Singosari Temple

Origins and Historical Context

Based on information in the Negarakertagama and the Gajah Mada Inscription (1351 AD), Singosari Temple was built as a place of deification or final honor for King Kertanegara, the last ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom who fell in 1292 due to the rebellion of Jayakatwang from Gelang-gelang. King Kertanegara was known as a visionary leader with the idea of "Cakrawala Mandala Dwipantara," an effort to unite the Nusantara region under one sovereignty to stem the expansion of the Mongol Empire.

The construction of this temple is estimated to have taken place around 1300 AD. Interestingly, historians believe that Singosari Temple was actually an unfinished building. This is evident from several parts of the reliefs and decorations that are still rough sketches or plain stone blocks, likely due to political instability after the kingdom's collapse and the transition of government to Majapahit.

Unique Architecture and Construction Techniques

Singosari Temple has very unique architectural characteristics, different from temples in Central Java or other East Javanese temples. The main uniqueness lies in the placement of the main chamber or garbhagrha. If the sacred chamber is usually in the center of the temple, in Singosari Temple, the main chamber is located at the base of the temple.

The temple structure consists of a high base (batur), a base section containing rooms, a slender temple body, and a tiered pyramid-shaped roof. The construction technique uses a "tumpuk taru" system without mortar adhesive, but rather utilizes stone interlocking techniques and rubbing between stone surfaces until they are tight.

One of the most striking features is the presence of four rooms at the base facing the four cardinal directions. These rooms once housed important statues. In the north, there is a statue of Durga Mahisasuramardini, in the east a statue of Ganesha, in the south a statue of Resi Agastya, and in the west, there is an empty space that was once believed to contain a statue of Roro Jonggrang or another manifestation. Unfortunately, most of the original statues have now been moved to the National Museum in Jakarta or the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden, Netherlands.

Religious Significance: Siwa-Buddha Syncretism

Singosari Temple is a physical representation of the religious philosophy embraced by King Kertanegara, namely Siwa-Buddha syncretism (Tantrayana). Kertanegara is believed to have reached the highest spiritual level as a Bhairawa. In the concept of deification, this temple functions as a meeting point between the human world and the divine world, where the deceased king is considered to be reunited with the divine essence.

The decorative patterns on the temple also reflect Hindu-Buddhist cosmology. The Kala head reliefs found above the doorways do not have lower jaws, a characteristic of the East Javanese style that symbolizes the ruler of time and protector of sacred places from evil influences. The use of lions carved on the corners of the temple base also reinforces the name "Singosari," which means "Lion Center."

Dwarapala: The Giant Guardians

Approximately 200 meters to the west of the main temple building, there are two iconic Dwarapala statues. These statues are the largest guardian sculptures in Indonesia, reaching a height of 3.7 meters. Carved from monolithic stone (single rock), these two giants are depicted in a madiyo (half-kneeling) position, holding a mace in their hands.

The presence of such large Dwarapala indicates the importance of this complex in its time. Symbolically, these two statues served to guard the sacred area or the gateway to the kingdom's capital. The details on the Dwarapala statues, from the snake decorations on their bodies to their fearsome facial expressions, show the extraordinary skill of the Singhasari sculptors in transforming hard stone into expressive works of art.

Preservation and Restoration Efforts

The condition of Singosari Temple was first reported by Westerners in the early 19th century, at which time the temple was buried by earth and covered by dense forest vegetation. During the Dutch East Indies period, several cleaning and documentation efforts were made. However, systematic restoration only took place from 1934-1936 by the Dutch archaeological service (Oudheidkundige Dienst).

Large-scale restoration was continued by the Indonesian Government after independence. Currently, Singosari Temple is managed by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Center (BPK) Region XI. Although some parts of the roof are missing and many statues are no longer in their original places, the main structure of the temple remains strong. The surrounding environment has now been arranged into a neat park, making it an educational historical tourist destination for the general public.

Unique Facts and Cultural Heritage

One little-known historical fact is that Singosari Temple is often referred to as "Tower Temple" due to its towering shape compared to its base area. Furthermore, this site is the only temple in Indonesia that has a "Kala" with highly detailed carving style but is intentionally left unfinished on some sides, providing clues for archaeologists about the working stages of ancient artists.

The heritage of Singosari Temple does not stop at its buildings. The spirit of unifying Nusantara, initiated by Kertanegara at this place, was later continued by his son-in-law, Raden Wijaya, who founded the Majapahit Kingdom, and was eventually fully achieved by Gajah Mada through the Sumpah Palapa.

As a cultural heritage site, Singosari Temple serves as an identity bridge for the people of Malang and East Java. Every year, this site is still used for certain religious ceremonies by Hindus, indicating that the sacred value of this building remains preserved across time. Singosari Temple is not just a monument to a king's death, but a symbol of the awakening of a great vision for a nation's sovereignty.