Ngawen, a very intriguing Candi |
The images on the right side and below would probably be
called "face with foliage". In reality this is the God/Son of the Cosmic Womb
(note womb-shape), while the foliage is the manifestation of the selfsame Vessel of
Abundance. It is the same symbolism as the Green Man as Son of the Mother, as we see them
in the West (e.g. Cathedral of Exeter) (LINK).
Very unique, indeed! |
Son of the Cosmic Mother |
God is born out of the Mother |
Second image |
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Located in a very green "arcadian" landscape |
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Classical Hindu lion-guard |
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Ditto |
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Ditto |
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Phallus/guard at the periphery (male) of the temple
(female). |
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Indication of tantric practices |
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No doubt about it... |
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Convincing enough? |
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Entrance to the Temple (Womb) |
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Double Kala
(About meaning LINK Pawon) |
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A variation on the same theme (see beginning) |
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King in the name of the Mother (just like Sultans used to
be) |
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Kala on top of niche
(probably with God) |
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Niche as extension of Womb |
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Vista |
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This Kala tends toward abstraction, a process seen
everywhere on Javanese temples. It means that the Original Mother symbolism was forgotten,
abandoned..... |
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Both Kala Head + abstraction |
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Close-up of abstraction: "King in the Womb",
which means he rules in the Name of the Mother |
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At the times of the Mother (Kala, above) people (below)
lived in paradise (center) |
The "paradise" group |
Another Paradise image |
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Another Paradise image |
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Very much looking like a Western Green Man. Their common
source: the Vegetation Gods of Sumeria/Babylon |
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Emphasizing the "masculine" aspect of Kala/
Kirtimukha |
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Ditto |
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Ditto |
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Pieces of Kala scattered around the temple |
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Simple lion-guardian |
Candi Ngawen emphasizes the Cosmic Birth of the Son from
the Mother. Subsequently the Son has the hieros gamos (sacred marriage) with the Goddess,
thus guaranteeing fertility. It expresses longing for paradise. It proves that the
Javanese somehow managed to go back to pre-patriarchal times. Very special, indeed! |