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Tower with serpent: Candi Panataran

Keywords : Candi, Candi Panataran, Majapahit dynasty

Site common nameCandi Panataran
Type of artworkArchitecture
Village-
Province/CityBlitar
StateEast Java
CountryIndonesia
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : -8.016389
Long : 112.209722

History of productionCandi Panataran, located near Blitar, is the grandest temple in Eastern Javanese art. The temple was dedicated to Śiva and was constructed during Majapahit dynasty.
ArtThe most striking tower in the middle courtyard of the complex is the tower surrounded by the body of the serpent. The elongate body of the serpent is supported by several deities with the cylindrical crown and the typical Eastern Javanese dress. One of their hands hold the ceremonial bell while the another holds the body of the serpent. Th original function of this tower is unknown. However the serpent is connectible to the legend of the churning of the milky ocean and the function of this tower is possibly associated with the sacred water consecration.
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodEastern Javanese Art, Majapahit dynasty
Age14th-15th Century A.D.
ReligionBrahmanism-Hinduism
SectShaivite
Religion and beliefThe legend of the churning of the milky ocean is one of the most important Hindu myths, Involving the searching of the elixir of immortality. The legend narrates that the deities and the demons churned the milky ocean with the pivot made from Mount Maṇḍara. After drinking the elixir, the deities became immortal.

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2015-02-00
Record creatorChedha Tingsanchali