History of Borobudur Temple

History of Borobudur Temple. Collection of articles on the Borobudur temple will serve it in full. Who is not familiar with Borobudur temple, the pride of heritage of Indonesia which has also been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Borobudur is the name of a Buddhist temple located at Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Location of the temple is approximately 100 km southwest of Semarang and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Stupa temple was founded by the Mahayana Buddhists around the year 800 AD during the early reign of Sailendra dynasty. The monument comprises six square terraces above the GCC there are three circular courtyard, the walls decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues are original

The main stupa lies in the middle of the biggest as well as crowning the building, surrounded by three rows of 72 circular perforated stupas in which there are statues of buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position perfectly with the mudra (hand gesture) Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of dharma). This monument is a model of the universe and built as a shrine to honor the Buddha as well as serve as a place of pilgrimage to lead humanity from nature earthly passion turned to enlightenment and wisdom according to the teachings of Buddha.

The pilgrims enter through the east side at the base of the temple rituals begin with a walk encircling the shrine clockwise, while continuing to go up to the next steps in the sphere through three levels of Buddhist cosmology. The third level is K? Madh? Tu (the realm of the passions), Rupadhatu (the realm of intangibles), and Arupadhatu (intangible realm). In this journey of pilgrims walking through a series of hallways and stairs with no less than 1,460 witnessed the beautiful relief panels carved on the walls and balustrades.

According to historical evidence, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the weakening influence of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and started the influence of Islam. The world began to realize the existence of this building since it was discovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then serving as Governor-General of British over Java. Since then it has undergone a series of Borobudur rescue and restoration efforts. The largest restoration project was held in the period 1975 to 1982 the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and UNESCO, and historic sites in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Borobudur is still used as a place of religious pilgrimage; each year Buddhists who come from all over Indonesia and abroad gather at Borobudur to commemorate Vesak Trisuci. In the world of tourism, tourism Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist.

Relief

On the temple walls at every level - except on the terraces Arupadhatu - carved panels of bas-reliefs that will always remind the history of Borobudur temple which is made very carefully and delicate. [54] Relief and decorative patterns Borobudur naturalist style with ideal proportions and refined aesthetic taste. These reliefs are very beautiful, even considered as the most elegant and graceful Buddha in the art world.

Relief Borobudur also apply Indian art disciplines, such as various posture has a specific meaning or aesthetic value. Reliefs noble human form like a hermit, kings and noble woman, fairy creatures atapun achieve sainthood degrees like a god, like tara and Bodhisattva, is often depicted with the body position Tribhanga. The position of the body is called "three curves" that is curved or bent slightly at the neck, hips, and ankles with just body weight resting on one leg while the other leg is curved to rest. This flexible posture implies elegance, for example Surasundari angel figure who stood with Tribhanga posture while holding a long-stemmed lotus.

Borobudur reliefs showing many images, such as human figures both nobles, commoners, or hermits, various plants and animals, as well as displays of traditional vernacular building forms the archipelago. Borobudur is like like books that record various aspects of ancient Javanese society. Many archaeologists researching past life in ancient Java and the archipelago centuries 8th and 9th with examining and referring relief carvings Borobudur. Form of stilt houses, barns, castles and temples, the form of jewelry, clothing and weaponry, a variety of plants and wildlife, as well as means of transportation, to be observed by the researchers. One of them is a relief depicting the famous Borobudur Ship. Typical timber ship bercadik archipelago shows ancient maritime culture. Ark replica made by reliefs of Borobudur stored at the Museum of Ocean Mercury is located to the north of Borobudur.

Buddha statue

In addition to the form of Buddha in Buddhist cosmology carved in the walls, there are many statues at Borobudur buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position and displays the symbolic hand mudras or a certain attitude. Buddha statue with a height of 1.5 meters is carved from andesite stone.

Buddha statues in niches in Rupadhatu rate, set by the line on the outside of the balustrade. Dwindling on the side of it. Balustrade of the first row consists of 104 niches, the second 104 line niche, niche third row 88, row 72 niches fourth, and fifth rows 64 niches. There is a total number of 432 statues of Buddha in Rupadhatu level.

At the Arupadhatu (three circular courtyard), Buddha statues placed in stupas berterawang (perforated). At first the circular courtyard there are 32 stupas, the second 24 stupa court, and the court there are 16 stupas third, all total 72 stupas.

Of the original amount as much as 504 Buddha statues, over 300 have been damaged (mostly headless) and 43 missing (since the monument's discovery, heads of Buddha is often stolen as collector's item, mostly by foreign museums).

On the face of all these buddha statues look similar, but there are subtle differences between, namely the mudras or the position of the hand gesture. There are five groups of mudra: North, East, South, West, and Central, all based on five main directions of the compass according to Mahayana teachings. Fourth balustrade has four mudras: North, East, South, and West, where each buddha statues facing the direction of showing typical mudra. Buddha statues at the fifth balustrades and inside the 72 buddha statues in the courtyard of the stupa berterawang showing mudras: Middle or Center. Each mudra symbolize five Dhyani Buddhas, each with its own symbolic meaning.

Rehabilitation

Borobudur greatly affected by the eruption of Mount Merapi in October adan November 2010. Volcanic dust from Merapi covered within the temple complex 28 kilometers (17 miles) west-southwest of the crater of Merapi. Volcanic ash layer reaches a thickness of 2.5 centimeters covering the building of the temple when the eruption of 3 to 5 November 2010, the dust also kill plants around, and experts are concerned that volcanic dust is chemically acidic rocks can damage the historic building. The temple complex was closed from 5 to 9 November 2010 to clean the dust luruhan.

Observing rehabilitation Borobudur after Merapi eruption in 2010, UNESCO has donated $ 3 million to fund rehabilitation efforts. Cleanse the temple of volcanic dust deposition will spend at least 6 months, followed by reforestation and tree planting in the surrounding environment to stabilize the temperature, and the last reviving the social and economic life of the local community.

More than 55,000 blocks of stone temples must be disassembled to repair the water system and drainage dough clogged rain water mixed with volcanic ash. Restoration ended November 2011, earlier than previously thought.

Borobudur is a magnificent historic building. This proves that our ancestors have known that the high-tech science is not lost with the development of technology today. Proved by the strong Borobudur temple until now. As the nation who love this country, is not an exaggeration to children - school children need to learn the history of Borobudur temple.