At the close of the 19^th century B. Kersjes and C. den Hamer conducted the first complete survey of Candi Mendut for the purpose of determining the nature of the restorative measures that should be undertaken in order to preserve the temple for future generations. The results of their initial findings were published in Tjandi Mendut voor die restauratie (1903). Their observations provide many important details concerning just how the temple had appeared prior to its restoration in the early 20th century, including precise measurement details that reflect the temple’s original condition. In addition, the two Dutch surveyors were responsible for establishing the first comprehensive reference system for indicating the placement of all the reliefs and images that appear within the confines of Candi Mendut.

The text presented below provides a comprehensive review of the architectural details observed by B. Kersjes that are essential to studying Candi Mendut. In Part II: An Archaeological Description of the Mendut Temple, C. den Hamer examines the temple in further detail. In both cases, the original photographic and illustrative plates of the authors are supplemented by links to additional modern photographs that can further aid the explanations given herein.  

§1a. The staircase and the portal’s interior

Attached to the northwest face of the building is a staircase that is 4.80 m broad and presents a total of 14 steps that lead up to the raised ambulatory path, the floor of which is 3.60 m above ground level. This ambulatory walkway has a floor that is 2.48 m wide. After climbing up to this level one comes to a smaller staircase consisting of three steps (leading up to the porch entranceway that extends outward to the northwest from the central structure). The floor of this vestibule is 2.15 m wide and has a length of 5.0 m. Furthermore, the steps immediately to the front of the vestibule extend by 75 cm onto the floor of the ambulatory itself. In addition, the vestibule threshold has been raised 15 cm above the height of the ambulatory floor to the outside.

At the time of Kersjes’ survey, the over-decking of the vestibule had collapsed entirely (Plate III), whereas its partition walls remained partially preserved. In the first half of the vestibule (Plate I) are niches to either side, the backs of which are decorated with reliefs (Plate XVIII, bottom right). The purpose of these niches is not known with certainty but due to their short depth, they appear to be unsuitable for having originally housed images.

The interior partitions located along the vestibule’s second half are also covered with reliefs Plate XIX). Each partition has been divided into upper and lower panel registers that have survived almost wholly undamaged. (The upper panels can be seen in Plate XVIII).

§1b. The interior of the cella

After passing by this second set of panels, the visitor crosses the threshold, goes down two steps to enter the interior space dedicated to the viewing of the temple’s main images (Plate III). The floor of the inner sanctum lies 50 cm below the level of the preceding corridor. 

The interior room displays the form of a trapezoid in which the front and back walls are perpendicular to the axis of the entranceway, while the side walls are parallel to this axis. The back wall has the shortest dimension, which is 6.80 m long, whereas the front wall -- broken by the entrance doorway -- is 7.30 m in length. The distance spanned by each of the two side walls each amounts to 6.85 m in length.

The back part of this relatively small viewing space has been provided with a floor or platform that is raised approximately 65 cm above the first part.  The steps of the staircase that formerly gave entrance to this raised platform had entirely disappeared by the late 19th century but the width space to accommodate the staircase could still be seen.

Three images are installed on this raised platform that takes up the entire area of the raised floor platform (the profile of which is shown in Plate IVb, intersection I-K) . The largest of the three, originally placed on a seat that is located against the back wall, had since slid down and was to be found at a spot before the staircase that formerly gave access to the raised platform, where it displayed a slightly tilted attitude. But the original placement of the throne was still visible. The seats for the other two images, together the images themselves, which had been treated very beautifully, had remained virtually intact.  

With respect to the partition walls of the interior, no decorations whatsoever had been introduced on the back wall. As far as the remaining partition walls were concerned, the Dutch engineer described the decorations in the interior’s first half – that closest to the entranceway and in front of the raised platform – as having a sober, sedate nature. At either side of the entranceway there is a niche, and there are two additional niches on each of the two side walls as well. In each of these six niches, lotus seats could still be seen. Seated images may have formerly resided here, but if that had indeed once been the case the original statues had vanished long ago.

Each niche opening is framed by simple plinth, the bottom side of which extends outward only a little, except for the protruding pedestal (Plate XXII, bottom left). On either side and above this pedestal there are excellent pilasters, the capitals of which are adorned with makara-motifs that terminate in a kala head at the top and above the middle of each niche. 

The temple’s interior area (Plate III) is covered by a vaulted roof that is formed out of layers of overlapping stone: 35 layered courses above the raised platform or 37 courses above the floor. Only a small opening has been left at the very top of this elongated structure, which extends approximately 11.80 m above the interior’s raised platform. 

The roof area to the left of northwest façade, which is the side on which the entranceway is located, had entirely collapsed (Plate VI), whereas in the remaining areas there were visible cracks. The overall appearance of the roof at the time was more or less bent.

