History of the Borobudur

History of the Borobudur Temple is located in the village of Borobudur, Magelang regency, Central Java. This temple is the second largest Buddhist temple after Ankor Wat temples in Cambodia and included in one of the seven wonders of the world. There are several versions about the origins of the name of this temple. The first version says that Borobudur's name comes from Sanskrit as "embers" which means "temple or monastery complex" and "beduhur" meaning "high / above".

The second version says that a history of Borobudur Temple is likely to come from the word "sambharabudhara" which means "mountain slope terraces." The third version that is interpreted by Prof.. Dr. Borobudur Poerbotjoroko explained that the word comes from the word "bhoro" which means "monastery" or "dormitory" and "Budur" which means "above".

Poerbotjoroko opinion was upheld by Prof. Dr. W.F. Stutterheim who believes that Bodorbudur means "monastery on top of a hill." Meanwhile, another version put forward by Prof. J.G. de Casparis based prasati Middle Reef, says that Borobudur comes from the word "bhumisambharabudhara" which means "place of worship for the spirits of ancestors."

Middle Reef was still based on the inscriptions and added to the inscription Kahuluan, JG de Casparis in his dissertation in 1950 said that the history of Borobudur Temple was founded by King predicted a dynasty Sayilendra Samaratungga from around the year Sangkala sense Sagara Çaka kstidhara or 746 years (824 AD) and can only be solved by a daughter, named Dyah Ayu Pramodhawardhani about the year 847 AD. Making this temple according to the inscription Klurak (784 AD) assisted by a teacher from Ghandadwipa (Bengalore) named Kumaragacya and a prince from Kashmir called Visvawarma.

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 the complex. Millions of people longing to visit buildings that are included in this World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architecturally and functionally, as a place of prayer, Borobudur is attractive.

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.

Berundak punden 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 which was built three 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 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 looking watu Kendil to panorama from the top of Borobudur. Wait what? No need to worry earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.

Borobudur was built around 800 BC or 9th century. Borobudur Temple was built by the Mahayana Buddhists during the reign of Wangsa Syailendra. This temple was built in the heyday Syailendra dynasty. Founder of the Borobudur Temple is derived from King Samaratungga dynasty or dynasties Syailendra. The possibility of this temple was built around 824 AD and was completed around the year 900 AD during the reign of Queen Pramudawardhani who is the daughter of Samaratungga. While the architects who contributed to build this temple according to stories passed down through generations named Gunadharma.

Borobudur own words based on the first written evidence which was written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Governor General of the United Kingdom in Java, which gives the name of this temple. There is no written evidence that older who gave the name of this temple of Borobudur. Only one of the oldest document showing the existence of this temple is Nagarakertagama book, written by mpu Prapanca in the year 1365. In the book was written that this temple was used as a place of Buddhist meditation.

Meaning of the name Borobudur is "a monastery in the hills", which comes from the word "coal" (temple or monastery) and "beduhur" (hills or high places) in Sanskrit. Therefore, in accordance with the meaning of the name Borobudur, then this place since first used as a place of Buddhist worship.

This temple for centuries are no longer used. Then, because of volcanic eruptions, most of the buildings covered with volcanic soils, the Borobudur Temple. In addition, the building is also covered with trees and shrubs for centuries. Then the building of this temple began forgotten in the days of Islam arrived in Indonesia around the 15th century.

In the year 1814 when the British occupied Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles heard of the discovery of huge historical relics in the village of Magelang district Bumisegoro. Because of the great interest towards the history of Java, then immediately ordered Raffles HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the location of the discovery that the time was a hill covered with shrubs.

Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut down trees and removing shrubs that covered the giant building. Because considering the building is fragile and could collapse, then report to the Raffles Cornelius invention includes several images. Since the discovery, was awarded the Raffles as the person who started the restoration of Borobudur temple and got the attention of the world. In 1835, the entire area of the temple has been uncovered. This temple is kept restored in the Dutch colonial period.

After Indonesian independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government requested the help of UNESCO to examine the damage to Borobudur. Then in 1963, out of the official Indonesian government's decision to conduct the restoration of Borobudur temple with the help of UNESCO. But this new restoration really starting place on August 10, 1973. Process new refurbishment completed in 1984. Since 1991, Borobudur Temple designated as a World Heritage Site or the World Heritage by UNESCO.

Borobudur temple is located in Magelang, Central Java, about 40 km from Yogyakarta. Borobudur Temple has 10 levels consisting of six levels of a square, three levels of circular hoop and a main stupa as a peak. At every level there are several stupas. Altogether there are 72 stupas in addition to the main stupa. In every stupa there is a statue of Buddha. Ten levels of Buddhist philosophy which describes the ten levels of Bodhisattva which must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha in nirvana. This perfection symbolized by the main stupa at the top level. Borobudur structure when viewed from above form a mandala structure depicting the Buddhist cosmology and human thinking.

On the fourth side there is the temple gate and stairs to the level above it like a pyramid. This illustrates the Buddhist philosophy that all life came from rocks. Stone later became the sand, then into plants, then into the insect, and then become wild animals and pets, and the last to be human. This process is known as reincarnation. Last process is the soul and finally into nirvana. Each stage of enlightenment in this life processes based on the philosophy of Buddha depicted on reliefs and statues in the temple of Borobudur.

This giant building just a giant pile of stone blocks which have a total height of 42 meters. Each stone joined without the use of cement or adhesive. These stones are only connected on the pattern and stacked. The base of Borobudur temple the size of approximately 118 m on each side. The stones used as approximately 55 000 cubic meters. All stone is taken from rivers around the Borobudur Temple. These stones are cut and then transported and connected with a pattern like games. All without using glue or cement.

Meanwhile, relief began to be made after the rocks are stacked and jointed finish. There are reliefs on temple walls. Borobudur temple has 2670 relief panels are different. Relief is read clockwise direction of rotation. This relief illustrates how to read a story which begins and ends at the east gate. This shows that the main entrance facing east Borobudur Buddhist temple, like most other.

Every year at the full moon in May (or June in leap years), Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate waisak at the Borobudur Temple. waisak is celebrated as the day of birth, death and the moment when Siddhartha Gautama obtain the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. All three of these events is called waisak Trisuci. waisak ceremony centered on three Buddhist temples by walking from the Mendut Pawon and ending at Borobudur.

On the night of waisak, particularly during peak moments of the full moon, Buddhists gathered around Borobudur. At that time, Borobudur is believed to be a gathering place of supernatural power. According to the trust, during waisak, the Buddha will appear visible on top of a mountain in the south.

Currently, Borobudur has become a tourist attraction that attracts many tourists both local and foreign tourists. In addition, the Borobudur Temple has become a holy place for Buddhists in Indonesia and became the center of the most important annual celebration of waisak Buddhist.

Borobudur become one of the proof of greatness and human intelligence has ever made in Indonesia. Borobudur become the main cultural attractions and in Indonesia other than Bali and Jakarta. After visiting the Borobudur, you can also visit the surrounding villages such as Karanganyar which has several interesting attractions