People will pass through them, and, therefore, any dirt sticking on their body will be cleansed. That is why the sculptures are engraved on the floor in the entrance gate. It is believed that the sculptures serve as a suwuk (magic spell or medication) to purify (to heal and release) any dirt that reside in the heart. To access the first terrace, visitors use a stairway next to the gate. Today railings are placed around the sculptures, making it difficult to pass through the gate. The sculptures represent the unity between lingga (female genital organ) and yoni (male genital organ), a symbol of fertility. The floor inside the entrance gate is embellished with sculptures of phallus and vagina that nearly touch each other. On the front court outside the gate, there is a pile of stones in various shapes some have holes like pedestal, and some others like water jug. The outer wall of the gate is also embellished with sculptures of a pair of birds nestling on a tree, overlooking a dog and a garuda spreading its wings with a snake clasped in its claws. The symbol is interpreted as the Javanese year of 1359 or 1437 AD, the same as that on the north side of the gate. The sculptures also symbolize Javanese year that read gapura buta mangan wong or giant gate that eats a man. The south side of the gate is adorned with sculptures of a figure swallowed by a giant. Above the figure, there are sculptures of a flying human-like creature and a reptile. Cruq, the sculptures symbolize Javanese year that reads gapura buta anahut buntut (giant gate biting a snake’s tail), representing the Javanese year of 1359 or 1437 AD, which is believed to be the year the temple’s construction was completed. The wall on the north side of the gate is adorned with sculptures depicting a man running while biting a snake. The gate’s frame is embellished with long-bearded kala relief decoration. The gate to the first terrace is a paduraksa, a roofed-gate. The three terraces are split into two right in the middle by an arrangement of stone blocks that form a stairway to the next terrace’s entrance. The main and additional entrances that lead to each terrace and the main building face westward, which is different from typical Central Java temples that face eastward. At a glance, this temple looks like shrines belonging to the Maya in Mexico. Platform on each terrace is surrounded by stone wall 2 m high. Sukuh Temple compound is laid out on an area of 5,500 m2, comprising three terraces. The argument is founded on stories of purification rituals such as Sudamala and Garudheya depicted in the temple’s sculptures and on statues of turtle and garuda found in the temple. Scholars argue that Sukuh Temple was built for purification rituals to repel or release evil power that affects the life of an individual for having particular special characteristics. Another characteristic of pre-Hinduism shrines is that the most sacred place is located on the highest and rearmost part. Such shape is similar to stepped-mound that is characteristic of pre-Hinduism shrines.
The influence of this pre-historic era is seen in the shape of Sukuh temple structure, which is a terraced-mound. The waning influence of Hinduism had given rise to the revival of local cultural practices of Megalithic era. The deviation seems to be resulting from the fact that this temple was built when the influence of Hinduism was waning. The book requires that a temple should be laid out on a square plan with the most sacred place located at the center. Unlike that of typical Hindu temples in Central Java, the architecture of Sukuh Temple is considered to be departing from requirements stated in Wastu Widya, a guide book for constructing Hindu shrines.
Sukuh is a Hindu temple, and was probably built in the end of the 15th century AD. In 1889, Verbeek performed inventory works on this temple, which was continued by Knebel and WF. Further researching works were conducted by Hoepermans between 18, and were reported in a book entitled Hindoe Oudheiden van Java. Sukuh Temple was further investigated by Van der Vlis in 1842, the results of which were reported in Van der Vlis’ book entitled Prove Eener Beschrijten op Soekoeh en Tjeto. This temple was discovered in damaged condition in 1815 by Johnson, then Resident of Surakarta during Raffles administration. The temple in constructed on an elevation of + 910 meters above sea level. Sukuh Temple is located on the west side of Mount Lawu in Sukuh Hamlet of Berjo Village, Ngargoyoso Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency in Central Java Province.
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