Candi Roro Jonggrang, more commonly known as Prambanan Temple, is one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Central Java, Indonesia, the temple complex is dedicated to the Trimurti, the three main gods in Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The temple is a magnificent example of Hindu architecture and has a fascinating history interwoven with Javanese legend and culture.

        The construction of Candi Roro Jonggrang is believed to have started in the mid-9th century during the reign of Rakai Pikatan of the Mataram Kingdom. The temple was built as a symbol of the king's devotion to the Hindu gods and as a marker of the kingdom's religious and political power. The central temple, which stands at 47 meters tall, is dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer, and is surrounded by smaller temples dedicated to Brahma and Vishnu.

        The temple complex originally consisted of over 240 individual structures, but many have been reduced to ruins over the centuries due to natural disasters and neglect. Despite this, the grandeur of the remaining structures continues to attract visitors from around the world.

        A famous Javanese legend is associated with the temple, known as the Legend of Roro Jonggrang. According to the story, Roro Jonggrang was a beautiful princess whose father, King Boko, was defeated by a prince named Bandung Bondowoso. Prince Bandung fell in love with Roro Jonggrang and wanted to marry her, but the princess despised him because he had killed her father. To avoid the marriage, Roro Jonggrang set an impossible condition: she asked the prince to build her a thousand temples in a single night.

        Using his supernatural powers, Bandung Bondowoso summoned spirits to help him complete the task. As dawn approached, he had completed 999 temples. Desperate to prevent him from finishing the last one, Roro Jonggrang instructed the women of the village to pound rice and light fires to mimic the appearance of morning. The spirits, fooled by the false dawn, fled before completing the final temple. When Bandung Bondowoso discovered Roro Jonggrang’s deception, he was furious and cursed her to become the final statue, thus completing the thousandth temple.

        The statue of Durga, the consort of Shiva, inside the main temple is said to represent Roro Jonggrang. The legend adds a layer of cultural and mythical significance to the temple complex, intertwining the history of the site with the rich folklore of Java.

        Today, Prambanan Temple remains a site of religious importance as well as a major tourist attraction. It is a place where history, legend, and spirituality converge, offering insight into the rich cultural heritage of Indonesia.

50. What is the significance of Prambanan Temple today?