Jabung

Coordinates: 7°44′6″S 113°28′18″E / 7.73500°S 113.47167°E / -7.73500; 113.47167

Jabung temple

Jabung is a 14th-century Buddhist temple dated from Majapahit era, located in the Jabung Sisir village (desa), Paiton area, Probolinggo district, East Java. The temple is made from red brick measuring 16.20 metres. The temple was mentioned in Nagarakretagama as Bajrajinaparamitapura (Vajra Jina Paramita Pura), being visited by king Hayam Wuruk during his royal tour across East Java in 1359 CE. The temple is mentioned in Pararaton as Sajabung, a mortuary temple of Bhre Gundal, a member of Majapahit royalties.[1]

The architecture style of this temple is similar to the Bahal temple in Padang Lawas, North Sumatra.

Architecture

The temple complex measuring 35 x 40 metres. The temple has undergone restoration from 1983 to 1987, and the temple complex is expanded 20.042 square metres with altitude 8 metres from sea level. The temple complex consists of two structures; one main temple and a smaller structure called "Candi Sudut" (corner temple) located in southwest corner from the main structure. The temple building was constructed from high quality red brick material, some parts is decorated with bas relief.

The main temple measuring 13.13 metres long 9.60 metres wide and 16.20 metres tall. The Jabung temple is facing west, with western part have projected structure to create flight of stairs reaching to the main chamber on elevated upper platform. On southwest corner, the corner temple is measuring 2.55 metres wide and 6 metres tall. This structure is actually not a temple, but the only surviving corner tower as part of red brick walls once surrounding the inner compound of the temple.

The temple has four parts: batur (base platform), foot, body, and roof. The body structure is almost cylindrical octagonal, stood upon three stepped rectangular platforms. The roof took shape of cylindrical dagoba decorated with sulur floral motif, however the roof's upper parts was destroyed or missing beyond reconstruction. In the garbagriha (main chamber) there is a pedestal, a buddhist statue may once stood here. On the upper part of entrance arch inscribed with 1276 saka, corresponds to 1354 CE during the reign of King Hayam Wuruk.[2]

Description

The detail of kala's head on upper part of the niche
Jabung temple in 1866

Lower platform

Batur or lower platform measuring 13.11 metres long, 9.58 metres wide. On this platform there is narrow path surrounding the temple decorated with several panels of bas relief describing everyday life, such as:

Rectangular structure with west part projected as flight of stairs. There are two smaller empty niches measuring 1.30 metres. The foot part consists of two stepped rectangular platforms.

  1. Lower foot Started with frame upon lower platform took a bell like shape decorated with padina leaf motifs. The structure is 0.6 metres tall, decorated with medalion shaped panels of bas reliefs depicting human, animals and plants.
  2. Upper foot Sat upon the lower foot, the shape of this structure is similar slightly smaller than the later. Decorated with padma (lotus) motifs. Some of vertical parst measuring 0.5 metres are decorated with kala's head and leaf ornaments.

Body

On the wall of the temple's body carved with the images of humans, houses and plants. On Southeast corner there is an image of a woman riding a giant fish. In Hinduism the scene is taken from the tale of Sri Tanjung, telling the story about loyalty and fidelity of a wife.[3] The bas relief of Sri Tanjung is also founds in Penataran Temple in Blitar, Surawana in Kediri, and the gate of Bajangratu in Trowulan. Through the door there is a main chamber (garbagriha) measuring 2.60 x 2.58 metres and 5.52 metres tall. On top of the interior there is a carves stone. The body of the temple took octagonal almost cylindrical shape decorated with band-like projected carving surrounding the body. There is one door and three niches located on cardinal points. On upper part of the door and niches is decorated with kala's heads, on the lower part is carved with naga heads. On the upper door frame there is an andesite stone block carved with 1276 saka or 1354 CE, dating the completion of temple construction.

Roof

Most of the roof upper parts is missing. Judging from the existing parts, experts suggested that the roof was crowned with stupa decorated with floral patterns.

Surrounding area

The temple is located around 5 kilometres to the east of Kraksaan, or 500 metres southeast from Jabung Tirta swimming pool, located on Surabaya - Situbondo main road. The turnoff to the temple, on the south side of the main road, is not signposted. The turnoff is in the village (desa) of Jabung Sisir, just before the desa Randu Merak.

References

Media related to Candi Jabung at Wikimedia Commons

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