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ArchitectureCandi Plaosan
Candi Plaosan, same as Candi Sari, is the rectangular temple which is unique to the later phase of Central Javanese art. This type of temple has never been found before in the earlier period. Inside the temple there are three rooms in double storey. The wooden floor of the second tier does not survive nowadays. This kind of temple seems to be the indigenous type, possible to be the temple for 1 Buddha image and 2 Bodhisattva attendants in the central and the side chambers respectively. Candi Plaosan comprises twin temples of the similar style, different form the single temple of Candi Sari. Moreover, the temple is surrounded by the numerous subsidiary temples arranged in diagram-liked complex. The latter character is comparable to Candi Sewu.
ArchitectureCandi Sewu
The main temple of Candi Sewu is laid in cruciform plan, similar to Candi Kalasan and Candi Parambanan. The main temple composes of five chambers, with the central sanctum and the other ones at the cardinal directions. This reminds us of Paharpur temple in India, Early Pala art. This kind of plan , extremely popular during the later phase of Central Javanese art, was designed for enshrining Dhyāni Buddha in accordance with the iconographic program. There is an archaeological report yield the data that there was a curly hair discovered from the temple. This testifies that the temple used to be the temple for huge Buddha image, now lost. The superstructure of the temple comprises several miniature stupas, typical to Central Javanese art.
ArchitectureBody of the main Tower: Candi Sewu
During the later period of Central Javanese art, the house of Śailendra still patronized several Buddhist temples. These temples locate at Klaten, between Yogyakarta and Solo.
ArchitectureSubsidiary Tower: Candi Sewu
The complex of Candi Sewu is very complicate as it comprises the main temple and numerous surrounding subsidiary towers. The complex of Candi Sewu is therefore conceived as Maṇḍala-liked diagram in which the abodes of Buddha and Bodhisattva are allotted in the specific directions. The name “Candi Sewu’, literally means one thousand temple s, derives from this complexity, even though the actual numbers of the subsidiary towers are 240. The origination of this complexity should be the cloisters of Vihāra, the residential units, in Indian art, as exemplifiable at Paharpur in Bangladesh. However, the subsidiary towers at Candi Sewu are detached from each other, unlike the Indian prototype. The spire of these temples is ornamented with miniature stupas. On the top there is the stupa in bigger size attached in every direction by the cloisters of miniature stupas. The complexity of the superstructure decoration is unique for the later phase of Central Javanese Art.
ArchitectureCandi Parambanan
It is believed that the Hindu temple during this period was constructed in order to dedicate to the mortal king. After the cremation, the part of the mortal remain of the deceased kings would be scattered in the sea and then the rest would be embedded under the pedestal of the statue in order to deify the mortal. Presumably, Parambanan was functioned for this ceremony.
ArchitectureShiva Temple: Candi Parambanan
Shiva temple is the loftiest temple in the complex. The cruciform plan with five sanctums indicates the continuation of the same plan from the Mahayanist temples which was now adjusted to Hinduism. The central sanctum is dedicated to Shiva, the south one to Agastaya, the west one to Ganesha and the north one to Mahishasuramardani. At the base exists several statues of the deities of eight directions. Stylistically, the temple is considered to be the most developed style in Javanese art. The body is divided into 2 tiers. The superstructure is complicate as it is in cruciform plan, similar to the body. The miniature temple decorated at the superstructure is notable as they are capped by the fluted Amalaka-liked Stupika which seems to be related to the north Idnian Amalaka.
ArchitectureCandi Kidal
This temple is architecturally typical to Eastern Javanese period. The temple is always small with one sanctum resting on triple bases. The central door is normally crowned by the huge ferocious Kala face. The Kala face now is very ferocious, with the fangs protruding out form the mouth, the horns, the hand raising in threating gesture. The body of the temple is normally decorated with the band in the center, unique to Eastern Javanese art. The superstructure composes of the series of bands punctuated by the row of 5 miniature temples.
ArchitectureCandi Jago
This temple comprises the lofty triple base ornamented with the band of the narratives. The significant narrative here is the story from Mahābhārata, starting from the episode of the gamble of Paṇḍava and Kaurava, the disrobe od Draupatī, the penance of Arjuna at Mount Indrakila and the episode of presenting Pāśupata missile by Śiva in the guise of the Hunter Kirāta. The superstructure of the tower, now lost, is possible to be the timber-and-tile or timber-and-thatch roof which is similar to the Balinese Meru type of superstructure.
