Candi Ijo or Ijo temple is a Hindu monument complex in Kewu plain in Groyokan Sub-village, Sambirejo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. The temple stands on the slopes of Ijo hill in a complex of 0.8 hectares, but it is estimated that this archaeological site is wider than the present land.
This terraced temple is estimated to have been built between the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The complex has several main temple groups, flanking temples and ancillary temples. In the west stretching towards the foot of the hill are the ruins of a number of temples which are still in the process of excavation and restoration.
The main temple faces west and is lined with three smaller temples to worship Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The main temple structure stands on a rectangular base. The entrance to the inner room is in the middle of the west side wall and flanked by two fake windows. Above the doorway has a compiled Kala headdress and no lower jaw.
Above the threshold of the two fake windows also had a carved Kala head. The doorway was framed by a pair of dragons that stretched down with their heads back to the door and mouth wide open. In the mouth are parrots.
The window sill is also framed with the decoration of a pair of dragons and Kala's head. To reach the door, which is located about 120 cm from the ground, is a ladder equipped with a pair of Makara that stretches down and mouth open. Inside Makara's mouth are also parrots carrying rice grains in the beak.
This main temple has a room where each side of the wall has a false window-like niche. Each niche is flanked by sculptures depicting a pair of gods and goddesses. In the middle of the room is a phallus supported by a turtle-headed snake. The creature originates from the Hindu myth to symbolize the support of the earth.
The center of the temple is the axis of the earth and the union of linga and yoni symbolizes the integral unity between Brahma, Wisnu and Shiva. The linga that should have been stuck on Yoni was gone. The roof of the temple is multi-storey and is formed from a rectangular arrangement. On each side have three rows of stupas at each level. A larger stupa at the top of the roof.
Along the boundary between the roof and the walls of the temple are decorated rows of carvings with alternating patterns between vines and dwarf giants. Along the edge of the layer are decorated with rows of Kala patterned frames and each has a half body statue to depict Brahma, Wisnu or Syiwa in various hand positions.
This terraced temple is estimated to have been built between the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The complex has several main temple groups, flanking temples and ancillary temples. In the west stretching towards the foot of the hill are the ruins of a number of temples which are still in the process of excavation and restoration.
The main temple faces west and is lined with three smaller temples to worship Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The main temple structure stands on a rectangular base. The entrance to the inner room is in the middle of the west side wall and flanked by two fake windows. Above the doorway has a compiled Kala headdress and no lower jaw.
Above the threshold of the two fake windows also had a carved Kala head. The doorway was framed by a pair of dragons that stretched down with their heads back to the door and mouth wide open. In the mouth are parrots.
The window sill is also framed with the decoration of a pair of dragons and Kala's head. To reach the door, which is located about 120 cm from the ground, is a ladder equipped with a pair of Makara that stretches down and mouth open. Inside Makara's mouth are also parrots carrying rice grains in the beak.
This main temple has a room where each side of the wall has a false window-like niche. Each niche is flanked by sculptures depicting a pair of gods and goddesses. In the middle of the room is a phallus supported by a turtle-headed snake. The creature originates from the Hindu myth to symbolize the support of the earth.
The center of the temple is the axis of the earth and the union of linga and yoni symbolizes the integral unity between Brahma, Wisnu and Shiva. The linga that should have been stuck on Yoni was gone. The roof of the temple is multi-storey and is formed from a rectangular arrangement. On each side have three rows of stupas at each level. A larger stupa at the top of the roof.
Along the boundary between the roof and the walls of the temple are decorated rows of carvings with alternating patterns between vines and dwarf giants. Along the edge of the layer are decorated with rows of Kala patterned frames and each has a half body statue to depict Brahma, Wisnu or Syiwa in various hand positions.