928.

Sukuh Temple

If in view of the building structure, Sukuh Temple arguably to violate the rules in the pattern of Hinduism Wastu Widya architecture book. In the book, explained that the temple form must be square to the center right in the middle, and that’s in the middle as a most sacred places. While the Sukuh Temple turned out to deviate from the rules it is not surprising, because when the Sukuh Temple is created, the golden age of Hinduism has faded and experienced the ups and downs, so the original culture Indonesia lifted to the surface again the culture ofprehistoric megalithic eras, so the Java native culture join coloring and give earmarks in Sukuh Temple. Sukuh Temple have 3 terrace that divided by walkways made from stone. A stone path in the middle of the temple is rarely found in other Indonesia Temples in general. Model road like it only exists in the “Holy” prehistoric megalithic age.

Sukuh Temple Karanganyar

Sukuh Temple which is very unique, because in this temple is filled with ornaments that smell eroticism. It causes Sukuh Temple known as Saru Temple (Javanese language means Erotic Temple). However, they are thus becoming an attraction for this temple. Basically Sukuh Temple is divided into 3 terrace areas. Enter thefirst terrace Sukuh Temple, there is the Sukuh Temple first gate. Like the arch, composed of 2 buildings towering left right comes with a ladder to get through. However, when it was given the gate of the fence, so visitors cannot get through. It turns out this is where the first Eroticism we can see, on the floor of this gate there is an ornament depicting the erotic form of male genitalia and female genital being in contact, not erotic. It is said that the ornament symbolizes a fertility. There is even a notion that by passing the ornament means we are already clean from all the dirt. That’s why there’s this unique ornament at the first gate at Sukuh Temple.

Sukuh Temple Second Terrace

Heading into the second temple terrace, by passing through the second gate. Condition of the gate is no longer intact, shape is more like a pile of black andesite stone staircase at the front of it. Likewise with the gate statue guards. Everything is not clear yet in shape, so that no one could find out more.

In the last area, there is a spacious yard with the building of the temple at the end of it. On the left there are rows of statues of animals such as wild boar sculpture and elephant sculpture which is lined with a variety of relief. It is said that this relief is the main Sukuh Temple mythology.

Sukuh Temple Relief

In the Sukuh Temple there are two Garuda Statues who is part of the story of the Tirta Amerta quest is contained in the Adiparwa Book, first Mahabharata Book. In the tail garuda section there is an inscription. Then as part of the story of the Tirta Amerta quest in this section there are three Turtles Statues which symbolizes the Earth and the Vishnu Incarnation. This form resembles a tortoise table and there is a possibility it is designed as a place to put their offerings. A truncated pyramid that represents the peak of Mandaragiri Mount taken its peak for stirring the seas looking for Tirta Amerta.