Amazing Borobudur Temple

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Borobudur was built in the 8th century by the Syalendra dynasty to represent many layers of Buddhist theory. From a birds eye view, the temple is in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala. A mandala is central to a great deal of Buddhist and Hindu art, the basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four entry points, and a circular centre point. The name of Borobudur itself means a temple on the high places. Borobudur is close to the major centre of Yogyakarta, also referred to by locals as Jogja (Yogyakarta).

STUPA: The main Stupa crowning the Borobudur Buddhist  monument.  The upper rounded terrace with rows of bell shaped stupas containing Buddha images symbolize Arupadhatu, the sphere of formlesness. The main stupa itself is empty, symbolizing complete perfection of enlightenment.

Borobudur Design:Borobudur Mandala.svg The plan of Borobudur took form of a Mandala, a model of universe in Hindu-Buddhist cosmology. It consists of three ascending realms, Kamadhatu (the realm of desire), Rupadhatu (the realm of form), and Arupadhatu (the realm of formlessness). 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 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 Buddha.

The scene of King and Queen with their subjects.

Relief panel of a ship at Borobudur.

Reliefs: The carvings on the walls of the Borobudur Karmawibhangga (southeast corner of the floor 0), In accordance with the symbolic meaning of the foot of the temple, reliefs which decorate the walls of a hidden shelf that illustrate the law of Karma.  Every picture illustrates a story that has a causal correlation. Reliefs not only give the illiustrations of human moral  life and the cause and effect of bad moral, also the rewards of ood deeds. Overall, the portrayal of human life in the circle of birth – life – death (samsara) which never ends, and by Buddhism  they will conclude towards perfection.

Borobudur Map:

Java Map:

Unesco Listings (1991):

Borobudur Temple as the  WORLD HERITAGE

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