The image viewing room is surrounded by massive walls that have a cross-section that measures about 2.80 m. The outside surfaces of these walls are completely vertical. Against each of the sides, as well as in the middle of each of the three walls, there is a rectangular panel. The depth of the cella threshold is only 65 cm on the façade where the entranceway is located. The short side on which is the entranceway lies at a distance of 4.25 m from the start of the raised platform, so that a sufficient opportunity was found to introduce the extension in this place.

§1c. The temple’s profile

Having left the sanctified area of the interior behind us, we shall eventually turn our attention to a breakdown of the temple’s southwest façade (Plate II and Plate IX). But first, we shall need to examine the form of the thin, flat bands of the Mendut temple’s profile, which are worthy of further consideration.

Plate IVa presents the dimensions that delineate the various components of the profile that comprises the southwest façade. It has been provided with a firm, strong plinth, a portion of which is composed of flat bands, a kyma, a tooth band, and a solid hemisphere. The cornice of the wall consists of flat bands and a kyma, whereas the area of the upper plinth and the cornice line are defined by a number vertical lines that appear in several of the panels. The most forward-projecting and largest of the panels on the temple’s basement, which are either adorned with human figures or hanging floral patterns, are surrounded by ranks of leaf ornaments. Moreover, everything within these reliefs has been decorated. The poses of the figures are different from one relief to the next, but even so they all concurrently turn their faces toward the middle of the temple.

Antefixes have been placed on the top of the projections above each of the panels in a rhythmic manner, flat against the cornice band, as a protective-form of glorification. In addition, spout heads have been introduced concurrently at the same height for the purpose of conducting to the outside of the building the rain water that falls on the temple and its ambulatory walkway.

Above the cornice of the railing wall, one finds a banister that surrounds the central structure to the outside of the ambulatory walkway. On this railing one also finds plinth and cornice, with dimensions that are of course smaller than those of the railing walls themselves. The areas underneath the plinth and cornice are decorated with small squares that display diagonal and vertical scores and which are decorated with rosettes. In addition, the railing bands have decorations on both sides.

§1d. The raised ambulatory walkway

The railing wall of the ambulatory lends an impression of great solidity and form to the more beautiful portions of this noteworthy temple. Climbing up to the level of the ambulatory walkway, we shall consider the southwest façade as we approach it. The wall of the building rises without a framework from the floor of the higher ambulatory walkway (Plate IVa,  profile A-B). On our left-hand side is the balustrade that entirely surrounds the temple’s central structure, the upper part of which extends 1.20 m above the walkway. The basement face below the balustrade’s frame is divided into fields in which either human figures or animals are featured. It is surrounded in turn by ranks of carved piece-work.

Virtually every free area has been treated; here the space has not been divided into panels through the use of incised vertical lines; likewise for the railing walls in this part of the balustrade little effort has generally been spent, which goes a long way toward explaining why this particular component of the temple so little attracts the eye. Above the banister frame there is a base frame that is formed by flat bands, a kyma and a hemisphere: all, and rightly so, of lighter dimensions than that which can be seen on the railing wall.  On the end of this base frame is the stone anten, which forms the upper limit of the previously discussed construction-works. The anten has neither base nor capital and is not decorated with reliefs. It is approximately 4.40 meters high and carries a cornice, compound frame, several flat bands and a kyma. Below the kyma on these flat bands, birds with outspread wings have been presented, whereas in the upper flat band ordinary ornaments are to be seen.

§1e. The exterior of the main cella

With the exception of the front upon which the staircase and entranceway have been introduced (and except for what we shall later examine), each façade is defined by means of a panel that projects outward by 65 cm. The prominent, foremost-part is divided into the three sections (the previously described base, cornices and two anten limits). The middle panel is 4.40 m in height and 4.15 m broad, whereas the others are only 2.35 m in breadth. All of these panels have been decorated in the following manner.  

Vertical edges that pass through the cornice have been introduced next to the anten. In addition, the base band is covered with leaf-ornaments. Next to these are the pilasters and reliefs. Each of the capitals carries the figure of a squatting dwarf. In the raised hands above his head can be seen something being held aloft on which rests a makara head, with its open mouth turned to the middle of the panel and with its snout touching the cornice. To either side of each panel are fixed pilasters and at the top and center of each panel is a carved kala head with decorations that hang down from its mouth.

Within the areas of the side panels ¾ as defined by the fixed pilasters with makara heads and a kala head ¾ are found images and haut-reliefs. The figures stand on pedestals, whereas their courts are covered by a type of canopy, which also has been introduced in relief. The figures in seven of the eight original smaller panels can still be seen; some are more, while others less, damaged. (Only the bottom half of the eighth small panel that originally existed to the right of the main shrine’s entranceway can still be seen today because of the collapse of this whole side of the building prior to the temple’s modern re-discovery). 

