Java's Ancient Erotic Pyramid

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Java's Ancient Erotic Pyramid

by Michael Holland

all images and text are copyright © 2002

by Michael Holland.

Tucked away in the mountains near Solo in central Java is one of the

more interesting Hindu temples in all of Southeast Asia. The temple

of Candi Sukuh is unique not only in overall design, but also in

decoration. This place isn't exactly off the map. Its in all the

guidebooks, but is definitely off the tourist trail. From the guest

book kept by the gatekeeper, it appears that it only receives a dozen

or so visitors a week. Even if you aren't very interested in the

ancient structures of Southeast Asia, you may still want to have a

look at Candi Sukuh.

In general layout, the temple conforms to the plan of most other

Hindu temples. There are three precincts, consisting of three

concentric terraces. However, where most temples would have a large

square shrine, Candi Sukuh has a pyramid reminiscent of Mayan

structures from Central America. This is the only Hindu temple, or

Buddhist one for that matter, sporting a pyramid like this and nobody

knows for sure why the builders chose this type of structure. Just in

front of the pyramid, three large truncated turtles are haphazardly

placed. They appear to be for offerings or sacrifices, or perhaps,

given the nature of the carvings, go-go dancing.

Ah, the carvings. There aren't as many of them as most temples

typically have, but those it does have are quit unique. Candi Sukuh,

you see, is what they call a "fertility" temple. That's

archaeological gobbledygook for a temple that features a lot of

sexual images. In Candi Sukuh's case this label may not be so

appropriate. The temple was built around the time of a civil war

between the Muslim North and the Hindu South that the Muslims were

winning; forcibly converting the Javanese to Islam. Those that didn't

want to be converted either fled to Bali or up into the mountains.

Since the temple is apparently devoted to the god Bima, the sword

maker, it seems more reasonable that the temple represents a sort

of "we will win because our dicks are bigger than theirs" military

mentality.

Everywhere you look around the temple, images of male members abound.

And these aren't abstract phalluses like the Hindu lingam symbol.

They're real dicks! Carved into the floor of the entrance gateway is

a large penis about to insert itself into a vulva. As you examine the

stone panels along the pathway leading to the pyramid, you will

notice that most of the male figures are naked from the waist down.

Just to the right of the path as you near the pyramid is a stone

platform, in front of which is the rather well hung dwarf pictured.

 

 

 

 

 

Some figures, like the horny dwarf, appear to be sporting an extra

set of balls. In researching this site, I've encountered a few

writers who suggested that these figures were really holding clubs or

wearing them on a belt, since they had never heard of men with four

balls, or balls at the end of their dicks. These cretins obviously

aren't as familiar with what Asians like to do to their members as

yours truly. If they were, they'd know that it was not an uncommon

practice for men to have ceramic or hollow metallic balls inserted

into their foreskins, in the belief that this enhanced the pleasure a

man gave a woman, and her chances of conceiving. There are some who

even practice this to this day. Sorry dears, I can't disclose my

sources!

The far side of the platform to the right of the pyramid has a pylon

of sorts jutting up vertically. On the far side of the pylon, facing

the exit, is perhaps the most curious figure, shown at right. Is the

figure's mouth some sort of ancient glory hole? Or perhaps its a

measuring device -- "You must be THIS big to please the gods." Maybe

it's a magical form of Viagra. The mind boggles at the possibilities.

 

 

 

 

If time permits, stop in Solo to see the Mangkunegara palace. Our

guide from the palace was a rather matronly lady who told us to call

her "Fifi." Inside the palace is a huge pendopo pavilion, used mainly

for dance performances. Behind the pavilion is the old audience hall,

now a museum with a few intriguing items. Among these was a "chastity

belt" for men. Yes boys, there really is such a thing, and since it

was for a prince, its gold plated! The size was rather small, though.

Of course, there was also a belt for the princess. Fifi obviously

thought the old Javanese elite were much more fair-minded than their

European counterparts of the time. She also introduced us to the

prince's herbalist, who of course had things to sell that were "only

available in the palace." Among the items on offer were face powders,

weight-reduction pills and a powder for making a tea with the same

effects as Viagra. "Drink this and after one hour you will be quite

strong." Fifi told us.

Candi Sukuh is located on the slopes of Lawu Mountain about 25 miles

east of Solo. Utopia Tours arranges day trips to Candi Sukuh with

English-speaking guide, car and driver from either Yogyakarta or Solo.

 

 

-- Michael Holland is a freelance writer and the editor of

ChiengFa.com