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The History of Buddha Gautama in Basreliefs Mendut Pawon

Chandi Pawon belongs to Chandi Borobudur. It is about a kilometre from Borobudur. It is smaller than Chandi Mendut. It is actually the fore-temple to Borobudur. The front is on the west side. The structure of Chandi Pawon is divided into three parts: the soubassement, the dice-shaped body and the crown of terana.

On the outer wall on the north side a Kalpavreksa (jewel bearing Wishing Tree) is cut out in stone; beneath it, are the so-called kinarakinari (mythical creatures, half bird, half human, being singers and dancers). These figures are also found on the east and the north wall; they are supposed to be guarding the pots, containing the treasures of Deva Kuwera.

The cell inside the temple is empty as are the niches on both sides of it. The name of the village, in which the temple is built, is Bandjranaian. This is a compound name, consisting of Badjara or Vajra (the magic weapon of god Indra) and Nala (the royal fire and the suffix "an" refers to the site). In all probability Chandi Pawon formerly contained a statue of Indra.

"Pawon" means kitchen. The kitchen is usually the place where ashes are. So it can be approximately assumed that this temple has served as the "burning of evil thoughts" (purification) before proceeding to Chandi Borobudur.

From a touristic point of view the houses in the immediate neighbourhood of Chandi Pawon are highly interesting. The daily activities of the local inhabitants are still the same as centuries before. Water is taken from the well in the most primitive way. Bamboo containers are dangling high in the coconut palmtrees in which the sap of the palmtrees is tapped, which is afterward boiled to brown sugar. Life goes on here unhurriedly.