Candi Sari, The Amazing Decoration of the Tara Monastery

This temple is located in the Candi Sari hamlet, village of Tirtomartani, Kalasan district. It is very easy to reach this passionate site, whether or not you have a vehicle. It is exactly on the 15th km of the jogjakarta-Solo highway, at the left (north) side of the road in front of a restaurant (Ayam Goreng), just after a telecommunication office. The temple is 50m from the street. A fee is collected at the entrance.

The restoration of this temple, taking place in the 1929-1930, succeeded to bring back its splendor. Situated near Candi Kalasan and also of Buddhist origin, it is agreed to be of the same age (between the VIIIth and IXth century). Its architecture, however, is completely different. Rectangular in base (17.3x30m), the 17m-tall edifice of andesite is constituted of three cells divided i two tiers by what used to be a wooden plank (the spot of the beams are still visible). The presence of the upper tiers and tracers of use indicated that the temple was a place abode. It is often presented as a Buddhist monastery that is part of a larger complex. The base of the building, as well as the doors, has disappeared, and the roof, although damaged, retains three stupas and numerous niches decorated with kala-makara.

Windows are built around the temple, with the exeption of the west side because of the Buddha and Bodhisattva statues (unfortunately gone, but the footings remain) that must have stood on the three cells. The temple is decorated with talent: there are 36 large figures (12 on the west and 8 on the other three sides) represented in relief on the exterior walls, still covered with stucco (vajralepa), but some of the figures are difficult to recognize: half-gods, Naga kings, masculine and feminine divinities following the Tribangga rules, some of which are reminiscent of Tara, the bodhisattva consecrated at Kalasan. Notice the Kinara-Kinari (bird-angles) near the windows and the elephant friezes at each side of the door, also the two guardian statues of Dwarpala and Gupala at the entry.

It is said that temple, or the sanctuary to be exact, was inhabited by two women, Nyai Copati and Nyai Nyowati, who guard it against human and natural destruction. Visitors from places like Jogjakarta, Solo, Boyolali bring offerings of flowers and incenses for the two guardians.

Source: Situs-Situs Marjinal Jogja (Sanctuaires Retrouvés/ Sites Out of Sight) - M. Rizky Sasono, Jean-Pascal Elbaz, Agung 'Leak' Kurniawan (Enrique indonesia, Yogyakarta: 1997).