Pariwisata In Yogyakarta

Not all temples have a unique beautiful relief because generally only decorated by statues and reliefs that are common in almost all temples. One who has a beautiful relief is typical Gampingan Temple, a temple which was accidentally discovered by a craftsman in the hamlet of brick Gampingan, BIF, Bantul in 1995. Although small in size and was not intact anymore, Temple Gampingan still rich in dazzling relief.

One of the beautiful reliefs can be found in this temple are reliefs of animals are at the foot of the temple. Relief animals in Gampingan so natural to be known animal species are described. The temple is rarely enough to have such relief, at least only Mendut Prambanan and is known to have similar relief. All the relief setting decorated with tendrils, which padmamula (lotus roots) is believed to be the source of life.

When YogYES around, looking kind of animal is a bird that dominates. There are reliefs crows seemed to have a big beak, robust body, wings and expand into the fan-shaped tail. There are also reliefs depicted the woodpecker has a crest on the head, beak rather long and pointed and wings that do not expand. In addition, there is also a rooster who has breasts and wings expand to the bottom.

Making a bird in a number of reliefs in this temple many beliefs regarding the time of the power transedental birds. It is believed, the bird is a manifestation of the gods and natural messengers of the gods or nirvana. Birds are also associated with human absolute freedom is achieved after successfully leaving the worldly life, symbol of the human soul is separated from the body.

Relief other animals are also a lot of frogs described. Society at that time believed that the frog has magic powers that could bring rain, so the frog is also believed to increase productivity, because the rain brought a frog could increase crop yields. Frogs are often emerge from the water also symbolizes the renewal of life and resurrection to a better direction.

Until now, the relief still leaves the question whether a fable (story didongengkan animals to children) like in the picture Mendut or animals that deliberately to indicate a particular purpose. The question arises because the image of animals such as the temple Gampingan not found in the book containing the fable, such as the Jataka, Sukasaptati, Panchatantra and its derivative versions.

Temple Gampingan expected to be constructed between 730 to 850 AD is believed to be a place for worshiping Jambhala (god fortune, son of the god Shiva). It is based on the discovery while excavating Jambhala Arca. Jambhala described being in a state of meditation, sitting cross-legged while his eyes closed. Body parts decorated by iconographic elements (asanas) in the form of a lotus which has amounted to 8 pieces of leaves as symbols of the chakras in the human body.

Jambhala figures in this temple is different from that in other temples. Generally, the other temple Jambhala depicted with wide eyes stared at devotees with various ornaments that symbolize the prosperity and luxury. It is believed, these different representations based on the motivation of worship, not to invoke prosperity but guidance in order to achieve true happiness.

Visiting the Temple Gampingan will lead us to rethink about the way we've traveled to get to the happiness and prosperity. Relief that dominated the lives of animals in natural surroundings can be a form of local wisdom at that time of representing a message from nirvana: to live well and avoid the disaster, people should maintain harmony with nature.