Pawon

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Pawon temple.
Pawon temple.

Pawon (known locally as Candi Pawon) is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. Located neatly between two other Buddhist temples, Borobudur (1.75 km (1 mi) to the northeast) and Mendut (1.15 km (1 mi) to the southwest), Pawon is a strongly related with the other two temples, all of which were built during the Sailendra dynasty (eight–ninth centuries).[1]

Location of the Buddhist temples triad: Borobudur-Pawon-Mendut in one straight line.
Location of the Buddhist temples triad: Borobudur-Pawon-Mendut in one straight line.

The original name of this Buddhist shrine is uncertain. Pawon literary means "kitchen" in Javanese language, which is derived from the root word awu or dust. Local people name this temple as "Bajranalan" based on the name of the village. Bajranalan is derived from the sanskirt word Vajra (thunder or also a Buddhist ceremonial tool) and Anala (fire, flame).

Relief of Kalpataru tree on the outer wall
Relief of Kalpataru tree on the outer wall

The outer wall of Pawon is carved with reliefs of boddhisattvas and taras. There is also reliefs of kalpataru (tree of life), flanked between Kinnara-Kinnari. The square chamber inside is empty.

[edit] See also

Indonesia Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ J. L. Moens (1951). "Barabudur, Mendut en Pawon en hun onderlinge samenhang (Barabudur, Mendut and Pawon and their mutual relationship)". Tijdschrift voor de Indische Taai-, Land- en Volkenkunde: 326–386. Het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen. “trans. by Mark Long”