Pustakasala
Encyclopedia
Pustakasala is a 9th to 10th century Hindu temple
located in the area of Universitas Islam Indonesia (Indonesia Islamic University or UII), Kaliurang road, Kaliurang
, Sleman
, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
. The temple was buried about five metres underground. Parts of the temple have been excavated to reveal square andesite stone walls and statues of Ganesha
, Nandi, and Lingam
-Yoni
.
Like the temples of Sambisari
, Morangan and Kedulan, the temple is thought to have been buried by an ancient volcanic eruption from nearby Mount Merapi
about a millennia ago. The discovery of this temple was the most exciting archaeological findings in Yogyakarta recently, leading to speculation about whether other ancient temples still lie underground in the vicinity, buried under Mount Merapi
volcanic ash.
period.
During the discovery, the temple was initially known to public as Candi UII (Universitas Islam Indonesia temple), because it was discovered on the UII campus grounds. Later the Archaeological Office of Yogyakarta (BP3) named the temple Candi Kimpulan after Kimpulan village, the location of the site. However the UII Wakf Foundation Board suggested another name; Pustakasala which means "library
" in Sanskrit
. The suggested name was meant to emphasize its history of discovery, as the temple site was originally meant to be the university library. The name "Pustakasala" was also chosen to emphasize the education nature the university. Moreover the Ganesha
statue was discovered in the site, since in Java, Ganesha traditionally known as the god of learning, intellectual, wisdom, and knowledge.
So far, experts suggest that the history and architecture of this temple is a modest one. The body, column, and roof of the temple probably were made from wooden or any organic materials that have decayed over time and left no traces. The temple was probably similar to present day Bali
nese temple with tall Meru-style roof. Unlike the magnificent and richly decorated Prambanan
that served as the royal national temple of the Mataram Kingdom, Pustakasala was a modest village shrine built by common people of a village on the outskirt of the capital.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
located in the area of Universitas Islam Indonesia (Indonesia Islamic University or UII), Kaliurang road, Kaliurang
Kaliurang
Kaliurang is a small town located about north of the city of Yogyakarta on the southern slopes of Mount Merapi volcano in central Java in Indonesia....
, Sleman
Sleman
Sleman is a town in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. It is on the road between Yogyakarta and Magelang. It is in the regency that is home to Mount Merapi, which started its most recent eruption in late October and early November 2010, killing hundreds, including Maridjan, the spiritual keeper of the...
, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. The temple was buried about five metres underground. Parts of the temple have been excavated to reveal square andesite stone walls and statues of Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, Nandi, and Lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
-Yoni
Yoni
Yoni is the Sanskrit word for the vagina. Its counterpart is the lingam as interpreted by some, the phallus.It is also the divine passage, womb or sacred temple...
.
Discovery
The temple was accidentally discovered on 11 December 2009 during land excavations to lay foundations for the construction of a new university library. The discovery drew public attention and sparked excitement and curiosity. The news instantly drew many visitors to the site. Archaeology office (BP3) in Yogyakarta feared that large numbers of curious visitors would harm the excavation site, and feared the looting might take place. As the result, the area was surrounded with tin fences and closed; it is presently off-limits for visitors.Like the temples of Sambisari
Sambisari
Sambisari is a 9th century Hindu temple located at Sambisari hamlet, Purwomartani village, Kalasan, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple was buried about five metres underground. Parts of the original temple have been excavated...
, Morangan and Kedulan, the temple is thought to have been buried by an ancient volcanic eruption from nearby Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
about a millennia ago. The discovery of this temple was the most exciting archaeological findings in Yogyakarta recently, leading to speculation about whether other ancient temples still lie underground in the vicinity, buried under Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
volcanic ash.
History
Further study and archaeological excavation are currently in progress by the Yogyakarta Archaeological office. So far the temple clearly shows its Hindu Shivaistic nature, and by the style of carving and statues strongly suggests construction somewhere around the 9th to 10th century, during Mataram KingdomMataram Kingdom
The Medang or Mataram Kingdom was a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that flourished between the 8th and 10th centuries CE. It was based in Central Java, and later in East Java. Established by King Sanjaya, the founder of the Sanjaya dynasty, the kingdom was ruled by the Sailendra and Sanjaya families...
period.
During the discovery, the temple was initially known to public as Candi UII (Universitas Islam Indonesia temple), because it was discovered on the UII campus grounds. Later the Archaeological Office of Yogyakarta (BP3) named the temple Candi Kimpulan after Kimpulan village, the location of the site. However the UII Wakf Foundation Board suggested another name; Pustakasala which means "library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
" in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. The suggested name was meant to emphasize its history of discovery, as the temple site was originally meant to be the university library. The name "Pustakasala" was also chosen to emphasize the education nature the university. Moreover the Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
statue was discovered in the site, since in Java, Ganesha traditionally known as the god of learning, intellectual, wisdom, and knowledge.
Architecture
The temple is clearly a Hindu Shivaistic temple. However the temple architecture is quite unusual for a temple dated from this period. Unlike common Central Java Hindu temples, the stone main structure and towering roof are absent. The temple is modestly small in size and has simple decorations. It only consists of several squares of walled stone base and staircases with the carving of Kala. The inner chambers contain statues of Ganesha, Nandi, and Lingam-Yoni.So far, experts suggest that the history and architecture of this temple is a modest one. The body, column, and roof of the temple probably were made from wooden or any organic materials that have decayed over time and left no traces. The temple was probably similar to present day Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
nese temple with tall Meru-style roof. Unlike the magnificent and richly decorated Prambanan
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
that served as the royal national temple of the Mataram Kingdom, Pustakasala was a modest village shrine built by common people of a village on the outskirt of the capital.