Makara with a Trunk in the Form of a Lion
Makara afkomstig van de linker ingang van Candi Bubrah, een tempel ten zuiden van het Candi Sewu-complex op Midden-Java. De bovenkaak eindigt in een gehoornd monster met opengesperde muil waaruit een menselijk ... More
Nandishvara, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum, volcanic stone andesite
Nandishvara is one of the two guards at the entrance to temples of the Hindu god Shiva. He has the appearance of an elegant young man and stands on Shiva’s right side. In one hand he holds a circle of prayer be... More
Mahakala, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum, volcanic stone andesite
The second guard at a Shiva temple is Mahakala, who stands on Shiva’s left side. His demonic characteristics – wild hair, bulging eyes and open mouth, a fat body and curled-up toes – make him the opposite of th... More
Lintel, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum, volcanic stone andesite
This monster – who is traditionally identifed with the demon Kala – protected the entrances to Hindu and Buddhist temples against evil spirits. The stone was once placed above the entrance to one of the 240 sma... More
Makara, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum, volcanic stone andesite
The makara is a mythical creature associated with water. In Central Java, they often stood guard at temple entrances. This example has the muzzle of a dragon, the trunk of an elephant and the horns of a ram. Se... More
Religious teacher, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum
A guru or religious teacher serves a god by spreading his doctrine among the people. This particular guru is a servant of Shiva, as is clear from the trident (Shiva’s weapon). He is carrying a string of prayer ... More
The bodhisattva Manjushri, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum
Manjushri was venerated in China as one of the first advocates of Buddhism. On Java, he was represented as a young man with bejewelled straps across his chest. This figure’s missing hands may once have made the... More
Lintel, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum, volcanic stone andesite
This head of a monster once adorned the top of a niche in the wall of a small shrine at Candi Loro Jonggrang, a large Hindu temple complex in Central Java. The term candi is used in Indonesia to denote both Hin... More
Two fragments from a frieze, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum
These panels once formed part of a continuous decorative border (frieze) at the base of a temple. On both fragments human figures are shown walking through a hilly, wooded landscape. It is not known for certain... More
Two fragments from a frieze, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum
These panels once formed part of a continuous decorative border (frieze) at the base of a temple. On both fragments human figures are shown walking through a hilly, wooded landscape. It is not known for certain... More
Head of a deity, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum
This mysterious head probably comes from either Candi Sukuh or Candi Cetoh – two temples located high in the mountains between Central and East Java. The asymmetrical headgear is decorated with flowers or stars... More