List of Hindu temples in Indonesia

The design, style, layout, architecture and decoration of Hindu temples differ among various ethnic groups. Balinese Hindu temples do not have the Gopuram above temples unlike Indian Tamil Hindu temples which feature a prominent Gopuram at the entrance. Indian temples are designed as indoor house of worship, while Balinese temples are designed as open-air temple within walled compound connected by series of intricately decorated roofed gates and split gates. In Indonesia, there are roughly three types of Hindu templesː

1. Candi, the Javanese ancient Hindu temples
2. Pura, the Balinese temples
3. Kuil or Mandir, the Indian Hindu temples

Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia

Candi is an Indonesian term to refer to ancient temples, the word originated from the Sanskrit word Candikargha which is associated with the Goddess Durga. Prior to the rise of Islam, between the 5th to 15th century Dharmic faiths (Hinduism and Buddhism) were the majority in Indonesian archipelago, especially in Java and Sumatra. As the result numerous Hindu temples, locally known as candi, constructed and dominated the landscape of Java. According to local beliefs, Java had thousands of Hindu temples which co-existed with Buddhist temples, most of which were buried in massive eruption of Mount Merapi in 1006 AD.[3][4]

Between 1100 and 1500 additional Hindu temples were built, but abandoned by Hindus and Buddhists as Islam spread in Java circa 15th to 16th century.

In last 200 years, some of these have been rediscovered mostly by farmers while preparing their lands for crops. Most of these ancient temples were rediscovered and reconstructed between 19th to 20th century, and treated as the important archaeological findings and also as tourist attraction, worship is mainly done on the national days by Balinese and local Hindu and Buddhist on days such as Nyepi and Vesak In Indonesia. The local population mostly has converted to Islam or Christianity, but there are still also many worshipers who follow Kejawèn. Today, these ancient Hindu temples in Java are under the authority of Dinas Purbakala (Archaeological Authority) under the Ministry of Culture.

Majority of Hindu temples in Java were dedicated to Shiva, who Javanese Hindus considered as the God who commands the energy to destroy, recombine and recreate the cycle of life. Small temples were often dedicated to Shiva and his family (wife Durga, son Ganesha). Larger temple complexes include temples for Vishnu and Brahma, but the most majestic, sophisticated and central temple was dedicated to Shiva. The 732 AD Canggal inscription found in Southern Central Java, written in Indonesian Sanskrit script, eulogizes Shiva, calling him God par-excellence.[5] Historical scripts suggest Javanese recognized amongst themselves three sects of Shiva - Mahesvara, Buddhist (Saugata) and Mahabrahmana (Rsi). The Hindu and Buddhist temples co-existed, people intermarried, with occasional couple featuring a Hindu king and Buddhist wife as evidenced by Candi Plaosan, the husband and wife maintaining their different religious beliefs after marriage. Most of the temples are laid out in perfect squares, with secondary temples or lingas arranged geometrically or circularly. However, midst of the perfect symmetries, is present a shift of the temple complex axis and primary statue enclosure axis; this asymmetry is believed to be deliberate because the shift is always to the north and the ratio of asymmetry is exactly the same in a dozen temples where this has been measured.[6] Some of sculptures and reliefs in the temples represent Hindu dance forms, currently seen in India but not in Java. Some in temples Java have a mix of Hindu and Buddhist features which has made attribution and original purpose against later usage difficult to ascertain.

Mother temple Besakih, the largest Balinese Hindu temple in Indonesia

Pura is Balinese Hindu temples. Balinese Hinduism is the continuation of Javanese Hindu Dharmic tradition developed in Java between the 8th to 15th century. After Islam toppled Hinduism in Java circa 15th century, the remnants of this ancient Indonesian Hinduism are confined in Bali. Balinese Hinduism incorporate native Austronesian and Hindu worship of ancestors batara-s in Balinese from Sanskrit pitr-s) next to the general ideas from Hinduism of Vedic deities, terms and rituals imported from India. In Bali, a Pura (Balinese temple) is designed as an open-air worship place within a walled compound. The compound walls have a series of intricately decorated gates without doors for the devotee to enter. The design, plan and layout of the holy pura follows a square layout.

Today, Balinese Hindus are concentrated in Bali island and some other cities in Indonesia. In Bali, Hindu Balinese temples (Pura) can be found quite easily, since they are the majority in the island. Outside Bali, they can be found too but not too many, for mostly these temples were followed the migration and only to accommodate Balinese people outside Bali, such as Balinese temples in Greater Jakarta.

West Java

Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta in Bogor, West Java

• Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagat Kartta, Taman Sari, Bogor Regency - the second largest Balinese Hindu temple in Indonesia.
• Pura Giri Kusuma, Bogor
• Pura Penataran Agung Sangga Bhuwana, Karawang
• Pura Agung Wira Loka Natha, Cimahi
• Pura Wira Satya Dharma, Ujung Berung Bandung
• Pura Satya Akasa, Margahayu, Bandung
• Pura Agung Jati Pramana, Cirebon

Shri Mariamman Indian Hindu Temple in Medan

Kovil or koil (kuil in Indonesian) are used to refer Indian Hindu temples. Because of the influx of Indian immigrants into Indonesia back in the 19th century, there are numbers of Indian-style temples erected in Indonesian cities, especially in Medan and Jakarta. The Indian Hindu temples in Indonesia followed closely the design, style, layout and architecture commonly found in India and neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Tamil Hindus are most concentrated in Medan, North Sumatra. There are around 40 Hindu temples in Medan and nearby but only a few Balinese Hindu temples in North Sumatra. Balaji Venkateshvara Temple (Pasar IV Padang Bulan, Medan) is developed by Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam groups. Punjabis are mostly Sikh and Hindu. Most of them mixed these religions and some of them can speak Punjabi. Hindi and Sindhi are concentrated in Jakarta and usually open textile and garment business. There are around 12 Sikh temples in Indonesia.

Banda Aceh

Hindu Temple in Banda Aceh

• Kuil Palani Andawer, Kampung Kedah, Kutaraja, Banda Aceh

Compared to Indian Hindu temples, there are relatively few Hindu temples of Indonesian architecture outside the country. They are as follows:

• Pura Girinatha, Dili, East Timor
• Pura Tri Hita Karana (located in Erholungspark Marzahn, Berlin, Germany)
• A padmasana exists in Hamburg, Germany in front of the Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg.[12]
• Two Balinese Temples exist in the Pairi Daiza botanical garden in Belgium.[13][14]

• Indosphere
• Candi of Indonesia
• Greater India
• Hinduism in Southeast Asia
• Buddhism in Southeast Asia
• List of Buddhist temples
• Lists of Hindu temples by country