Candi Plaosan, South temple

The first temple on right or in the east which we see is the South temple. It is so named because there is a similar temple in its north.  As I have already mentioned, southern temple was meant for bhikkhus or male monks.

South temple

8 steps lead to inside of temple

makar at the base

One  interesting feature in kaal in the temple here is that it has no lower jaw. The lintel is decorated with trailing stems and leaves

On the side above can be seen the Kinnar (arrow pointing), and down is the makar. On the side of the entrance are the images of Avalokiteshwara.

Inside the temple:

Once inside the temple, there are three rooms and it takes some time to get used to the dark. It is not easy to take pictures there.

There are six chambers in the temple, three in this level and three on the top level. But the above level is not accessible now. Two Bodhisattava on each side of an empty pedestal are in all rooms. An image of Buddha is said to be in the center but it not seen now.

In spite of being a Buddhist temple, its architecture reflects a perfect blend of Hinduism and Buddhism.

The upper level is without any images and was supposed to be sleeping chambers for monks.

Images of Bodhisattva Vajrapani and Padmapani greet you in the central shrine. The central image which is said to be of bronze is missing. All chambers have central images missing.

images in the central chamber

Bodhisattava Wajrapani or Vajrapani

Bodhisattava Padmapani in padmasana or lotus position

Chamber on the west:

Images of Bodhisatva Manjusri and Sarwaniwaranawiskambhin in the cell on left side of main chamber

Bodhisattava Manjusri

Throughout the temple, images exhibit the same sitting style. The right leg is placed over a lotus pedestal. Right hand in dyaanmudra (ध्यानमुद्रा) rests on the right knee. The left leg is bent at the knee on which rests on the left hand holding an utpala flower, a sort of water lily. Utpala is a symbol of purity.

foot on lotus pedestal

image of  Bodhisattava Sarwaniwarnanawiskambhin on right side

image of Bodhisatva Manjusri on the left

 Sarwaniwarnanawiskambhin on the right side

Relief inside the temple:

Kuwera

On right side of  Bodhisatva Manjusri, near the niche is Kuwera. Kuwera and Hariti are Buddhist tutelary couple. Kuwera is also known by the name of Yaksha Avataka or Panchika. He is god of wealth and good fortune.

Khmer king,

On the left side of room, opposite to the above relief, near Bodhisattva Sarwaniwarnanawiskambhin, are seen a couple standing, samabhanga (समभंग) pose under an umbrella.

The headdress hints at them being from Cambodia.
It is not clear which King it might represent but it is confirmed that Jayavarman II, the first King of Cambodia visited at the time when Borobudur and Prambanan were under construction. So it is quite possible that the relief depicts him.

On entering the left room, a relief depicting a King and queen in anjalimaudra facing the images is seen. The king and queen seem to sitting under a Kalpataru. Two children hold an umbrella on the sides. It is not clear which King it might represent but since the temple was built by Rikai Pikatan and Queen Sri Kahulunan, it might be them.

An empty niche with kaalmukh above and makar below on sides. Kinnars are seen on the top.
The place was for putting lamps.

Hariti

The relief just near the niche for putting lamps is of Hariti with children around her. Her hands were probably in Varamudra or blessing posture. It is said that Hariti used to eat children and was a terror but after meeting Buddha, she changed herself and became a protector of children.

Hariti is a symbol of fertility and good fortune.

In the east chamber:
Two images of Bodhisattava are seen in almost good condition.

 images of Bodhisattava Samatabhadra and Maitreya in the right chamber

Kuwera on left side of Maitreya

In this chamber also, we see Kuwera by the side of Bodhisattva Maitreya.

Bodhisattava Samatabhadra

On the right side near Bodhisattva Samatabhadra is a relief of couple with two children. Since, there is no information on relief throughout the temple, it probably depicts Hariti and Kuwera or represents queen and king under an umbrella.

Boddhisattava Samatabhadra on left side of chamber

image  of Bodhisattva Maitreya on the right side

feet rest on a lotus etched stone pedestal

The temple is built on two levels so there should be an entrance to second level. There is only one opening to the second level which is in this chamber. It is supposed that were wooden stairs leading to that level but with time they have have been damaged. Probably this is the entrance to upper level. It is said that there are no images. They were either sleeping rooms for the monks or the space was used to keep Buddhists texts.

Candi Plaosan, North temple

The north and south temple are surrounded by a wall which in turn is surrounded by perwara temples. The twin temples are connected to each other by a gate.

the other temple, both temples are connected to each other by a gate

The top of the gate is decorated by Kaal with absence of lower jaw. The gate is similar to the ones outside.

Inside the temple:

Like the south temple, here also there are three chambers with images of Boddhisattava. It pained to see all images without heads. They have all been stolen away and sold to collectors. In fact,  two heads were stolen as late as 2010. The reason probably is that the South temple has a door which gets locked but here in the North temple, there is no door which can get locked. Not that a simple lock would deter any person with the ill motive of stealing something as beautiful as Buddha head and selling at the international market.
It is an offence to sell or buy Buddha heads in Thailand. I do not understand what pleasure do the collectors get in having a Buddha head? Isn't it more beautiful to see the whole image sitting in a transcendental meditation posture?

Moreover, the fields surrounding the temple provide ample opportunity for such people to sneak in and do their work at leisure.

images in the central chamber

The above images are sitting in padmasana or the lotus posture. Although, it is difficult to identify which Bodhisattva they might be  but it is understood that similar images like those in the South temple are here as well. Like in the southern temple, the central image of Buddha is missing.

The makar on top looks different from the one at the southern temple.

In the chamber on left side or the west side are images of Bodhisattva Manjusri and Sarwaniwaranawiskambhin

Boddhisattva Manjusri 

The style of sitting is same as in southern temple, right leg on a pedestal, and left leg folded at knee.

Bodhisattva Sarwaniwaranawiskambhin in padmasanana or lotus position

In the east side chamber are images of Bodhisattva Samatabhadra and Maitreya

Bodhisattava Maitreya

Bodhisattava Samatabhadra

North temple was for bhikkhunis so the outside wall has female figures.

female figures

The reliefs outside the temple are those of female figures. 

To the north of this temple is mandapa which too has many Buddha images but without heads.

I continue to South temple .......