RATU BOKO

History

Ratu Boko is Located about 3 km south of Prambanan. Ratu Boko is situated atop of a hill ± 195.97 m above sea level. Ratu Boko is not a temple, but a remains of a palace. Ratu Baka is often called Kraton Ratu Boko. Legend said that Ratu Boko once a palace for Ratu Boko, the father of Lara Jonggrang. Ratu Boko is built during the 8th century

AD by the Buddhist Syailendra Dynasty, but then the Hindu Mataram kings took over the place. This take over makes Kraton Ratu Boko is full of Hindu and Buddhist references.

A stele was found in Ratu Boko dated 792 AD named Prasasti Abhayagiriwihara. This Stele signs that the Ratu Boko was built by Rakai Panangkaran. Prasasti Abhayagiriwihara is written with Pranagari font, a font used by many Buddhist Steles. In the Stele was mentioned Raja Tejapurnama Panangkarana, which is another name for Rakai Panangkaran. Tejapurnama Panagkarana ordered the construction of Abhayagiriwihara. The same name also mentioned in Kalasan Stele (779AD), Mantyasih Stele (907AD), and Wanua Tengah III Stele (908AD). Abhaya means peaceful, giri means hill or mountain. Abhayagiriwihara means a monastery built on a hill of peace. During the reign of Rakai Walaing Pu Kombayoni (898-908AD), Abhayagiriwihara changed its name to Kraton Walaing.

Gate

The entrance to Ratu Boko compound is

on the west side, it sits quite high from the car park. In order to reach the gate, visitors must walk 100 meters from the ticket entrance. The Ratu Boko gate has two parts, the inner gate is bigger than the outer gate. The inner or main gate is located 15 meters from the outer gate. The inner gate has five
Gapura (gopuram) Paduraksa aligned with the outer gates. The main gapura is flanked by two smaller gapuras by the side. Even though there are five gapuras, the re are only three stairs connecting the gapuras from the outer gate. The gate is adorned with flowers and tendrils ornament.

Batukapur Temple

45 m from the main gate to the northeast, a foundation from limestone was found. The Batukapur Temple means temple made of limestone.

Pembakaran Temple

Pembakaran Temple is a three meters high terrace. It was 37 meters northeast of the main gate. Pembakaran Temple is square shaped, with the second terrace smaller than the first. The second terrace was reinforced with river rocks. in the middle of the second terrace is a well-like structure used to burn a corpse. In the southeast corner there is an old well that was used as a source of holy water used for rituals.

Paseban

Paseban is a Javanese word for Royal Court to meet the king. The Paseban is located 45 meters south of the main gate. The Paseban was built facing north and south. The stairs to the Paseban is located in the west. Foundations was found around the Paseban, which means that the Paseban is originally a closed structure.

Pendapa
20 meters south from the Paseban is a stone wall three meters high forming a gate of a compound. In the north, west, and south side of this wall is an entrance in form of Gapura Paduraksa (roofed gopuram). Several Jalawadra also found around the Pendapa. Jalawadra is a waterway, also present in Banyuniba and Borobudur Temple. In Javanese, Pendapa means a pavilion for guests usually located in the front of a house.

Outside the Pendapa walls, 3 little temples are used for worship. The middle temple is the biggest, used to worship Vishnu, the other two used for Brahma and Shiva.

Keputren
Keputren is a place for the royal princess. Located eastward of the Pendapa. Keputren is divided by two stone walls. The first section has three square pools, while the second section has eight circle pools lined in three rows.

Caves

Caves are located in the hill slopes. The two caves was named Gua Lanang (male) and Gua Wadon (female). Gua Lanang is a square shaped cave, and having a frame-like carving on the wall. Gua Wadon is smaller than the Gua Lanang.

Sumber : http://borobudurpark.com/en/temple/ratu-boko-2/