Do you know that there is a unique architecture and captivating location of a temple in Yogyakarta? That temple is called Sambisari temple which is the one of the Hindu temple in Yogyakarta. This unique temple is really special because it is located under the ground.
This Sambisari temple is located about 6,5 m under the ground, so it won’t be easy to see this temple from a distance. This area around this temple was not supposedly higher than Sambisari temple area. But the sand and the volcanic stone of Merapi mount eruption in 1006 has piled up that temple area. As a consequence, Sambisari temple was hidden inside the ashes and the stones from the explosive eruption piled up. So that the location of the temple becomes lower than upper ground area surrounding. Now, the temple location area has beautifully made up already. And you will find 4 stairs in each side.
Sambisari temple is located in Sambisari, Purwomartani, Kalasan, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta. From the city center of Yogyakarta, you will take about 15 kilometers to the north east side. This Shiva Hindu’s temple, Sambisari temple was supposedly built in the beginning of the 9th century on Rakai Garung era, the King of Hindu’s Mataram from Wangsa Syailendra.
The temple complex consists of 1 main temple surrounded by 3 others temple. There are also 8 pieces of lingga patok that can be found in every direction. This temple is briefly looked like a castle in the middle of the garden because of the beautiful greenish bushes surrounding that seems like a royal court with the temple in the center of this royal garden.
Once you go upstairs to the main temple gate, you will discover a lion figure inside makara’s mouth figure (the animal of Greek mythology). There you will find also a gallery of about a meter square.
In the north side there is Durga Statue, the wife of Shiva that has 8 arms holding weapons. Afterward, in the east side, you will discover Ganesha statue and Agastya Statue with beads on his neck on in the south side.
Inside the main temple gallery there are Lingga and Yoni. The existence of these lingga and yoni prove that this temple becomes the worship place for Shiva. Out of the main temple area, in the west side you will see the 3 companion temples.
This temple becomes the one of the beautiful temples in Yogyakarta that gain many tourists who want to have a vacation, have a kind of refreshing activity or to take the picture only.
