Candi Rimbi

Traces of Majapahit's Grandeur at the Foot of Mount Anjasmoro: The Complete History of Candi Rimbi

Candi Rimbi, administratively located in Pulosari Village, Bareng District, Jombang Regency, East Java, is one of the most significant archaeological monuments that bears silent witness to the glory of the Majapahit Kingdom. Situated on the route to Wonosalam, at the foot of Mount Anjasmoro, this temple is not merely a pile of andesite stones, but a symbol of reverence for a noble female figure in Nusantara's history.

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Origins and Periodization of Construction

Candi Rimbi was built in the 14th century AD, precisely during the transition period towards the peak of Majapahit's glory. Based on stylistic analysis of the reliefs and statues found, archaeologists agree that this temple was erected as a pendharmaan or sacred place of honor.

The name "Rimbi" itself is locally associated with the wayang character Arimbi, wife of Werkudara (Bima). However, historically and epigraphically, this temple was a place of veneration for Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, the third ruler of Majapahit who reigned between 1328 and 1350 AD. Tribhuwana was the mother of Hayam Wuruk, the greatest king of Majapahit. The construction of this temple is estimated to have been fully completed during Hayam Wuruk's reign as a form of filial devotion to his deceased mother.

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Unique Architecture and Construction Details

Candi Rimbi possesses unique architectural characteristics compared to temples in Central Java. It adopts the East Javanese style with a more slender and towering structure. The primary building material is andesite stone, combined with red brick foundations at the lower parts.

Structurally, the building measures approximately 13.24 x 9.1 meters with a remaining height of about 12 meters. The temple faces west, an orientation commonly found in pendharmaan type temples in East Java. One of the technical unique features of Candi Rimbi is the presence of a two-tiered temple base.

On the temple base, there is a row of finely carved reliefs. These reliefs not only function as ornamentation but also convey moral and philosophical messages. There are approximately 51 relief panels depicting segments of human life stories, although some parts have been worn away by age. Interestingly, the carving technique at Candi Rimbi shows a transition from a naturalistic style to a flatter style (similar to wayang), which is characteristic of late Majapahit visual art.

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Religious Symbolism and the Statue of Dewi Parwati

The most crucial historical value of Candi Rimbi lies in the discovery of its main statue. A beautiful statue of Dewi Parwati was found at this site, which is now kept at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta (known as the Parwati Statue from Rimbi).

This statue is believed to be a statue perwujudan (portrait statue) of Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi. In Hindu-Javanese theology, a deceased king or queen would be "united" with their chosen deity. Tribhuwana is personified as Parwati, the sakti (wife) of Lord Shiva, symbolizing feminine power, fertility, and protection. The placement of this statue within the garbagriha (main chamber) confirms that Candi Rimbi is a Hindu-Shiva temple.

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Historical Significance and Related Events

Candi Rimbi plays an important role in understanding the political and spiritual structure of Majapahit. Its location on the outskirts of the administrative center (Trowulan) indicates the spread of cultural and religious influence to inland areas and mountain slopes.

Specifically, Candi Rimbi is often associated with the Tirtha Yatra or sacred journeys of Majapahit rulers. The Negarakretagama epic mentions that King Hayam Wuruk frequently traveled around his territory to inspect the condition of his people and to pilgrimage to the sacred sites of his ancestors. Candi Rimbi was one of the important points in the kingdom's spiritual network, connecting the city center with sacred mountainous regions.

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Preservation Status and Restoration Efforts

The existence of Candi Rimbi was first reported by Dutch researcher J. Knebel in 1907 in a rather dilapidated condition; most of the temple's body and roof had collapsed. Andesite stone ruins were scattered around the foundation due to natural factors such as earthquakes and the growth of wild vegetation over centuries.

Major restoration was carried out by the Indonesian government through the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region XI. The restoration process was conducted using the anastylosis method, which involves reassembling original stone blocks to their former positions based on in-depth architectural research. Although the temple's roof cannot yet be fully reconstructed due to the loss of many original parts, the standing base and body of the temple are sufficient to provide an impression of its original grandeur.

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Unique Facts and Cultural Heritage

One of the unique facts about Candi Rimbi is the discovery of reliefs depicting local flora and fauna in detail, providing historians with information about the ecology of the Jombang region in the past. Furthermore, the "Kala" (giant face) decorative motif above the temple's doorway has a more "friendly" expression compared to temples from the Central Javanese period, which tend to be fearsome.

For the surrounding community, Candi Rimbi is still considered a place with high spiritual energy. Periodically, the site is still used by Hindus and followers of belief systems for ritual ceremonies or meditation, especially on sacred days such as the night of Suro or during the full moon.

As a historical site, Candi Rimbi is an archaeological gem in Jombang that connects present generations with the values of female leadership in the past. Its existence proves that in the 14th century, Nusantara already possessed very high architectural aesthetic standards and a well-organized system of ancestor veneration through the construction of eternal monuments.