OLDER THAN BOROBUDUR?! EXPLORING THE MYSTERIOUS CANDI JIWA KARAWANG

The History of Candi Jiwa ​1. Originating from the Tarumanegara Kingdom Era (4th Century AD) ​Based on archaeological analysis and carbon dating, Candi Jiwa is estimated to have been constructed around the 4th to 5th century AD. ​Older than Borobudur: This makes the temple significantly older than the famous stone monuments in Central Java, such as Candi Borobudur or Candi Prambanan, which were built much later around the 8th and 9th centuries AD. ​A Tarumanegara Legacy: It was built during the golden age of the Tarumanegara Kingdom, one of the oldest Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms in Java, which was centered in the West Java region. ​2. Rediscovery from Beneath the "Unur" (1984) ​Before its rediscovery, the Batujaya area was nothing more than vast, flat rice fields. Amidst these fields, there were dozens of small, high dirt mounds that the local Sundanese people called "Unur." ​In 1984, a team of archaeologists from the University of Indonesia (UI), led by Prof. Dr. Mundardjito, conducted a survey in the area. Upon excavation, they discovered that these dirt mounds were actually covering massive, ancient structures made entirely of red clay bricks. Candi Jiwa was one of the very first structures to be fully excavated and carefully restored. ​3. The Origin of the Name "Candi Jiwa" ​The name "Jiwa" (which means "Soul" or "Life Force" in Indonesian) is not its original historical name. Instead, it comes from a local folklore and myth that circulated among the villagers long before the excavation: ​Years ago, when the temple was still just a mound of earth in the middle of the paddy fields, local farmers used to let their livestock graze around it. ​Mysteriously, whenever cattle, goats, or cows walked onto the mound, they would often fall ill or die suddenly without any clear medical reason. ​The locals began to believe that the hill possessed a supernatural spiritual force that would take away the "soul" (jiwa) of any living creature that stepped on it. Thus, they called it Unur Jiwa, which eventually became known as Candi Jiwa after it was unearthed. ​4. Architectural Characteristics & Buddhist Influence ​Candi Jiwa has very distinct architectural features that set it apart from temples found in Central or East Java: ​Red Clay Brick Construction: The temple was built entirely out of baked red clay bricks rather than volcanic andesite stone. This is because Karawang is an alluvial lowland rich in clay but lacks natural mountain stones. ​The Shape of a Blooming Lotus (Padma): The structure is a solid square platform measuring roughly 19 \times 19 meters, with a height of about 2 meters. Remarkably, it does not have any entrance stairs or an inner chamber. The top of the platform features a circular layout that resembles a blooming lotus flower (padma). ​Function as a Buddhist Stupa: In Buddhist philosophy, the lotus symbolizes purity and enlightenment. This structure indicates that Candi Jiwa served as a Stupa. Ancient monks and pilgrims used it to perform Pradakshina—a ritual of walking clockwise around the sacred monument while chanting prayers and meditating. ​Conclusion ​Candi Jiwa stands as authentic proof that a highly advanced civilization thrived in West Java, specifically Karawang, as early as the 4th century. Long before modern engineering, our ancestors had already mastered precise brick-making technology and sacred architectural systems near the northern trade routes of Java.