(EN-IND) To the Soul Temple, Unexpected Traveling
This is an old traveling story, around last June. Meeting with the unexpected heritage of the Archipelago. Because it really wasn't the purpose of my trip at that time.
At that time I was a Quick Count Volunteer for Simultaneous Regional Head Elections in Indonesia (Pilkada). I joined to register for volunteers in West Java and happened to get a assignment in Karawang Regency.
Because I did not know the location of the polling station (TPS), of course I immediately asked Google and along the way activated the Google map. On Google, I was also looking for the nearest tourist spot where I was on duty, which allowed me to stop by the place after or before the volunteer's assignment was completed. Appears on Google the closest tourist spot is the Soul Temple. hmmm have to stop by.
Even though there is an estimated time and distance on google map, I chose the road early in the morning after the morning prayer, so that it would not be too late to arrive at the location, and avoid traffic jams. From Jakarta I drove a motorcycle at a speed of 60 km / hour, I deliberately did not speed up, because while enjoying the morning air. With medium speed, the distance between Jakarta and Karawang is around 2 hours.
SOUL TEMPLE
Because I arrived in Karawang still early in the morning, immediately when I saw the directions to the location of the Temple, I decided to turn off the google map and stop by the Soul Temple.
The temple design is unique, if other temples such as the Borobudur temple are made of stone, the Soul Temple is different, this temple is made of red brick arrangement.
The location of this site is in the middle of rice fields and partly near residential areas. Administratively, the Soul Temple is located in Segaran Village, Batujaya District, Karawang Regency, West Java, not far from the north coast line of West Java (Ujung Karawang beach).
It is said that Segaran Village was once a lake formed by the Citarum River. And, the location of the temple is inside the lake. Therefore this village named Segaran, in Sanskrit means sea, lake or lake. So it's natural to conclude that the Soul Temple was a Buddhist masterpiece that was above the lotus floating on the water.
It is said that the age of the Soul Temple is predicted to be older than Borobudur Temple. From several sources it is stated that the Soul Temple was built between the 2nd century and the 12th century AD. Estimated relating to the Royal History of Tarumanegara.
If we are observant, this 19 x 19 meter square temple looks like a lotus flower. In the middle part of the Temple of the Soul there is a circular building formerly thought to have a Buddha statue that once stood.
SOUL TEMPLE MYTH
There is always a myth when talking about Candi, do you believe? This is the story of the residents around the Jiwa temple, that it used to be, if the shepherd goats always die without cause when passing through the soil or mound of land covering the temple. From that incident, the surrounding community considered the place to have "Soul", because it was not only once, but several times the goats passed there always died. Therefore, the community named the temple as the Soul Temple.
BLANDONGAN TEMPLE
Not far from the Soul Temple, there is one more temple which is composed of red brick, the name is Blandongan Temple.
According to the story, the Blandongan Temple is a relic of the Srivijaya era and Tarumanegara. Inside the Blandongan Temple many historical objects were found. Among them Amulets and Buni Pottery.
What is Amulet?
Amulet is a fetish that is planted by someone when he visits a place. It could also be a sign when someone fulfills his vow or as a repulsion for reinforcements. One of the Amulets found in the Blandongan Temple contains writings of the Christian era, describing the story of Sarasvati, which is when Buddha was inspired by worldly problems.
The Soul Temple and Blandongan Temple have been restored, although not all of them have been formed like the original form of the temple. Actually I want to know more about the detailed findings in the temple but unfortunately at that time the temple museum was closed because it was on a national holiday at the same time as the Regional Head Elections (Pilkada).
Oh yes, in this area of the Blandongan and Soul Temple sites every year Vesak celebrations are held. It seems that if you want to travel to the temple site, the right moment is during the celebration of Vesak day. But if you prefer a calm atmosphere, ordinary days seem right there. Only 2 hours if you ride a motorcycle from Jakarta to the location of the Soul Temple.
After being satisfied to browse the temple site area, I turned on the google map again to the location of the country's assignment hehe.
Returning home to Jakarta, I chose the time of the afternoon, so as not to burn the sun in the afternoon. Before turning on the motorbike engine, I took the time to eat soup on the banks of the river, while enjoying the rural scenery, accompanied by shirtless children bathing in the river.
> > BAHASA: KE CANDI JIWA, TRAVELING TAK TERDUGA
Ini cerita traveling lama sih, sekitar bulan Juni lalu. Pertemuan dengan peninggalan leluhur Nusantara yang tak terduga. Karena sebenarnya bukan tujuan perjalananku saat itu.
Saat itu saya ikut menjadi Relawan Quick Count untuk Pemilihan Kepala Daearah Serentak di Indonesia (Pilkada). Saya ikut mendaftarkan diri untuk relawan di Jawa Barat dan kebetulan mendapat tugas di Kabupaten Karawang.
Karena saya tidak tahu lokasi Tempat Pemungutan Suara (TPS ), tentu dong langsung bertanya kepada google dan sepanjang perjalanan mengaktifkan google map. Di google, saya juga iseng mencari tempat wisata yang terdekat tempat saya bertugas, yang memungkinkan saya mampir ke tempat tersebut setelah atau sebelum tugas relawan selesai. Muncul di Google tempat wisata yang terdekat adalah Candi Jiwa. hmmm harus mampir.
