Candi Mendut

Candi Mendut is a Buddhist temple located in Central Java, Indonesia, dating from around 800 CE. It is contemporary with the famous Borobudur monument and was built to illustrate complex Buddhist doctrines. The temple is a single, large square chamber with diminishing stories and is mounted on a high plinth. Its exterior is ornately decorated with reliefs of deities and scenes from Buddhist literature. Inside, it originally housed seven large stone icons, three of which remain: the central Buddha and two emanations, Lokeshvara and Vajrapani. These statues are carved in the full round and exhibit a majestic presence reminiscent of contemporary Indian sculpture. Candi Mendut is considered one of Java's greatest monuments for its architectural and artistic significance.1