History BorobudurBorobudur is the biggest temple in Indonesia. Borobudur Temple in the Magelang, Central Java, in addition to tourism to be a busy visit, also a center of worship for Buddhists in Indonesia, especially in the celebration each Waisak. This is consistent with the meaning of the name which is “a monastery in the hills.” Borobudur is currently defined as one of UNESCO world heritage.
Borobudur was built around 800 BC or 9th century. Borobudur was built by the Mahayana Buddhist religion in the government Sailendra dynasty. This temple was built in the heyday dynasty . Borobudur is the founder of the King who came from Samaratungga dynasty . Likelihood of this temple was built around 824 M and finished around the year 900 Christian government in the Queen’s daughter Pramudawardhani Samaratungga. Meanwhile, the architect who designed this temple built according to a story called hereditary Gunadharma.
Borobudur words, based on written evidence that the first 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 the older name of this temple of Borobudur. The only document that indicates the existence of the oldest temple is Nagarakretagama book, written by mpu Prapanca in the year 1365. In the book is written that this temple is used as a place of Buddhist meditation.
Borobudur is the name meaning “monastery in the hills,” which comes from the word “bara” (temple or monastery) and “beduhur” (the hills or high) 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, as volcanic eruptions, most of the Borobudur Temple building is closed vulkanik land. In addition, the building also closed various trees and shrubbery for centuries. Then start building this temple on the forgotten days of Islam into Indonesia to around the century-15.
In the year 1814 when the British occupied India, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles hear the findings of ancient huge Bumisegoro area in the village of Magelang. Because the interest of the history of Java, Raffles then immediately ordered the HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the location of the discovery of a hill when it met the bush.
Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut trees and remove the shrub cover is a giant building. Because the building is already considering fragile and can fall apart, then to report to Cornelius Raffles findings include some pictures. Because the invention of the Raffles received an award as the person who started restoration of Borobudur temple and get the attention of the world. In the year 1835, the entire temple area has been successfully dug. Hold this temple in the restored Dutch colonial period.
After Indonesia gained its independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government to request assistance of UNESCO to examine damage to Borobudur. Then in 1963, out official decision by the Indonesian government to do the Borobudur restoration with assistance from UNESCO. However, this new restoration really began to be done on 10 August 1973. New restoration process is completed in 1984. Since 1991, Borobudur temple established as World Heritage or World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur temple is located in Magelang, Central Java, about 40 km from Yogyakarta. Borobudur has 10 levels and consists of 6 square-shaped levels, 3 levels of circular-shaped coil and a stupa as a main peak. At every level there are some stupa. 72 stupa there is a whole other than the main stupa. In each there is a statue of a Buddhist stupa. Ten levels of Buddhist philosophy which describes the ten Bodhisattva levels should be to achieve perfection in a Buddhist Nirwana. This perfection symbolized by the main stupa at the top level. Borobudur structure when viewed from above form the structure of the mandala that Buddhist cosmology and describes the way people think.
On the fourth side there is a temple gate and a ladder to the level above it like a pyramid. This describes the Buddhist philosophy that is all life comes from the stones. The stone became sand, and a plant, and insects to be, and then become wild animals, and pets, and became the last man. This process is known as reincarnation. The process is to become the last of the soul and eventually into Nirwana. Each stage in the process of enlightenment of life is based on Buddhist philosophy and is depicted on the relief sculpture on the whole temple of Borobudur.
This giant building is only a giant pile of stone blocks that have a height of 42 meters total. Each stone through without using cement or adhesive. Stones is only based on the pattern and through stacked. The bottom of the Borobudur temple measuring 118 m around each of the side. Stones used as approximately 55,000 cubic meters. All stone is taken from rivers around the Borobudur Temple. These stones cut and transported ago through a pattern such as a game release. All without using glue or cement.
Meanwhile, relief began to be made after the stones are stacked and finished to. Relief is available on the temple walls. Borobudur Temple in 2670 has a different relief. Relief is read clockwise direction round. This relief depicts a story of how it begins and ends at the gate in the east. This shows that the main gate to the east of the Borobudur temple as generally other Buddhist.
