Borobudur temple





Borobudur Temple history


Borobudur was built around 800 AD or the 9th century. Borobudur was built by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism during the reign of Dynasty dynasty. The temple was built in the heyday of the dynasty dynasty. Founder of the Borobudur Temple, King Samaratungga originating from or dynasty dynasty dynasty. The possibility of this temple was built around 824 AD and was completed around the year AD 900's during the reign of Queen Pramudawardhani who is the daughter of Samaratungga. While the architects who contributed to build this temple according to a story passed down through generations named Gunadharma.


Borobudur own words based on the first written evidence, 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 names to the temple of Borobudur. Only one of the oldest documents that show the existence of this temple is Nagarakretagama book, written by the MPU Prapanca in 1365. In the book is written that this temple was used as a place of Buddhist meditation.
Meaning of the name Borobudur is "monastery in the hills", which comes from the word "bara" (temple or monastery) and "beduhur" (hills or high places) in Sanskrit. Therefore, in accordance with the meaning of the name Borobudur, so this place long ago 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 Borobudur volcanic soil. In addition, the building is also covered with various 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 1814 when the British occupied Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles heard of the discovery of archaeological objects in the giant-sized village of Magelang Bumisegoro. Due to great interest of the history of Java, Raffles immediately ordered the HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the location of the current invention is a hill covered with shrubs.
Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut down trees and remove shrubs that cover the giant building. Because the building is already fragile and could collapse, then Cornelius Raffles reported to the invention includes a few pictures. Because of that discovery, Raffles was honored 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 unearthed. The temple is kept restored in the Dutch colonial period.
After Indonesia's independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government requested the assistance 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. However, this restoration was only really began to place on August 10, 1973. The new restoration process was completed in 1984. Since 1991, the Borobudur Temple as a World Heritage Site set or a World Heritage by UNESCO.

Borobudur Temple


Borobudur temple is located in Magelang, Central Java, about 40 km from Yogyakarta. Borobudur has 10 levels consisting of six levels of a square, 3 levels of a circular and a main stupa as the peak. At each 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 the ten levels of Bodhisattva who must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha in nirvana. This perfection is symbolized by the main stupa at the top level. Borobudur structure when viewed from above form a mandala structure that describes the Buddhist cosmology and human thinking.
On the fourth side there is a temple gate and stairs to the level above it like a pyramid. This illustrates the Buddhist philosophy that all life came from rocks. Stone became sand, then a plant and then into an insect, then a wild animal and pets, and the last to be human. This process is known as reincarnation. The final process is to be the soul and finally into nirvana. Each stage in the process of enlightenment is based on the Buddhist philosophy of life depicted in the reliefs and sculptures in the entire temple of Borobudur.
This huge building just a giant pile of stone blocks which have a total height of 42 meters. Each stone spliced ​​without using cement or adhesive. These stones are only connected by the pattern and stacked. The base of Borobudur Temple is about 118 m on each side. The stones are used approximately 55 000 cubic meters. All the stone was taken from the river around Borobudur. These stones are cut and spliced ​​and transported to a pattern like lego games. All without using glue or cement.
While the relief began to be made after the completion of rocks stacked and connected. Reliefs found on the temple walls. Borobudur has 2670 different relief. Relief is read clockwise. This relief depicts a story that I read it starts and ends at the gate to the east. This suggests that the main gate of the Borobudur temple facing east like most other Buddhist temples.

Vesak celebration at Borobudur


Every year on the full moon in May (or June in leap years), of Buddhists in Indonesia commemorating Vesak at Borobudur. Vesak is celebrated as the day of birth, death and the time when Siddhartha Gautama obtained the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. The third event is called Vesak Trisuci. Vesak ceremony centered at three Buddhist temples by walking from the Mendut Pawon and ending at Borobudur.
On the eve of Vesak, especially during the peak moment of full moon, Buddhists gathered around Borobudur. At that time, Borobudur is believed to be a gathering place of supernatural powers. According to belief, during Vesak, the Buddha will appear in a look at the top of a mountain in the south.

Borobudur


Currently, Borobudur has become a tourist attraction which attracts 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 the Buddhist Vesak.
Borobudur be one proof of the greatness and the human intellect has ever made in Indonesia. Borobudur became a major cultural tourism and in Indonesia other than Bali and Jakarta. After visiting Borobudur, you can also visit the surrounding villages like Karanganyar which has some interesting sigh

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