Candi Gebang
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Candi Gebang |
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Origins Desa Gebang, south of Kalasan in Yogya. Candi Gebang stands on low ground close to the Opak river. It may have served as a protective shrine to those crossing the river. The principal image of Ganeca has a waterspout, making it likely that the temple dates from the 8thC. Description of architecture Candi Gebang is a single temple building. The temple has no direct stairs from the courtyard, and the inner cella was most likely only open to the priest who would enter using a set of wooden steps. Description of reliefs The temple has little adornment, as only the carving on the roof was completed. Here the lower cornice shows niches with faces, and one level higher deeper niches contained statues of seated divinities. The relief-panels on the main temple body are unadorned, though the niches contained statues. Of these,only those of Ganeca (West Face) and Nandicvara (East Face) have been found. Rediscovery and restoration Candi Gebang was rediscovered as the result of deliberate searches for the temple that would match the lone Ganeca statue that had long been standing on the grounds of the local village chief (wedono). The excavations yielded the current temple, of which the base was hidden 2 metres deep. Based on logic (waterspouts are always directed to the North) it was determined that the Ganesha statue had to face West. As Ganeca's back usually faces the temple entrance, this was conjectured to be at the East side which would be conform Javanese practice. The excavations also yielded a number of stone lingga, bronze bowls, the pripih (box containing valuables forming the temple treasure) and various pieces of gold jewellery. Restored from ruins in 1937/9: see contemporary newspaper article. Mounted: 6-Jan-06, additions Jan-12กก |
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