Showing posts with label Kala Makara in Indonesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kala Makara in Indonesia. Show all posts

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Huge Ganeshaगणेश Statue at Police Head Quarter , Salatiga , Indonesia

Huge Ganeshaगणेश  Statue at busy crossing in front of Salatiga Police Head Quarter, Jalan (Street) Osamaliki , Salatiga , Central Java , Indonesia. Ganeshaगणेश is shown here sitting on PADMASANAपदमासन Lotus Flower with the soles of His feet pressed together.This Asana is Typical Indonesian variant of Ganesha Asana which is rarely found any where in Asia. His fan - shaped ears are also an Indonesian  variant .

Indonesian version of Ganesha is unlike Indian version where SKULLS are used as embellishments and Ganesh idol is depicted here with skulls ornaments which is a JAVANESE (जवनीस) conception. This is due to Ganesh's association with Shiv who wears a garland of skulls in his Bhairava (भैरव) Avatar.

Stone inscription at the base of Ganesha Stature which is in Javanese.

It reads "For the memories of All former Students and Students of  Armed Fighters , inaugurated on 26th August 1989 by Mr. L.B. Moerdani , Minister of Security and Defense , Republic of Indonesia" .

Back of the Ganeshaगणेश  adorn Kala Makra face काला मकर 

Larger view of the Police Headquarter Entrance Gate at busy crossing. It was very difficult  to capture full view due to heavy traffic.
 Sceneric view of Entrance gate ...
The top of  both pillars have stone sculpture. The Security Guard at the entrance told me that it is "Kecil Ganesha"  (Small Ganesha)बाल गणेश 
Just below the Kecil Ganesha there is another stone sculpture on both the pillars of Lotus flower bud Symbolic of Purity.


I took 2 very interesting pictures below.
This is the banner of a roadside eating joint called in Indonesia Language "Warung Makan" (Dhabaढाबा) . Indonesians are so much fascinated by Lord Ganesha that  the owner named his warung after GANESHAगणेश  , selling   Mie (Noodles) Ayam (Chicken) Bakso (Meat ball) and Iced Tea n Lemon.
 I found  one  Apotek (Medical Store) named after Ganeshaगणेश .





Friday, July 3, 2015

Kala Makara (Sanskrit: मकर) , An Integral part of Indonesian Culture


 Relief of Makara at Candi Gedong Songo , Bandungan , Semarang , Central Java , Indonesia

Makara (Sanskrit: मकर) is a creature in Hindu mythology.It is generally described by a combination of two animals (in front of intangible animals such as elephants or crocodiles or deer, or elk) and at the back of the animal described as the water at the tail of a fish or a dragon.
 Relief of Makara at Candi Gedong Songo , Bandungan , Semarang , Central Java , Indonesia


Relief of Kala Makara at the back of Ganesha Statue , Salatiga  , Central Java , Indonesia


 Relief of Makara at Candi Arjuna,  Dieng Plateau , Central Java , Indonesia


 Relief of Makara at Candi Sambisari, Yogyakarta , Central Java , Indonesia

Makara is a vehicle (vehicle) of Goddess Gangaगंगा  and Varunaवरुण  God. It is also a symbol of the God Kamadevaकामदेव . Kamadeva also known as Makaradhvajaमकरध्वज  (a flag that makara pictured). Capricorn is the zodiac Capricorn, one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. It is often described to protect the entrance to the Hindu and Buddhist temples.


  Makara at the Gate of Infantry Battalion  , Salatiga , Central Java , Indonesia


 Relief of Makara at Candi Gedong Songo , Bandungan , Semarang , Central Java , Indonesia

Makara is often portrayed and carved in the temples in Indonesia, especially in Bali and Java. The Balinese call Gajahmina, which literally means "elephant fish". Makara is sometimes described as being intangible half goat and half fish as symbols of the zodiac Capricornus. In the scriptures of the Hindus, Makara is a creature that became the vehicle of Lord Varunaवरुण and Goddess Gangaगंगा.

 Relief of Makara at Candi Gedong Songo , Bandungan , Semarang , Central Java , Indonesia



Makara is also used as a symbol of the University of Indonesia.



(Text adapted from WIKIPEDIA).