We were on our way to Borobodur on our rented motorbike when we came across Candi Mendut. I’d read about it in one of our guide books but didn’t make any special plans to visit it so it was great that we rode right by it!
Mendut is a 26.4 metres tall Buddhist temple built around early 9th century AD. It was rediscovered in 1836 and restoration was finished in 1925. Mendut houses three large stone statues, the largest of which is the 3-metre tall Dhyani Buddha Vairocana which is meant to liberate devotees from bodily karma. The other two statues represents the liberation from karma of speech and of thought.
from the outside
some strange creature
climbing up
looking up
bas-relief of Hariti surrounded by children
at the entrance to the main chamber
Dhyani Buddha Vairocana
Boddhisatva Avalokitesvara on the left
Boddhisatva Vajrapani on the right
another bas-relief outside