The three large panel areas (Plate VII, Plate VIII and Plate IX) are entirely filled with images and haut-relief between the pilasters. However, these reliefs are not mutually equal. In the panel on the southwestern façade (Plate IX), one finds a four-armed image sitting on a lotus cushion flanked by two other figures also seated on lotus cushions that are at a somewhat lower height. In the upper portion of the panel are two characters that float on clouds. The lotus cushion on which the four-armed image is enthroned rests on a column that is being held up by two carved figures in relief.

The middle panel on the southeastern façade (Plate VIII) portrays a four-armed character standing in the middle of the relief, flanked by two seated female figures. Once again there are images of deities floating overhead on clouds.

The central character in the large panel of the northeast façade (Plate VII) is an eight-armed figure, surrounded by two standing figures and other deities (on clouds as in the other middle panels). This particular panel is damaged to a great degree.

The manner on which each of the façades presents three vertical panels, may be deemed highly fortune; the decoration of these panels is also very satisfactory with respect to giving the impression of bearing weight.

In Plate II, between the upper plinth and cornice and going from right to left, are visible: (1) the great paneled area of the southwestern facade, which is defined by three vertical lines and adds 0.65 m. to the front of the façade; (2) the right panel; (3)  the middle panel;  (4)  the left panel; (5) the great panel of the northwest front; and (6) the surviving area of the wall to the right of the entrance (northwest façade).      

§1f. The portal’s exterior  

In contrast to the other three sides, which project outward by 65 cm, the anterior construction on the northwest façade is 4.25 m in depth. Here it is better to say that the enlargements have been divided into two divisions, of which the one (see Plate II) that is 65 cm wide and 3.60 m in height is located towards the head of the building, while the other, 3.60 m broad, only served for introducing access to the interior of the central cella.  

The wainscot of the portal’s exterior partition walls is the same as what is found on the main cella, whereas the base above this cover of decorative elements (see Plate IVb, intersection E-F) shows much agreement with the previously described base band; however, the dimensions are somewhat smaller. The panel above this base is very damaged. The right side is delimited by a rank-forming edge that is decorated with leaf-ornamentation; it becomes observed as the corollary to still yet another part with a carved relief pilaster.

To the left of this pilaster one still finds the vestiges of images carved in relief. The images on the right-hand side (B45) are less damaged with three human feet still visible at present. The area between this panel and the main building, a portion of which remains undamaged, was formerly covered by flowers and reliefs. The cornice of these panels is wholly vertical, so that of its connection to the main building nothing can be notified; the same applies to the over-decking for the portal walkway, as well as the part of the superstructure where this cornice formerly intersected with the remainder of the building.

We may assume that the entrance vestibule was formerly covered, as is the case with the previously described interior space of the temple, by a vaulted roof of which the four areas did not come together in a single point, but which rather finished in a right angle. At Candi Singosari in the Pasoeroean Residency one also finds a square room preceded by a walkway that is covered by a vaulted roof in the same manner.  

The exterior sides of the staircase (Plate XIII) have been divided into segments that are all filled up with reliefs,  several of which portray the images of human figures and animals (monkeys, snakes, tortoises, etc.). The segments are all rectangular, with the exception of the triangles that border the staircase banisters.

The other staircase side is likewise divided into segments,  whereof Kersjes rightly noted it probable that a very low railing was formerly present that proceeded down the sides of the stairs to end in the makara heads that have standing lions in their gaping maws.

§1g. The roof

As has been said, on the upper stages of the southwest side and above the first cornice, the vestiges of a stupa was visible to Kersjes. In addition, above the formless stone heap could be seen evidence of the intended construction, for which vertical and horizontal frames were still visible. However, the correct location for that construction is difficult to stipulate, because it would be very dangerous to climb up and onto the stone heap and in order to make the necessary measurements; it would first have to be cleared of stones. Furthermore, no staircase to the upper roof stages is in evidence. 

Kersjes found it regrettable that so little of these upper stages remained at the time of his investigation, and hence thought that any decision with regards to attacking the building's restoration ¾ whether it should be restored in its entirety or left in an inferior state ¾ remained difficult to undertake from an architectural point of view. As to which approach would have more value, he said one may decide after seeing the presentation in Plate II.   

Kersjes concluded his remarks by stating without hesitation  that he believed "the ordering of the partitions ¾ both below the first cornice by means of horizontal and vertical lines as well as those of the railing wall ¾ to be so masterful, the resulting impression so surprising, and the whole so little overloads the eye ¾ being almost soberly treated ¾ that the Mendut temple should be classified among the most successful architectural achievements of the Hindu era."

Go to: Candi Mendut Before the Restoration, Part II

copyright 2005 borobudur.tv - All rights reserved