- Address: Bintoro, Demak Sub-District, Demak Regency, Central Java 59511, Indonesia
Indonesia can rightfully be called the country of a thousand temples . There are a lot of religious buildings in this country: ancient and modern, stone and wooden, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and other denominations. One of the most significant relict structures is the Agung Demak Mosque.
Description of sight
Agung Demak in some sources is called the Demakskaya Cathedral Mosque. It is one of the oldest not only on the island of Java , but in all of Indonesia. The mosque is located in the heart of the city of Demak, in the administrative center of Central Java. Earlier on the site of the city was the Sultanate of Demak.
The Agung Demak Mosque is considered a monumental proof of the received glory of the ruler of the first Islamic state in Java, Demak Bintor. Historians believe that Agung Demak was built during the reign of the first sultan Raden Patah in the 15th century. The mosque is functioning and belongs to the Sunni school. It is an object of UNESCO World Heritage.
What is interesting about the Agung Demak Mosque?
The building of the shrine is a vivid example of the classical Javanese mosque. Unlike similar structures in the Middle East, it is built entirely of wood. And if you compare Agung Demak with other more modern mosques in Indonesia, it is relatively small.
The tiered roof of the building stands on four huge teak pillars and has many common architectural features with wooden religious buildings of the ancient Hindu-Buddhist civilizations of the islands of Java and Bali . The main entrance opens onto two doors, which are densely decorated with flower motifs, vases, crowns and animal heads with an open toothy mouth. Doors have their own name - "Lawang Bledheg", which literally means "doors of thunder".
Particularly noteworthy is the symbolism of the decorating elements. Carved figures bear a chronographic meaning, based on the lunar calculus: the year of Saka 1388 or 1466 CE. It is believed that it was then that construction began. The front wall of the mosque is decorated with porcelain tiles: there are 66 of them. They were brought from the ancient state of Champa within the borders of modern Vietnam. According to some historical records of those years, these tiles were originally stolen from the decoration of the palace of Sultan Majapahit, and later they were added to the decor elements of the Mosque of Agung Demak.
Inside are many historical and very valuable artifacts of that time. And near the mosque are buried all the sultans of Demak and the museum.
How to get to the mosque?
In the historical part of Demac, it is more convenient to take a taxi or use the services of a pedicab. You can also rent a car or a moped.
You can get inside during the service only to Muslims. Many pilgrims spend the night right on the territory of the temple near the graves to honor the deceased and the first to hear the call from the minaret. Anyone can visit the mosque for free.