Yet the region was not wholly Buddhist.  Not far from Boroboedoer and apparently of about the same age is the Sivaite temple of Banon, and the great temple group of Prambanam is close to Kalasan and to the other Buddhist shrines mentioned above.  It consists of eight temples of which four are dedicated to Brahma, Siva, Vishnu and Nandi respectively, the purpose of the others being uncertain.  The largest and most decorated is that dedicated to Siva, containing four shrines in which are images of the god as Mahadeva and as Guru, of Ganesa and of Durga.  The balustrade is ornamented with a series of reliefs illustrating the Ramayana.  These temples, which appear to be entirely Brahmanic, approach in style the architecture of eastern Java and probably date from the tenth century, that is about a century later than the Buddhist monuments.  But there is no tradition or other evidence of a religious revolution.

The temples on the Dieng plateau are also purely Brahmanic and probably older, for though we have no record of their foundation, an inscribed stone dated 800 A.D. has been found in this district.  The plateau which is 6500 feet high was approached by paved roads or flights of stairs on one of which about 4000 steps still remain.  Originally there seem to have been about 40 buildings on the plateau but of these only eight now exist besides several stone foundations which supported wooden structures.  The place may have been a temple city analogous to Girnar or Satrunjaya, but it appears to have been deserted in the thirteenth century, perhaps in consequence of volcanic activity.  The Dieng temples are named after the heroes of the Mahabharata (Tjandi Ardjuno, Tjandi Bimo, etc.), but these appear to be late designations.  They are rectangular towerlike shrines with porches and a single cellule within.  Figures of Brahma, Siva and Vishnu have been discovered, as well as spouts to carry off the libation water.

Before leaving mid Java I should perhaps mention the relatively modern (1435-1440 A.D.) temples of Suku.  I have not seen these buildings, but they are said to be coarse in execution and to indicate that they were used by a debased sect of Vishnuites.  Their interest lies in the extraordinary resemblance which they bear to the temples of Mexico and Yucatan, a resemblance “which no one can fail to observe, though no one has yet suggested any hypothesis to account for it."[413]

The best known and probably the most important monuments of eastern Java are Panataran, Tjandi Djago and Tjandi Singasari.[414]

The first is considered to date from about 1150 A.D.  It is practically a three-storied pyramid with a flat top.  The sides of the lowest storey are ornamented with a series of reliefs illustrating portions of the Ramayana, local legends and perhaps the exploits of Krishna, but this last point is doubtful.[415] This temple seems to indicate the same stage of belief as Prambanam.  It shows no trace of Buddhism and though Siva was probably the principal deity, the scenes represented in its sculptures are chiefly Vishnuite.