Friday, April 9, 2010

Borobudur : Pyramid of the Cosmic Buddha

Borobudur was constructed during the eighth century as a guide to the Noble Path of the Buddha. Born from silence and unfolding into the serenity of the other shore, it expresses the glory of Indonesia’s awareness and creativity, the smile of her plastic forms over the centuries as well as her travels along the edge of thoughts that cross the endless corridors of memory.


Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Wangsa Syailendra. Based Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship which was completed May 26 824, nearly a hundred years since the early days was built. The name of Borobudur itself according to some people means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high places.

Punden Berundak Borobudur-shaped building consists of 10 levels. Height of 42 meters before being renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as a brace. Six lowest level and square in the upper three floors and a circular highest level of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each terrace symbolizes the stages of human life. In accordance madhhabs Mahayana Buddhism, anyone who wants to reach a level as Buddha through every level must be that life.

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by lust. Four levels mentioned above represents Rupadhatu humans who have set themselves free from lust but still tied to appearance and shape. At these levels, a statue of Buddha placed in the open. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupa placed in the hole-hole called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been freed from lust, appearance, and shape. The top part is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful reliefs that show how skillful. Relief will be read by coherently when you walk clockwise (toward the left of the entrance of the temple). The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. In addition, there are relief panels describing the condition of society at that time. For example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of the time the cruise was centered in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect the teachings of the Buddha. Hence, this temple as educating the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES invites you to surround each of the narrow alleys of the Borobudur in order to understand the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century, had visited the temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having Buddhist manuscripts from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhism. He became head Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six scripts from Serlingpa also be reduced to a core course called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or better known by the name Bodhipathapradipa.

One of the questions still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in a buried state. Some say Borobudur initially stood surrounded by swamp and buried because of the eruption of Merapi. Essentially Calcutta inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of milk. That word is then interpreted as lava of Merapi. Some others say that Borobudur buried by cold lava of Merapi.

With all the grandeur and mystery that is, only natural that many people of all enter the world penjru Borobudur as a place to visit in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, like Karanganyar and Wanurejo to see people making craft activity. You can also go to the top watu Kendil to be able to view the panorama from the top of Borobudur. Wait what? No need to worry earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.

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