Home

BHAIRAWA

HISTORY

Bhairava represents a monstrous form of Lord Shiva in Shaiva and Tantric traditions, serving as the protector of temples and guard against evil spirits.

Depicted with a fearsome face, holding a weapon and a skull bowl, symbolizing power over death and ego. In Indonesia, Bhairava is revered in temples such as Prambanan and in Bali as a spiritual protector.

TIMELINE

Location of the Statue Transfer

1808

Singhasari Temple is a relic of the Singhasari Kingdom, located in Malang, East Java. Built in the 13th century, this temple is a place of worship for King Kertanegara, showing the role of the temple as a spiritual and cultural center in the past.

1808 - 1817

Taman "De Vrijheid" is a park or public square in Semarang, known during the colonial period as an important place for celebrations, meetings, and public events. The name "De Vrijheid" means "Freedom" in Dutch. In the period 1808-1817, this place probably served as a social and administrative center for the colonial government, as well as a temporary storage location for antiques found around the island of Java, including from the Singhasari Temple.

1817 - 1827

s Lands Plantentuin is the old name of the Bogor Botanical Gardens which was opened in 1817 by the Dutch colonial government under Governor General Godert van der Capellen. This botanical garden was established with the aim of botanical research and tropical plant conservation. In addition to plants, this place may also have functioned as a temporary storage location for historical objects before they were finally moved to the Netherlands. This garden became one of the important scientific centers in the Dutch East Indies.

1827/1828 - 1904

During this period, artifacts from Indonesia, including those from Singhasari Temple, were transferred to the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, the Netherlands. This museum served as a center for the study and exhibition of artifacts from around the world, especially from the Dutch colonies. During this period, many important artifacts from the archipelago were transported to Europe for preservation and display, but often without the consent of their native communities.

1904 - 2022

The Museum Volkenkunde (Museum of Ethnology) is a museum dedicated to the study of cultures and societies from around the world. It is a center for the documentation and exhibition of cultural artifacts from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Although often controversial regarding collections considered to be the result of colonialism, the museum played an important role in introducing Indonesian culture to Europe.

2023

On August 18, 2023, the artifacts stored in the Volkenkunde Museum were finally returned to Indonesia, and are now part of the collection of the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta. This museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in Indonesia, which aims to educate the public about Indonesian history and culture. The artifacts that were returned to Indonesia have high symbolic value, marking an important step in the effort to return historical items that were once taken abroad.

MEANING

ARCA DETAIL

Trident

Depicting the destruction of ego and indifference. Trident is a symbol of Bhairava's power to maintain peace.

Bowl of Skulls

The symbol of the Matsya or Mamsa ritual ceremony used to collect blood in the blood drinking ceremony.

Standing on a Corpse

Symbolizes the victory achieved by Bhairava when fighting the enemy.

Height

162cm

Width

101cm

Depth

59cm

Weight

1085kg