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Stepped Pyramidal Base: 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 inner courtyard of the complex is the location of the mon tower with the stepped pyramidal base, symbolizing the central pivot of the cosmos as well as the abode of Śiva. However the tower on the top of the pyramidal base does not survive. The superstructure of this tower is possible to be the Meru style temple as in Balinese art. The first tier of the base depicts the story of Rāmāyana started from the adventure of Hanuman in Lanka to the episode of Lanka burning, the construction of the causeway and the death of Kumbhakarṇa. The style of the narrative is similar to the Wayang (Javanese shadow puppet). The second tier of the base depicts the story of Krishna whereas the uppermost tier is decorated with the statues of winged lions and winged serpents.
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodEastern Javanese Art, Majapahit dynasty
Age14th-15th Century A.D.
ReligionBrahmanism-Hinduism
SectShaivite

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