IDENTIFICATION OF SYMBOLS AT THE PRAMBANAN SHIVA TEMPLE REVIEWED FROM ASTRONOMICAL ASPECTS

• Main Author: Rachmawati, Riana
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/70988
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Archaeoastronomy is a multidisciplinary science that learns an archaeological object that is reviewed from several points of view of discipline; Astronomy, architecture, and art. Further, elaborated on gaining new knowledge about other reasons behind the construction of an archaeological site. Candi Prambanan is one of the emerging archaeological objects of archeoastronomy in Indonesia. The focus on this final task is on symbols and reliefs in the main temple of Prambanan, which is Shiva temple. The proportion of Shiva temple is known according to the concept of Hindu cosmology that has three levels of the temple, namely Bhurloka (Temple foot), Bhuvarloka (temple body), and Swahloka (temple roof) which gives the meaning that the higher the level, the higher the role. Each part of the level has the meaning that is represented through the elements found in the temple, such as the body of the temple there is a sculpture of Ramayana reliefs that surround the body of the temple, if the story is in a clockwise direction. The sculption technique is symbolized as the sun's circulation system rises in the east and sets in the West. On the body of the temple is also a relief of Lokapala that is a relief of the guardian deity of the direction of the wind is located according to the direction where it is sculpted. These things show that in the days of construction of Prambanan temple, every detail pays attention to the sky as one of the important elements in building a site. This research aims to learn more about the role of the celestial bodies during the process of building the Prambanan temple through the identification of symbols located in Shiva Temple. The method used in this research is a descriptive analytical with empirical and rational approaches with the search of literature and field observations in the Prambanan temple complex.