about_borobudur.htm

BUDDHIST ART AND ARCHITECHTURE

THE TEMPLE OF BOROBUDUR

One of the ninety - two Dhiyani Budha Status enclosed in stupa

ABOUT THE BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

The Borobudur temple is the one of the ancient monument in Indonesia that are most frequently visited by domestic as well as by foreign visitors. And it had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage main kind.
Its arcitectural style has no equal troughout the world; its on inspiring structure representing the micro cosmos have very often given rise to question to e.g. when, in what way during how long time, and by whom the sanctuary had been built.

The right answers up to no have remained a mistery since no written documens had been found so far. Most scholars, based on brief inscription of the covered base Borobudur temple has build approximately around the year 800 AD, when Central java was rulled by Samaratungga, kind of the Cailendra dynasty, who adhered to Mahayana Buddhism. However in the beginning of teent century AD, because of the political situation in Central Java devine monuments in that area, including the Borobudur Temple became completely neglected and given over to decay. The Sanctuary was exsposed to vulcanic eruption and other ravages nature.

Neglected and abandoned for almost one thousand year Borobudur in was ruinous condition when it was rediscovered in 1814.

Since the efforts had been made to preserved it. In 1907 1911, a large scale of restoration was carried of by Dutch Government, directed by the Th. VAN Erp, an army engginer oficer.

From technical points of view the Van Erp's restoration can evaluated as succesful, but a great many parts of structure were not put back in their original position and places.

The Borobodur Temple complex is one of the greatest monuments in the world. It is of uncertain age, but thought to have been built between the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth century A.D. For about a century and a half it was the spiritual centre of Buddhism in Java, then it was lost until its rediscovery in the eighteenth century.

The structure, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill in the form of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Budha.

For each direction there are ninety-two Dhyani Buddha statues and 1,460 relief scenes. The lowest level has 160 reliefs depicting cause and effect; the middle level contains various stories of the Buddha's life from the Jataka Tales; the highest level has no reliefs or decorations whatsoever but has a balcony, square in shape with round walls: a circle without beginning or end. Here is the place of the ninety-two Vajrasattvas or Dhyani Buddhas tucked into small stupas. Each of these statues has a mudra (hand gesture) indicating one of the five directions: east, with the mudra of calling the earth to witness; south, with the hand position of blessing; west, with the gesture of meditation; north, the mudra of fearlessness; and the centre with the gesture of teaching.

Besides being the highest symbol of Buddhism, the Borobodur stupa is also a replica of the universe. It symbolises the micro-cosmos, which is divided into three levels, in which man's world of desire is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level, the world in which man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses; the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire.

It is devotional practice to circumambulate around the galleries and terraces always turning to the left and keeping the edifice to the right while either chanting or meditating. In total, Borobodur represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.