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. Millions of people longing to visit the buildings included in
this World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architecturally and functionally, as a
place of worship, Borobudur is attractive.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the king of the ancient Mataram
kingdom, the descendants Dynasty dynasty. Based Kayumwungan inscription, 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 early days was built. 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 Borobudur-shaped building consists of 10 levels. Height 42 meters before it was
renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as
supporting. Six lowest level of a square and three levels on top of a circle and the highest
level of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each level represents the stages of human life.
Appropriate school of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of the
Buddha must through every level of the life.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by
lust. Four levels above referred Rupadhatu symbolizes man who had to break free from lust
but still bound manner and form. At these levels, statues of Buddha placed open. While, three
levels above where the Buddhist stupas are laid in holes called Arupadhatu, symbolizing man
who has 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). On 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 that 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. YogYES invites
you to surround each of the narrow hallways in 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 supply of Buddha teaching script 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 of the questions still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the
temple was built and why the temple was found to be 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 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 from all the world
penjru 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 of Watu Kendil to be able to
view panorama from the top of Borobudur. Wait what? No need to worry about an earthquake
May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.