CANDI MUARA TAKUS

Muara Takus Temple site is a Buddhist temple site located in Muara Takus village, District XIII Koto, Kampar regency, Riau, Indonesia. This site is located approximately 135 kilometers from Pekanbaru City. Muara Takus Temple site is surrounded by a 74 x 74 meter wall, made of white stone with a wall height of ± 80 cm, outside the area there is also a wall of land measuring 1.5 x 1.5 kilometers, surround this complex to the edge of Kampar River Right. Inside this complex there are several temple buildings called the Candi ukulung / tua, Candi Bungsu, Mahligai Stupa and Palangka. Archaeologists have not been able to determine exactly when the site of this temple was founded. Some say the 4th century, some say the 7th century, the 9th century even in the 11th century. But this temple is considered to have existed in the golden age of Sriwijaya, so some historians consider this area as one of the central government of the kingdom of Sriwijaya. [1] [2] In 2009 Muara Takus temple is nominated to become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple of Muara Takus is the oldest temple site in Sumatera, is the only historical site in the form of temples in Riau. This Buddhist temple is proof that Buddhism once flourished in this region. This temple is made of sandstone, river stone and brick. In contrast to the existing temple in Java, which is made of andesite stone taken from the mountains. The material of Muara Takus temple, especially clay, is taken from a village called Pongkai, located approximately 6 km downstream of the Muara Takus temple site. The name Pongkai probably comes from Chinese, Pong means hole and Kai means soil, so it can mean the hole of the ground, which is caused by the excavation in making Muara Takus temple. The former pit was now drowned by a puddle of Koto Panjang hydroelectric dam. But in Siamese, the word Pongkai is similar to Pangkali which can mean river, and this temple site is located on the banks of the river. Muara Takus Temple is one of the sacred buildings of Buddhism in Riau. The hallmark that shows the sacred building is a Buddhist building is a stupa. The shape of the stupa itself comes from early Indian art, almost an artificial hill-shaped semicircle covered with brick or embankment and given a peak meru. Stupas are a hallmark of the sacred buildings of Buddhism and change its form and function in its history in India and in other Buddhist worlds. Based on the function stupa can be divided into three, namely: Stupa which is part of something building. Stupa that stands alone or in groups but each as a complete building. Stupas that complement the group as perwara temple. Based on the above function can be concluded that the buildings in Muara Takus temple complex occupy the second function, namely stupa that stands alone or in groups but each as a complete building. The architecture of the Muara Takus temple building is unique because it is not found elsewhere in Indonesia. The shape of this temple has similarities to Buddhist stupas in Myanmar, stupas in Vietnam, Sri Lanka or ancient stupas in India in the Ashoka period, ie stupas that have the ornament of a wheel and a lion's head, almost identical to the statue found in Muara Takus temple complex. The lion statue itself is philosophically an element of the temple decoration that symbolizes the good aspects that can defeat the evil aspect or the 'light' aspect that can defeat the 'evil' aspect. In Buddhism the motive of the lion ornament can be related to its meaning with the Buddha, it is seen from the nickname given to the Buddha as 'the lion of the Sakyans'. And the teachings conveyed by the Buddha is also described as a 'voice' (simhanada) that sounds loud in all corners of the wind. In the script Silpa Prakasa written that there are four types of lions are considered good, among others: Udyatā: the lion depicted on both hind legs, his body in a reversed position and looking back. This attitude is called simhavalokana. Jāgrata: a lion depicted with a very savage face (mattarūpina). He was sitting up with his paws lifted up. Often called khummana simha. Udyatā: the lion depicted in a sitting posture with hind legs and usually placed on a high place. Known as jhmpa-simha. Gajakrānta: the lion pictured sitting with his three feet on the elephant king. One forelegs was lifted in front of his chest as if ready to pounce. This lion is called simha kunjara. In Muara Takus temple complex itself there are two temples that have a lion statue, the Temple of Eldest and Mahligai Temple. In Temple Eldest statue lion found in front of the temple or in