Pawon

9th-century Buddhist site in Indonesia

Pawon

Native name
ꦥꦮꦺꦴꦤ꧀ (Javanese)
Location| Magelang, Central Java
Coordinates| 7°36′22″S 110°13′10″E﻿ / ﻿7.60616°S 110.219522°E﻿ / -7.60616; 110.219522
Built| Originally built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty
Restored| 1835
Restored by| Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
Architect| Gunadharma

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Type| Cultural
Criteria| i, ii, vi
Designated| 1991 (15th session)
Part of| Borobudur Temple Compounds
Reference no.| 592
Region| Southeast Asia

Location within Java

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Pawon (Indonesia)

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Pawon (known locally as Candi Pawon) is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia.

## History

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Located between two other Buddhist temples, Borobudur (1.75 km (1.09 mi) to the northeast) and Mendut (1.15 km (0.71 mi) to the southwest), Pawon is connected with the other two temples, all of which were built during the Sailendra dynasty (8th-9th centuries).[1] Examining the detail and style of its carving this temple is slightly older than Borobudur.

The three temples were located on a straight line, suggesting there was a symbolic meaning that binds these temples.

Location of the Buddhist temples triad: Borobudur-Pawon-Mendut in one straight line. Pawon temple, 1900. Relief of Kalpataru tree on the outer wall.

> "Between Mendut and Borobudur stands Pawon temple, a jewel of Javanese temple architecture. Most probably, this temple served to purify the mind before ascending Borobudur."

[2]

The original name of this Buddhist shrine is uncertain. Pawon means "kitchen" in the Javanese language, which is derived from the root word awu or dust. The connection to the word "dust" also suggests that this temple was probably built as a tomb or mortuary temple for a king.[3] Pawon is from the word Per-awu-an (a place that contains dust), a temple that houses the dust or ashes of the cremated king. However, who was the personage that entombed here is still unknown. Local people name this temple "Bajranalan" based on the name of the village. Bajranalan is derived from the Sanskrit words Vajra (thunder or also a Buddhist ceremonial tool) and Anala (fire, flame).

In the contemporary era during the full moon in May or June, the Buddhist community in Indonesia observes Waisak and participates in the annual procession by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.[4]

## Architecture

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The temple slightly faces northwest and stands on a square base. Each side of the stairs and the top of the gates are adorned with carved Kala-Makara, commonly found in classic Javanese temples. The outer wall of Pawon is carved with reliefs of boddhisattvas and taras. There are also reliefs of kalpataru (tree of life), flanked between Kinnara-Kinnari. The square chamber inside is empty with a square basin in the center of it. Rectangular small windows were found, probably for ventilation.

The roof section is crowned with five small stupas and four small ratnas. Because of its relative simplicity, symmetry and harmony, the historians dubbed this small temple as "the jewel of Javanese temple architecture", in contrast with tall-slender East Javanese style counterparts as found in later Singhasari and Majapahit period.

## See also

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* Indonesia portal

* Ancient temples of Java
* Buddhism in Indonesia
* Candi of Indonesia
* Borobudur
* Mendut
* Ngawen

## References

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1. ^ J. L. Moens (1951). "Barabudur, Mendut en Pawon en hun onderlinge samenhang (Barabudur, Mendut and Pawon and their mutual relationship)" (PDF). Tijdschrift voor de Indische Taai-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen: 326–386. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2007. "trans. by Mark Long"
2. ^ Yazir Marzuki, Toeti Heraty (1982). "Borobudur", pp. 6, Penerbit Djambatan. Jakarta. ISBN 979-428-078-X.
3. ^ Soetarno, Drs. R. second edition (2002). "Aneka Candi Kuno di Indonesia" (Ancient Temples in Indonesia), pp. 103. Dahara Prize. Semarang. ISBN 979-501-098-0.
4. ^ "The Meaning of Procession". Waisak. Walubi (Buddhist Council of Indonesia). Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2006-12-13.

## External links

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Media related to Candi Pawon at Wikimedia Commons

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Buddhist temples in Indonesia

* Candi of Indonesia
* Bahal
* Batujaya
* Banyunibo
* Borobudur
* Bubrah
* Gana
* Jabung
* Jawi
* Lumbung
* Mendut
* Muaro Jambi
* Muara Takus
* Ngawen
* Kalasan
* Pawon
* Plaosan
* Sari
* Sewu
* Sajiwan
* Singhasari
* Sumberawan
* Taman Alam Lumbini

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

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