Bahal II Temple

The Grand Traces of Hindu-Buddhist Heritage in Batak Land: History and Splendor of Bahal II Temple

Bahal II Temple is one of the archaeological gems located in the Padang Lawas Temple Complex, precisely in Bahal Village, Portibi District, North Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra Province. This site is part of a larger cluster of temples, collectively known as the Portibi Temples. Amidst a vast and dry grassland (savanna), Bahal II Temple stands as a silent witness to the glory of past civilizations that blended local cultural elements with strong influences from South India and Srivijaya.

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Historical Origins and Period of Establishment

Bahal II Temple is estimated to have been built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. This period coincided with the golden age of the Pannai Kingdom, a vassal kingdom or sphere of influence of the great Srivijaya Kingdom. The name "Pannai" itself is recorded in the Tanjore Inscription (1025 AD) belonging to King Rajendra Chola I of the Chola Kingdom, South India, which mentions the conquest of the Pane or Panei region on the east coast of Sumatra.

The existence of Bahal II Temple indicates that the Padang Lawas region was a significant religious and political center in its time. Unlike temples in Java which generally use andesite stone, Bahal II Temple is built entirely using red bricks, a characteristic that reflects the availability of local materials as well as architectural influences from the Bengal region (East India) and building patterns at the Muara Takus site.

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Architecture and Construction Details

Bahal II Temple has unique and specific architectural characteristics compared to Bahal I and III Temples. Physically, the building consists of three main parts: the base, the body, and the roof of the temple. The entire structure stands on a spacious platform (batur).

One of the most prominent features of Bahal II Temple is the "stupa" shape at its apex, which resembles a cylinder or tube, unlike Bahal I Temple which is more bell-shaped. The temple body has a main chamber called the garbhagrha. On the outer walls, there are niches that likely once housed statues of deities.

The brick construction details of Bahal II Temple show very fine laying techniques. Bricks are joined using a rubbing system or a very strong natural adhesive, enabling them to last for centuries. The carvings or reliefs on Bahal II Temple tend to be simpler and more minimalist compared to temples in Central Java, but they still display a strong Vajrayana aesthetic through geometric patterns and scrollwork.

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Historical Significance and Related Events

Bahal II Temple is not merely a place of worship, but a symbol of cultural assimilation. The Padang Lawas region was historically a meeting point for land trade routes connecting the east and west coasts of Sumatra. The existence of this temple proves the presence of an organized community with an established belief system.

The most significant historical event related to this complex is the military expedition of the Chola Kingdom from South India in the 11th century. This attack left a strong cultural imprint, evident in the architectural style similarities of some temple elements with temples in South India. Furthermore, Bahal II Temple is strong evidence that Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana) once flourished in North Sumatra, long before the arrival of Islam in the region.

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Related Figures and Periods

Although there are no specific inscriptions mentioning the name of the founding king of Bahal II Temple, archaeologists associate it with the dynasty that ruled the Pannai Kingdom. Its construction period was greatly influenced by the political policies of Srivijaya, which made Sumatra a center for international Buddhist learning. Figures like Atisha Dipamkara, a great Buddhist scholar who studied in Sumatra, are believed to have spiritual connections with the religious atmosphere surrounding the construction of these temples in Padang Lawas.

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Religious and Cultural Functions

Bahal II Temple served as a place of worship for followers of Tantric Buddhism. This is further supported by the discovery of statue fragments and religious symbols around the site. The rituals performed here likely involved meditation and special ceremonies aimed at achieving enlightenment through esoteric powers.

For the Batak people around Padang Lawas, the existence of this temple also holds cultural significance. Although the majority of the population is currently Muslim, they still respect this site as ancestral heritage. The term "Portibi," used to refer to the temple's location, originates from the Sanskrit word "Prthivi," meaning earth or world, indicating how sacred this place was in the cosmology of past societies.

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Preservation and Restoration Status

The condition of Bahal II Temple had suffered severe damage due to natural factors and centuries of neglect. Forests and bushes had covered almost the entire structure. Serious restoration efforts began to be undertaken by the Indonesian government through the Directorate for the Protection and Development of Historical and Archaeological Heritage in the 1970s and 1980s.

Currently, Bahal II Temple is under the supervision of the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region II. The restoration process has successfully restored the original form of the building, although some original relief parts have been lost or worn out. The environment around the temple has now been arranged into a clean park, making it an educational historical tourist destination for local communities and international tourists alike.

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Unique Facts about Bahal II Temple

One unique fact that distinguishes Bahal II Temple from other sites is its location in the middle of a field of reeds, often referred to as the "Temple on the Savanna." Additionally, the size of the bricks used in Bahal II Temple is much larger than modern bricks today, indicating highly advanced clay firing technology during the Pannai Kingdom. Another uniqueness is the temple's southeast-facing position, which is believed to be related to astronomical calculations or energy flow in Tantric teachings to welcome the morning sunlight as a symbol of enlightenment.

Overall, Bahal II Temple is an invaluable historical monument. It stands as proof that North Sumatra has very old, complex, and cosmopolitan roots of civilization, capable of adopting elements from the outside world without losing its local identity.