Boko Queen Temple / Candi Ratu Boko

Queen Boko Temple is one relic of antiquity is very mysterious Ratu Boko Palace or Ratu Boko temple. The temple is situated on a hill, about 3 km from Prambanan Temple and 19 km from the city of Yogyakarta extent of approximately 16 ha, which includes two villages in Yogyakarta province, Dawung and Sambirejo.
Ratu Boko is built around the 9th century AD by Sailendra dynasty, which later took over the Hindu Mataram. As a relic of ancient monuments, Ratu Boko is still mystery. Attributes contained here is referring to an area of ​​the township. But still, the experts are still difficult to identify, whether it is a royal parks, palaces, castle, or temple.
Ratu Boko feature 3 levels, each of which is separated by a stone wall and castle. To reach the first terrace, we had to pass through a great gate built in 2 phases. In the west of this terrace there is a fort or Lime Stone Temple (Temple of Limestone). Named Lime Stone Temple because he was made of limestone. The distance is approximately 45 m from the first gate.
Second and first terraces separated by walls andelit. The second terrace can be achieved after passing through the gate at paduraksa which consists of a 3 door. Larger door (Main Gate) is in the middle, flanked by two smaller gates.
Second and third terraces separated by limestone fortress and walls andelit. To get into the third terrace, we had to pass through gate 5, where the most central gate larger in size when compared to other gates that flank 4.

In the third terrace (patio largest) was centered remnants. Here we can find, among others, Hall (Meeting Room). The foundation of this pavilion measuring 20 m long, 20 m wide and 1.25 m high, is located in the north of this terrace.
While in the south, we will find the foundation Pringgitan, measuring 20 m long, 6 m wide and 1.25 m high. Both the pavilion and pringgitan, dikelingi by a fence with a length of 40 m, width 36 m, and 3 m high. This fence is equipped with a 3-roofed gate to the north, south, and west. The three pieces were made to climb up the ladder to the foundation.
To the east of the pavilion, there Swimming Baths complex surrounded by a rectangular fence. The complex consists of 3 groups. The first group, consisting of 3 rectangular pools. Two of which extends from north to south, and the two are separated by a gate. The second group consists of 8 circular pool that is divided into 3 rows.
On the terrace, we can also see the remains of a building called Paseban (Reception Room) stretching from north to south. Ruins of gates, fences and slope are also here.

In addition, there is also a princess (Princess Palace or Shelter), which included a pool rectangle measuring 31 x 8 m2 surrounded by a fence. This fence has two gates, masng respectively located in the southwest and northeast. Approximately 60 m from the gate, we could see the ruins of rocks, but the floor is still good condition. Basically a square measuring 20 x 20 m.

In addition to these places, there are many ruins that can be found in Ratu Boko, such as the ruins Cave Man (Male Cave) measuring 3.5 m long, 3 m wide and 1.5 m high, and a cave smaller again, Cave Women (Female Cave).
Ratu Boko has yielded many artifacts, including statues, Hindu statues either (Durga, Ganesha, Garuda, phallus and yoni), as well as Buddha statues (three unfinished Dhyani Buddhas). In addition, also found ceramics and some inscriptions.
One of the inscriptions found are inscriptions Siwagraha. This inscription mentions the battle between King Balaputra and Rakai Pikatan. Having lost the war, Balaputra escape and build a stronghold in the foothills of Ratu Boko.

There has also been discovered five fragments lettered inscriptions and Sanskrit Prenagari, Although not complete, this inscription can still be read. Content related to the establishment of a shrine Awalokiteswara, one Buddhisatwa in Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism. Judging from the form of the letters, the inscriptions from the 8th century AD.
In addition, also found three lettered inscriptions in Old Javanese Sanskrit verse form. Two of them load in 778 Saka or 856 AD, which contains the establishment and phallus phallus Kerttiwasa Triyambaka on the orders of King Kumbhaya. While the other contains the inscription on the orders of King stance Kalasodbhawa phallus.

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Another inscription found in Ratu Boko is a Sanskrit inscription in Java, and an inscription on a gold plate.
Although so many and varied remains of buildings found there, until now Boko function is still unknown. Some believe that that Ratu Boko is a convent, or a place of rest and recreation.
Inscriptions found were unlikely to be used as a source to find out the function of the temple on this one. The writings that were found there only shows that Boko there in the century between 8-9. Inscriptions from the 8th century buildings generally contain sacred Buddhist establishment, while the 9th century shrine contains the Hindu establishment once. But because there are no inscriptions that explicitly mentions the function of any existing building, then Boko remain a mystery until now.
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