Alan&Megi
IMG_6218_HDR
ViewFinders_Overseas_Outing Aug 2010- Jakarta --> Surabaya --> Bromo --> Solo --> Jogjakarta
Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century
Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its
complex. Millions of people are eager to visit this building as one of the World Wonder Heritages. It is
not surprising since architecturally and functionally, as the place for Buddhists to say their prayer,
Borobudur is attractive.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of
Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that
Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years
from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain
having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and
34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six
terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace
where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line
with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those
life stages.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human being that are still bound by lust. The upper
four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are
still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the
other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu,
symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called
Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.
Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand
the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the
temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels
describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting
the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in
Bergotta (Semarang).
All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as
educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES suggests that you walk through each narrow
passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in
the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4
centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.
IMG_6218_HDR
ViewFinders_Overseas_Outing Aug 2010- Jakarta --> Surabaya --> Bromo --> Solo --> Jogjakarta
Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century
Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its
complex. Millions of people are eager to visit this building as one of the World Wonder Heritages. It is
not surprising since architecturally and functionally, as the place for Buddhists to say their prayer,
Borobudur is attractive.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of
Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that
Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years
from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain
having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and
34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six
terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace
where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line
with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those
life stages.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human being that are still bound by lust. The upper
four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are
still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the
other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu,
symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called
Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.
Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand
the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the
temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels
describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting
the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in
Bergotta (Semarang).
All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as
educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES suggests that you walk through each narrow
passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in
the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4
centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.