As PM Modi offers prayers, ‘Om Namah Shivay’ chants resonate through Prambanan Temple in Indonesia

Jakarta, July 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid obeisance at the famed Prambanan temple in Indonesia on Wednesday, celebrating the timeless spiritual and civilisational bond between the two nations. The spiritual moment turned magnificent as the devotees joined the Prime Minister in offering prayers and chanted ‘Om Namah Shivay’.

PM Modi shared the video on his X handle and wrote, “Om Namah Shivay at Prambanan Temple in Indonesia!”

Prior to this, PM Modi also shared an aerial view of the iconic Prambanan Temple, the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia.

Sharing the aerial glimpses of the grand temple, PM Modi stated, “The majestic Prambanan Temple.”

Earlier, PM Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto jointly inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan Temple restoration project in Yogyakarta.

A large number of people carrying national flags of India and Indonesia gathered on the roads to welcome both leaders as they were heading towards the temple.

India and Indonesia exchanged a Letter of Intent on Tuesday, for an India-backed conservation and restoration project at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exchange took place after talks between PM Modi and President Prabowo, as the two sides sought to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss ways to ensure a peaceful Indo-Pacific.

Built in the 10th century, the Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and is dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva. The magnificent complex features towering temples devoted to the Hindu trinity — Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma — along with shrines dedicated to their divine vehicles. The temple walls are adorned with intricate reliefs depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual links between India and Southeast Asia.

At the heart of the complex stands the 47-metre (154-foot) Shiva temple — the tallest structure at Prambanan and one of the finest examples of ancient Hindu architecture. The sprawling complex originally consisted of 240 temples, making it one of the largest Hindu temple sites anywhere in the world. Its stone reliefs narrate stories from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics.

Emphasising the centuries-old civilisational ties between India and Indonesia, PM Modi said on Tuesday that the relationship between the two countries is deeply rooted in the shared legacy of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

“India and Indonesia do not just share the sea; we also share our history. Our relationship is rooted in the legacy of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata… We are linked through magnificent monuments such as Borobudur and Prambanan. We are connected through Garuda, Indonesia’s national emblem. We are connected through the joy and celebrations of the Bali Jatra festival,” PM Modi said in his address at the Indonesian Parliament.

PM Modi is currently on a three-day visit to Indonesia. During the visit, PM Modi held talks with President Subianto, addressed the Indonesian Parliament and attended an Indian community programme.

–IANS

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