Borobudur

Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist temple in the 9th century

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. This temple is best travel destinations in yogyakarta. Millions of people hoping to visit the buildings included in this World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architecturally and functionally, as the place of worship, Borobudur is attractive.
 

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the king of the ancient Mataram kingdom, descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on the inscriptions Kayumwungan, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship that was completed on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years since the beginning of construction. The name of Borobudur, as some people means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Punden terraces Borobudur-shaped building comprises 10 levels. Height 42 meters before being renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level is used as a barrier. Six lowest level of a square and three levels above and a circular highest level of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each level represents the stages of human life. In accordance schools of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of Buddha must through every level of life is.
 

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by lust. Four levels above referred Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but still bound manner and form. At these levels, a statue of Buddha placed open. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupas are laid in holes called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance, and shape. The top part is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.
 

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful. Relief that will be read coherently when you walk in a clockwise direction (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). In the reliefs of Borobudur tells of a legendary story, the 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 cruise, who was based in Bergotta (Semarang).
 

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. Hence, this temple functions as educating the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. We invites you to surround each of the narrow alleys of Borobudur in order to understand the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century once visited this 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 abbot Vikramasila and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six manuscripts of Serlingpa was condensed into a core doctrine called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or better known as Bodhipathapradipa.
 

One question that is still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in the buried. Some say Borobudur initially stood surrounded by a swamp and then buried by the eruption of Merapi. Calcutta is essentially the inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of ​​milk. The word which is then interpreted as Merapi lava. Some other says that Borobudur Merapi cold lava buried.
 

With all the grandeur and mystery that is, only natural that many people from all arround the world  include Borobudur as a place worth visiting in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, like Karanganyar and Wanurejo to see the activities of people make crafts. You can also go to the top watu Kendil to Borobudur panoramic view from the top. Wait what? No need to worry about an earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.