Candi Pawon
(2 km from Borobudur entrance)

On top of the entrance a huge Kali-head

Apart from Shivas and Buddhas.... if there is one thing that is omni-present in Javanese temples....it is Kala. The Javanese seem to be obsessed by it. The first explanation they will give to you is....that it is a guardian to the sanctuary. Well, this seems to be true. What they mostly don't realize, though, is the fact that "guardians" are the "relics" of former religions. The more powerful the original Deity, the more useful they are as protectors. Because Kala's are everywhere, one may assume that this predecessor was the Supreme Divinity. of pre-Vedic e.g. pre-Hindu pantheon. This was undoubtedly the All-Embracing Cosmic Mother. So that is what Kala originally was, later degraded to a Hindu Guardian, Demon.... If this is true, then the Javanese have always kept Her in their memories.... Mostly not aware of Her True Nature. However,  the Myth of the "Queen of the South Sees" (LINK)  is proof of the fact, that this connection is still alive. The unique thing about it is, that the latter corresponds with the myth of Inanna, the Goddess/Queen of Sumeria, 5000 years ago!

A Kala consits of a Head, two arms with on both end two dragons ("Makara's) (see photo left), leaves, trees, flowers and people making offerings (below the Head) and a Tree of Life on top...

Kala representing the Original Cosmic Mother, the Source of Creation and Destruction

Two men bringing offerings (see also right)

People, like everything else in the universe, are part of the Law of Creation and Destruction, something they call fate. Their existence depends on a favorable balance between the two Forces. Since archaic times it inspires them to bring offerings.

Our world of impermanence below Kala's arms

At both ends of Her arms are two snake/dragon-like heads, often spewing heads, babies or animals. These heads are part of the Creation aspect of the Great Mother ("Makara's). It is corresponding with the archaic notion of the Lady and Her Beasts, whereby maculinity is born out of the Eternal Feminine 

At the entrance of the Temple (Womb) one often sees lion-heads with foliage or lower ranking guardians, the Beasts of the Lady. They are very similar to the Green Men as found in and on churches in Europe

ditto

The central chamber

The roof, symbolizing the Cosmos as emanations from the central Womb

Pawon was the first temple I visited.

I was totally amazed, nay shocked to also find Kala's inside

Mother and son

In early Hinduism Kala was called Kirtimukha

And....as Cauldron of Abundance, in the West known as the Holy Grail.

Cosmic Tree of Life, also representing abundance and fertility

Mysterious structure under Tree of Life

Tree of Life

Three big balls, presumably representing the Trimurti, the unity of Creation, Destruction and "Permanence"

Staircase decoration

Leaving unique Pawon