Borobudur temple history

  Who is not familiar with the temple of Borobudur, Indonesia national pride of heritage has also been designated as world heritage site by UNESCO. Borobudur is the name of a Buddhist temple located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Location of the temple is about 100 km southwest of Semarang and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Stupa shaped temple was founded by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism in approximately 800 Masehi during the reign of dynasty Syailendra. The monument comprises six square terraces Yeng above there are three circular courtyard, the walls adorned with original 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues there.

   The main stupa in the middle of the largest teletak once crowned this building, surrounded by three rows of round 72 perforated stupas in which there are statues of Buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position perfectly with the mudra (hand position) Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of dharma).
    The pilgrims enter through the east side starting at the base of the temple ritual walk around holy building is in a clockwise direction, while continuing to go up to the next steps in the sphere through three levels of Buddhist cosmology. The third level is Kamadhatu (the realm of the passions), Rupadhatu (sphere shape), and Arupadhatu (the realm of intangibles). In this way of pilgrims walking through the hallway and staircase with a series of witnessed no less than 1460 beautifully carved relief panels on the wall and balustrade.

   According to historical evidence, Borobudur abandoned in the 14th century as the weakening of the influence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms in Java as well as from the influence of Islam. The world began to recognize the existence of this building since 1814 was found by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then serving as Governor General of British control over Java. Since then Borobudur has suffered a series of rescue and restoration efforts. 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 are included in the list of World Heritage Sites.

    Borobudur is still used as a place of religious pilgrimage each year by 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 by tourists.

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 with great accuracy and fine. [54] Relief and decorative patterns Borobudur naturalist style with ideal proportions and refined aesthetic taste. These reliefs are very beautiful, even regarded as the most elegant and graceful in the world of Buddhist art.

   Borobudur reliefs of Indian art discipline as well as a variety of posture has a specific meaning or aesthetic value. Reliefs noble human form as a hermit, king and noble women, angel atapun creature like a god to achieve the degree of purity, such as tare and boddhisatwa, often depicted with the body position tribhanga. These postures are called "three curves" that is curved or bent slightly at the neck, hips, and ankles with only the body weight resting on one leg, while the other leg resting dilekuk. A flexible body position implies elegance, such as a standing figure of an angel with an attitude Surasundari tribhanga body clutching long-stemmed lotus.
 

   Borobudur reliefs showing many images, such as human figures both nobles, commoners, or a hermit, a variety of plants and animals, as well as displays of traditional vernacular building form the archipelago. Borobudur is like a book like that record various aspects of ancient Javanese society. Many archaeologists researching past life in ancient Java and the archipelago centuries-8-9 and to look at and refer to the carved reliefs of Borobudur. The stage-house, barn, palaces and temples, the form of jewelry, clothing and weaponry, various plants and wildlife, as well as a means of transportation, it was noted 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 of Borobudur reliefs made ​​by Samudra Raksa stored in the Museum, located on the north Borobudur.

Buddha statue

 In addition to the buddha in the form of Buddhist cosmology carved in the wall, there are many statues at Borobudur Buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position and displays the mudra, or symbolic hand a certain attitude. Buddha statue with a height of 1.5 meters was carved out of andesite rock materials.

    Buddha statue in the recesses in the Rupadhatu, governed by a row at the outer side of the balustrade. Diminishing in number at the top. Balustrade of the first row consists of 104 niches, the second line of 104 niches, recesses 88 third row, fourth row 72 niches, recesses 64 and the fifth row. Total there are 432 statues of Buddha at the Rupadhatu.

  On the Arupadhatu (three circular courtyard), Buddha statues placed in stupas berterawang (cavities). In the court of the first round there are 32 stupas, the second court of the 24 stupas, and the third courtyard there are 16 stupas, all of them a total of 72 stupas.

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

  On the face of all this buddha statues look similar, but there are subtle differences among them, namely the attitude of mudras or hand positions. There are five classes 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 of the statues buddha mudra facing the direction the show is typical. Buddha statues on the balustrade of the fifth and buddha statues inside the 72 stupas berterawang on display in the courtyard of the Central or Central mudra. Each of the five Dhyani Buddha mudra symbolizes, each with its own symbolic meaning.

Rehabilitasi

   Borobudur is affected by the eruption of Mount Merapi in October adan November 2010. Merapi volcanic ash from within the temple complex covers 28 kilometers (17 miles) west-southwest of the crater of Merapi. Volcanic ash layer reached a thickness of 2.5 inches over the building of the temple when the eruption of 3 to 5 November 2010, the dust also kill plants around, and other experts are concerned that volcanic dust is chemically acidic rocks can damage historic buildings. Temple complex was closed 5 to 9 November 2010 to remove dust.
  Looking at the Borobudur rehabilitation efforts after the 2010 eruption of Merapi, UNESCO has contributed $ 3 million dollars to fund rehabilitation efforts. Cleaning the temple of volcanic ash deposits will spend at least 6 months, followed by reforestation and tree planting in the neighborhood to stabilize the temperature, and finally revive the social and economic life of local communities.

  More than 55,000 blocks of stone temples be demolished to improve the water system and drainage system is clogged mixture of rainwater 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 high-tech science that is not inferior to today's technological developments. Evidenced by the still-powerful Borobudur temple until now. As the nation who love this country, is not excessive if the child - school children need to learn the history of the temple of Borobudur.

source : wikipedia