JOKO DOLOG STATUE

Joko Dolog can be found on Taman Aspari Street. This statue is a Buddhist statue. It is said to have been made in the year 1289 in honor of the funeral of King Kertanagara, who was the last king of Singosari. It is believed to have been carried to Surabaya about 300 years ago. The statue can be found directly in front of the mansion of the governor of East Java, and the aroma of incense remains in the air as it is still a popular pilgrimage site.

A stone image of the Buddha Akshobya, curiously matching the description of the ‘"missing statue" at Candi Jawi, can be found today in a small secluded park in Surabaya. Known locally as Joko Dolog, the statue displays a lengthy Sanskrit inscription, carved neatly around its base. When it was translated for the first time early this century, the inscription was found to reveal important historical information dating from the period immediately prior to the founding of Majapahit. Translated in the year 1289 by a Buddhist scribe named Nada, the contents are roughly as follows

It is said that many years ago, the sage Mpu Bharada divided the land of Java into the kingdoms of Janggala and Panjalu (Kediri), with the purpose of settling a dispute between two brothers over succession. The division was created magically, by means of holy water sprinkled out of a jar from the sky. However, during the reign of Sri Wishnuwardhana the country was reunited to the joy and benefit of all. The ruler, of whom the statue is said to be a portrait, was Wishnuwardhana’s son, Kertanagara, who commissioned the image as a symbol of this unification.

The information contained in the Joko Dolog inscription is especially interesting because it appears to establish the authenticity of certain historical figures and events, previously known only from ancient Javanese literature. The story of the division of Java by the sage Mpu Bharada is of course well known, and refers to the reign of King Airlangga in the 11th century. On the other hand, by giving Wishnuwardhana the credit for having reunited the country, the inscription has cast some doubt upon the reliability of traditional literary sources. This is true in regards to the story of Ken Angrok and Ken Dedes, which has been dismissed by some as complete fabrication.

Yet, since the 1975 discovery of a number of inscribed copper sheets originating from the region of Kediri, new light has been shed on the early years of the Singosari period. Known as the inscription of Mula Malurung, issued by King Kertanagara in 1255, it mentions the names of Wishnuwardhana, Tohjaya, as well as a number of other kings who have previously been unknown to historians. Finally, and most interestingly, the Mula Malurung inscription appears to suggest the existence of Ken Angrok, thus at least confirming a historical basis for a story which was regarded almost entirely as a myth.

Four Faced Budha

Simply, Surabaya city have one of tourism object that become a real spectacular in South-East Asia, Four Faces Deity Statue or Four Faced Buddha monument. This Four Faced Buddha Monument get appreciation of MURI as the biggest and highest Four Faces Deity Statue in Indonesia. A nine meters statue that have 225 square meters width is still have not contested by other similar statue.

Four Faced Buddha monument, has overall height 36 meters (including dome) opened on 9 Novembers 2004, and finish about fund 4 billion rupiahs. It is built in farm with a width of 1,5 hectares, in centered is farm, placed by building with length 9 meters, wide 9 meters and height 36 meters. If we saw altogether contain number 9, why it's numeral 9? Because taking similar monument reference in Thailand, and numeral 9 also have separate meaning for Buddha member.

The statue building the Four Faced Buddha place shaded, encircled by 4 pillars that colored by golden green, contains of 3 parts, which is statue, Buddha statue, and Buddha throne. It has been equipped with lightning rod at top of the statue, while statue Buddha and the throne has each 9 meters height.

See this building model, of course almost looks like Four Faced Buddha Monument in Thailand, the difference only the statue that in the higher Thailand statue but its statue building is higher then in Surabaya. Besides resemblance of a real big measure, the statue that have four faces and four hand tides, arranged in layers by gold in all it body part. It is said to make a perfect veneering process of this gold, is intentionally delivered kampoh material or original gold paper from Thailand (there is also mentioned kimpo paper). Complete with it worker, with veneering expense or ritual giving of this chasuble is reach 1,5 Billion rupiahs.

About Four Faced Buddha statue meaning or also there is mentioning it Four Faced Deity, bring four kindness philosophy that owned by Buddha, that is patience, liberal, fair (unbiased), and meditated. This four kindness is also had a meaning of, Buddha is a presentation of affection of fellow being, assist whoever without discrimination, and devoted in prayer or application that submitted in ritual procession. While on Buddha eight hands, there are holy book, holy water, defense weapon, fight weapon to against the badness, holy book, prayer beads, chest, and cupu.

Besides the philosophy, this place also offer idea to become the centre of Buddha member observance, finite later would many visitors coming to this place. Besides to see the four faced deity statue, in this place, we will see four high white elephant statues about 4 meters in every corner, three lotus decorative pools, and a meditated space. This complex is also decorated of 12 lamps that made from bronze and copper.

In it frontage, we meet a place that sell some pray equipment like candle and frankincense, this place later the also can buy the souvenir typical of Buddha four faces statue.

