Hindus hail Indonesia for efforts to restore 15th century temple

Hindus have commended Indonesia for reported plans to renovate its unique and fascinating 15th century Sukuh Hindu Temple in Central Java.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, termed it as “step in the positive direction”, which was urgently needed.

Reports suggest that restoration work on collapsing pyramid of Sukuh in Berjo Village (Argoyoso district) on Mount Lawu slopes, starting in March, will be completed by 2016 by the Central Java Heritage Conservation Agency, which will work with a team of archeologists.

Sukuh Hindu Temple is part of the “Tentative List” of UNESCO in order to qualify for inclusion in its “World Heritage List”. This Temple, a trapezium with three terraces, built around 1437, contains images of Ganesh, Arjun, Bhim, Narad and Vishnu's avatar Kurma (Tortoise), besides others.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, thanked Indonesia for taking care of its Hindu heritage temple; thus displaying religious pluralism, honoring diversity and respecting minorities.

Rajan Zed noted that existence of different faiths showed God’s generosity and bountifulness.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population than any other country in the world; where Muslims form about 88% of the population and Hindus about 3%.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.