The Legend of Prambanan Temple

People often refer to Prambanan temple Larajonggrang by name, a label which is actually wrong because it should Rara Jonggrang. Rara said in the Java language to describe girls. In folklore, Rara Jonggrang known as the daughter of King Baka Queen whose name is immortalized as a heritage building complex in the hills south of Candi Prambanan. Saragedug in the story there is a gallant knight named Bandung Bandawasa. He has supernatural strength and wanted to marry the daughter Rara Jonggrang to be a wife. Rara Jonggrang is the beautiful daughter of a king named King Baka, who reigned over the mountain Boko at the palace south of Prambanan. However, Rara Jonggrang is not like it.

To reject the request Bandung Bandawasa subtly, Rara Jonggrang filed a claim with the hope that Bandung Bandawasa can not meet, thus it is not happening the wedding. Rara Jonggrang wishes: Bandung Bandawasa should make statues inside the temple with a thousand in one night. Demand is met by the Bandung Bandawasa. Bandung Bandawasa with spiritual power, and as eager to appease his beloved Jonggrang Rara, summoning thousands of spirits to help make these temples in one night. After sunset Bandung Bandawasa assisted thousands of subtle beings began to work diligently. Last night they were working full on and when the night was almost over only one temple that has not selesai.Rara Jonggrang who did not sleep all night and always follow the making of the temple became agitated when he learned that the making of the temple is nearly complete and the demand will be met. By not wait much longer Rara Jonggrang out of court and ordered on all girls to get up and start pounding rice.

In no time at all around the area around the palace there was a blow mortar (a pound rice) with a very hectic. The spirits who heard the clamor around it and a lot of people who have started working, thinking it was morning and immediately returned to the place they live each, for fear of being caught by humans. Thus a statue can not be made. Bandung Bandawasa see such events become anxious and know that all of that is deception from Rara Jonggrang. With very angry, because his wish could not be implemented due to Rara Jonggrang own deeds, Bandung Bandawasa angry and cursed princess Rara Jonggrang complement the thousandth statue. Statues are believed to be the statue Durgamahisasuramardhini located in the north chamber Prambanan Temple Siwa. Against the girls who helped Rara Jonggrang, Bandung Bandawasa cursed him with the revelation that all new Prambanan girls will marry if age was advanced. What is clear Durgamahisasuramardhini was the wife of Lord Shiva.

HISTORY
Prambanan is a group of temples built by Sanjaya dynasty kings in the IX century. The discovery of writings on the temple Pikatan name raises the notion that this temple was built by Rakai Pikatan who later settled by the Rakai Balitung based on the inscriptions numbered from 856 M "Inscription Siwargrarha" as the manifest political will to strengthen its position as the king who besar. Prasasti Siwargrarha year 856 AD issued by the Rakai luring of unknown origin, are now stored at the National Museum Jakarta. 

These inscriptions began to attract attention after J.G. De Casparis managed to decipher and discuss it. According Casparis there are 3 important things in these inscriptions, which are: The language is the oldest examples of framed inscriptions of poetry written in Ancient Java;, containing materials or historical events are very important from the mid-abas to IX M; It poses a description a detailed account of a "cluster of temples", something unique in Javanese epigraphy kuna.Dari description above is an interesting historical events and a description of the cluster development of the temple. Historical events in question are a battle between Balaputeradewa of Sailendra families against family Rakai Pikatan of Sanjaya. Balaputeradewa defeated and fled to Sumatra. Rakai Pikatan Consolidation royal family were then being the beginning of a new period of development that need to be formalized with a group of large temples. 

The description of the cluster of temples such as that mentioned in the inscription Siwargrarha can be compared with the Prambanan complex, a cluster of temples built fenced wall around its center and surrounded by rows of chapel arranged bersap found only in temples also Prambanan. As ancillary mentioned  same temple in the shape and size. 

Another interesting thing is 2 Apit temples, each near the northern entrance of the temple and selatan. The information regarding cluster located near the river is reminiscent of the cluster with the river Opak Prambanan temple in the western side and if the distance between the river and clusters Opak Prambanan and the possibility of bending deflection of the river flow occurred between the villages of Klurak and Bogem. Thus, it seems that the description contained in the inscription on the cluster of temples Siwargrarha more suited to the circumstances of Prambanan temple. 

The transfer to the center of the Mataram kingdom in East Java untreated lead to the temples at Prambanan, this condition is getting worse by the earthquake and the eruption of Mount Merapi several times which made the Prambanan temple collapsed and left debris scattered stones. Prambanan Temple was known back when a Dutchman named CALons visited Java in 1733 and reported on the ruins of the temple is overgrown with shrubs. 

First effort to rescue the temples of Prambanan conducted by Ijzerman in 1885 to clean up the chambers of the temple from the ruins of stone. In 1902 began coaching jobs, led by Van Erp for the Shiva temple, Vishnu temple and Brahma temple. Attention to Prambanan temple continues to grow. In year 1933 successfully arranged experiment Brahma and Vishnu temples. After experiencing various barriers to restoration completed by the Indonesian nation, dated December 23, 1953 Shiva temple completely refurbished and officially declared finished by President Dr. Ir. Sukarno. 

Restoration of Prambanan temple in the region continues to be implemented, including the restoration of the temple of Brahma and Vishnu temples. Brahma temple restoration began in 1977 and was completed and inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Haryati Soebandio March 23, 1987. Temple wisnu restored starting in 1982 completed and inaugurated by President Soeharto on April 27, 1991. Subsequent restoration activities carried out on 3 pieces of the temple in front of the temple of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma with 4 temples color and 4 corner temples.