How about you, do wish to make this tourism object as your tourism purpose? Or may like to think about have photograph with Four Faced Buddha Monument background, as if stay in Thailand, or possible you wish to pray... all up to you, because this place is open generically, and admission charge free, only fare payee stepped into Ria Kenjeran Beach area.

THE MONUMENT OF JALESVEVA JAYAMAHE

("In the sea we are glorious")

Monument of Jalesveva Jayamahe (Monjaya) is great evidence and very amaze suborder masterpiece. An endowment of high history value, as the reflection of the highness of Indonesian nation as the maritime nation one. The other meaning of this statue figure is as the readiness symbol to receive the devotion from generation to the next generation.

This monument is a statue as high as 30,6 meters, which sustained by a building as high as 30 meters. This statue depict a Commandant of Indonesian Maritime Army complete with his honor sword upstanding to stare towards the sea fully confidence and seriousness ready to dash against the wave and go through storm, which have shown, that is the aspiration of Indonesian nation.

Monument that built by The Staff Leader of Indonesia Maritime Army initiative by then, Admiral TNI Muhamad Arifin and designed by Nyoman Nuarta can function also as Guide Lamp tower (Lighthouse) for ships sailing in its vicinity. There is giant gong Kyai Tentrem under the monument, which has 6 meters diameter and heavy more than 2 tons.

Monument of Jalesveva Jayamahe taken away from TNI AL motto that means, "In the sea we are glorious" its height is 60 meters. The building consisted of concrete building domed four floors 30 meters that taken as copper statue fulcrums as high as 30 meters. At part of this building wall is made the history of maritime combatants warrior diorama (TNI AL) since revolution physical era until 90-an year.

While its boom building functioned as TNI AL Museum and also as "Executive Meeting Room". The statue depicts a Colonel of Indonesia Maritime Army with clothes on duty ceremony (PDU 1). His right hand is akimbo and his left hand holding a commando sword. The colonel eyes stare to the wide sea. At the base orbicular building floor, there is Kyai Tentrem gong.

According to the Head of TNI AL Staff ‘Laksamana Madya Arief Kushariadi’, this statue heroic is intentionally given colonelcy. "Because the colonel is the heroic leader enter matured phase and ready to enter the terrace position,” he said. Why looking into the sea? "Because our future at the ocean," he repeated. The Side of Navy, said Arief, "we also hope that this monument will become the maritime tourism in Surabaya”.

This monument is built since 1990 and opened in December 1996 that is jousting with the Republic of Indonesia Armada day on 5 Decembers 1996 by President Soeharto, with expense of Rp. 27 billion. The statue is mentioned as the second highest in world after Liberty Statue, 85 meters, is reside in New York port mouth. The numerical colonel become militant and has skin copper.

It designer, Nyoman Nuarta, the famous statue maker from Bandung whp also create a copper statue of Garuda Wishnu Kencana in Jimbaran, Bali. Nyoman prints the statue body in his workshop in Bandung in module cuttings form. After it had complete, then it brought to Surabaya and matches each other. To make the statue, Nyoman Nuarta get 3000 copper tons from PLN, 60 tons from Telecommunication Departments, and a number of ex- bullet exuviate coppers.

The reason of Monjaya built is because of an idea, which however it’s a nation advance must still tread at its history. Mean, "The Big nation is the nation which able to esteem the merit of it hero ". From many kind of hero and meritorious that have been doyen in blazing the way, uphold and fill independence of nation and NKRI, included in it of the warriors from the Indonesia Maritime Army. It is countless the sacrifice, which they have rendered. Even they gave their soul. Only partly small from they which we recognize and his name have been immortalized to become name of Republic of Indonesia Battleships.

Besides as appreciation sign and souvenir from generation of router that still alive, it is also expected able to give a motivation to continue their struggle towards reaching of aspiration of Navy which great, powerful and Professional in place of NKRI which prosperous and fair.

Without minimizing the historic events happened in Sibolga, Tegal, Pasuruan, Bali or it doesn't matter in this Indonesia fatherland history of Ujung as part of heroic town Surabaya region of course cannot be locked out of history of Indonesia Maritime Army, that is struggling march of Kaigun SE 21/24 Butai events on 3 Octobers 1945, what marked with the oath of the ‘Bahariawan Penataran Angkatan Laut’ (PAL) that is " I volunteer and candid to sacrifice good and chattel and also Body and soul for the State and the Nation".

In the event of the next Indonesia Maritime Army history performance, Ujung has vital importance role, that is the basis (Base Home) the biggest Indonesia Maritime Army war ships hitherto, so that not too joke when some of publics named Surabaya town as seaman town or Navy town.

In consequence it is competent when Monument of Jalesveva Jayamahe is built in Ujung Surabaya. Besides, it also expected the establishment of this monument can add the glorious of Ujung Surabaya that mean add to respect Surabaya as the heroic city and Indarmadi (Industry, Commerce, Maritime and Education).