The Borobudur

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple located in Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The location of the temple is approximately 100 km to the west of Semarang, 86 km to the west of Surakarta, and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Stupa-shaped temple was built by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism around the year 800 AD during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple or shrine in the world, and one of the largest Buddhist monument in the world.

This monument consists of six square terraces on which there are three circular courtyard, the walls are decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues originally contained. Borobudur has the most complete collection of Buddhist reliefs in the world. The main stupa in the middle teletak once crowned this building, surrounded by three rows of circular 72 perforated stupas in which there are statues of buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position perfectly with mudra (hand gesture) Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of goodness).

This monument is a model of the universe and built as a shrine to honor Buddha also functions as a place of pilgrimage to lead people to switch from natural lust to enlightenment and wisdom according to the teachings of Buddha. The pilgrims enter through the east side begin the ritual at the base of the temple with a walk this sacred building circling clockwise, while continuing to ascend to the next steps through the three levels of the realm in Buddhist cosmology. The third level is Kamadhatu (the realm of lust), Rupadhatu (the realm of intangibles), and Arupadhatu (formless realm). In this journey the pilgrim goes through a series of hallways and stairs with witnessing no less than 1,460 relief panels beautifully carved on the wall and balustrade.

According to historical evidence, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the weakening of the influence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms in Java as well as begin the influence of Islam. The world began to realize the existence of this building since it was discovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then serving as the British Governor General of Java. Since then Borobudur has suffered a series of rescue and restoration efforts. The restoration project was held in the period 1975 to 1982 for the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and UNESCO, then this historic site included in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Source : UNESCO