Meditation and movement at Sukuh Temple

Text and photo by: Tarko Sudiarno

Sukuh, on the western slopes of Mt. Lawu, Surakarta, Central Java, is a special, ancient temple. Its special character is indicated by its physical appearance, somewhat like a slashed pyramid. It is also well-known for the representations of the male and female genitalia contained within it.

There is even a depiction of sexual intercourse at the entrance gate to the temple, built between 1416 and 1459. Despite being dubbed a "porn temple", people still appreciate it, as it draws many visitors for a variety of activities, including rituals.

The leader of Surakarta-based Padepokan Lemah Putih, Suprapto Suryodarmo, is a spiritual guru who frequently visits the temple to teach arts-related meditation.

Most of his pupils are foreigners who are taught to absorb what they see from the temple's reliefs and express it as movements according to their artistic background.

Some translate the reliefs into ballet movements while others interpret them as steps from Sundanese or Javanese dances, or even yoga positions.

Suprapto accompanies his pupils with a rebana (small drum) in their search for God.