Indonesia: 'Candi Pasar - Ruins of the Mataram Kingom'. Johannes Muller, 1859

Candi are the Hindu and Buddhist temples and sanctuaries of Indonesia, mostly built during the 8th to 15th centuries. However, ancient non-religious structures such as gates, urban ruins, and pools and bathing places are often also called 'candi'.

Candi refers to a structure based on the Indian type of single-celled shrine, with a pyramidal tower above it, and a portico. The term Candi is given as a prefix to the many temple-mountains in Indonesia, built as a representation of the Cosmic Mount Meru, an epitome of the universe. However, the term also applied to many non-religious structures dated from the same period, such as gopura (gates), petirtaan (pools) and some habitation complexes.

The term 'candi' itself derived from Candika one of the manifestations of the goddess Durga as the goddess of death. This suggested that in ancient Indonesia the 'candi' had a mortuary function as well as a connection with the afterlife.

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