- Astana Giribangun
Astana Giribangun , (also "Giri Bangun"), is amausoleum complex for theSuharto family of formerPresident of theRepublic of Indonesia .It is located in Karang Bangun, Kecamatan Matesih, "Kabupaten" (Regency )Karanganyar ,Central Java Province approximately 35 kilometres from the city ofSolo . The archaic Javanese prose title translates as "Palace of the Arisen mountain" [ [http://www.kompas.com/read.php?cnt=.xml.2008.01.27.20194337&channel=1&mn=1&idx=1 kompas.com] ] .The building is in traditional
Java nese architectural style and occupying parts of theMangkunegaran Royal Cemetery complex, it is approximately 300 metres from the burial sites of theSolonese royalsMangkunegara I , II and III. Former Indonesian PresidentSoeharto was buried in Astana Giribangun following his death on the 28th of January 2008 with full State military honours, beside his late wife,Madame Tien Soeharto (Siti Hartianah Suharto, who passed away earlier on April 28, 1996) and her late motherMrs. Soehjarto . [ [http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/nasional/2008/01/28/brk,20080128-116371,id.html tempointeraktif.com] ]The actual site was controversial at the time as many Javanese believed Madame Suharto not to be of true noble blood, but the descendent of a faithful court servant (who was born a commoner). The Mangkunegaran Court reconciled this controversy and decreed Suharto may indeed build his Astana, but may not be built any higher than a pre-existing Royal tomb.
Astana Mangadeg , where Astana Giribangun is sited, was considered a powerful location by manydukun , spiritualists and soothsayers for the stronglykejawen orkebatinan Suharto to meditate and derive charisma or "sakti " (magicks). [Astana Giribangun". Panduan Peziarah. Yayasan Mangadeg Surakarta. 1996]The Astana Giribangun complex may be seen on Wiki Maps at this location (coord|-7.651922|111.070758|region:ID-JT_type:landmark_scale:5000|display=inline,title [Wiki Maps at this location http://wikimapia.org/#lat=-7.651922&lon=111.070758&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2&show=/sys/edit_wiki3/%02id%016763821%00lng%010%00old_lng%0154] .)
References
Further reading
*"Astana Giribangun". Panduan Peziarah. Yayasan Mangadeg Surakarta. 1996.(Indonesian language) ISBN- unknown.
* "Indonesia", Justine Varsulis. Lonely Planet, 2007: 206. ISBN 1741044359
*"Dewi Sri in Village Garb: Fertility, Myth, and Ritual in Northeast Java", Journal article by Rens Heringa; in" Asian Folklore Studies" Vol. 56. Asian Folklore Studies 1997.
*"Self and Self-Conduct among the Javanese "priyayi" Elite", translated from Indonesian by J. Joseph Errington. American Ethnologist, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May, 1984), pp.External links
* http://www.joglosemar.co.id/solo/giribgn.gif
* http://lh4.google.co.id/cahpamulang/R5-1yreuWsI/AAAAAAAAAAA/C7AV4Cir-Uw/makam_CDN03.jpg
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.