Meski di google map ada estimasi waktu dan jarak, saya memilih jalan pagi-pagi selepas shalat subuh, agar tidak terlambat sampai di lokasi, juga menghindari kemacetan. Dari Jakarta saya mengendarai sepeda motor dengan kecepatan 60 km/jam, saya sengaja tidak ngebut, karena sambil menikmati udara pagi. Dengan kecepatan sedang, jarak Jakarta-Karawang saya tempuh sekitar 2 jam.
CANDI JIWA
Karena sampai di Karawang masih pagi, seketika ketika melihat petunjuk jalan ke arah lokasi Candi, saya putuskan untuk mematikan google map dan mampir ke Candi Jiwa.
Desain candinya unik, kalau candi-candi lain seperti candi Borobudur itu terbuat dari batu, Candi Jiwa berbeda, Candi ini terbuat dari susunan bata merah.
Lokasi situs ini berada di tengah persawahan dan sebagian lagi dekat permukiman penduduk. Secara administratif, Candi Jiwa terletak di Desa Segaran, Kecamatan Batujaya, Kabupaten Karawang, Jawa Barat, tidak jauh dari garis pantai utara Jawa Barat (pantai Ujung Karawang).
Konon Segaran Village dulunya sebuah danau yang terbentuk karena Sungai Citarum. Dan, lokasi Candi berada di dalam danau. Karenanya Desa ini bernama Segaran, dalam bahasa Sansekerta berarti laut, telaga atau danau. Jadi wajar kalau ada menyimpulkan bahwa Candi Jiwa dahulu merupakan sebuah mahakarya sang Budha yang berada di atas bunga teratai yang mengapung di atas air.
Konon, usia Candi Jiwa diprediksi lebih tua dari Candi Borobudur. Dari beberapa sumber disebutkan bahwa Candi Jiwa dibangun antara abad ke-2 hingga abad ke-12 Masehi. Diperkirakan berkaitan dengan Sejarah Kerajaan Tarumanegara.
Kalau kita jeli, Candi berbentuk persegi 19 x 19 meter ini mirip bunga teratai. Di bagian tengah dari Candi Jiwa terdapat bekas bangunan yang berbentuk lingkaran yang diduga dulu terdapat patung Budha yang pernah berdiri.
MITOS CANDI JIWA
Selalu ada mitos kalau bicara Candi, kamu percaya? Ini cerita dari penduduk sekitar candi Jiwa, bahwa dulu, kalau kambing gembala selalu mati tanpa sebab ketika melewati unur atau gundukan tanah yang menutupi candi tersebut. Dari kejadian itulah, masyarakat sekitar menganggap tempat itu memiliki “Jiwa”, karena tidak hanya sekali, tapi beberapa kali kambing lewat di sana selalu mati. Oleh karena itu, masyarakat menamai candi itu dengan sebutan Candi Jiwa.
CANDI BLANDONGAN
Tidak jauh dari Candi Jiwa, ada satu lagi candi yang sama tersusun dari bata merah, namanya Candi Blandongan.
Menurut cerita, Candi Blandongan merupakan peninggalan jaman Sriwijaya dan Tarumanegara. Di dalam Candi Blandongan ditemukan banyak benda-benda bersejarah. Diantaranya Amulet dan Gerabah Buni.
Apa itu Amulet?
Amulet merupakan jimat yang ditanam seseorang saat ia mengunjungi suatu tempat. Bisa juga tanda saat seseorang memenuhi nazarnya atau sebagai tolak bala. Salah satu Amulet yang ditemukan di Candi Blandongan memuat tulisan zaman Sebelum Masehi, menggambarkan cerita tentang Sarasvati, yaitu ketika Budha mendapat ilham mengenai masalah keduniaan.
Candi Jiwa dan Candi Blandongan telah mengalami pemugaran, meskipun belum keseluruhan terbentuk seperti bentuk asli candinya. Sebetulnya saya ingin tahu lebih banyak tentang temuan-temuan detil di candi itu tapi sayang saat itu museum candinya tutup karena sedang libur nasional Pemilihan Kepala Daerah serentak (Pilkada).
Oh ya, di kawasan situs Candi Blandongan dan Candi Jiwa ini setiap tahun digelar perayaan hari Waisak. Sepertinya kalau kamu ingin berwisata ke situs Candi ini momen yang tepat adalah saat perayaan hari Waisak. Tapi kalau kamu lebih suka suasana tenang, hari-hari biasa sepertinya cocok ke sana. Hanya 2 jam loh kalau kamu naik sepeda motor dari Jakarta ke lokasi Candi Jiwa.
Setelah puas menelusuri kawasan situs Candi, saya kembali hidupkan google map menuju lokasi tugas negara hehe.
Pulang kembali ke Jakarta, saya memilih waktu sore hari, agar tidak terpanggang teriknya matahari di siang hari. Sebelum menghidupkan mesin motor, saya sempatkan makan soto di tepi sungai, sambil menikmati pemandangan pedesaan, ditemani anak-anak bertelanjang dada mandi di sungai.
Location information
● Candi Jiwa Batujaya, Segaran, Karawang Regency, West Java, Indonesia
