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Tourists passing through the island of Java, Indonesia, cannot miss the visit of temple of Borobudur. It is above all an essential site for lovers of Buddhist spirituality and its history. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Here's what you need to know about this important construction.
The site where the Borobudur temple was risen would have been built around the year 800. The temple would have been abandoned in the year 1100 and then forgotten. It was not until 1814 that he was rediscovered under the leadership of the Lieutenant-Governor of the island of Java, who had heard of a large monument lost in the forest, around the village of BUMISGORO. It was necessary to bring down trees and dig into the ground to update the site.
The Borobudur temple is now an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It is indeed dedicated to the Buddha. Seen from the sky, it has the shape of a mandala. Four superimposed galleries are made. The three highest galleries are arranged to represent Buddhist cosmology. The galleries have several bas-reliefs, carved out in volcanic stone by various craftsmen, showing the important stages of the life of the Buddha.
There is also a mysterious fifth concealed gallery. The bas-reliefs found there represent the burdens linked to earthly life. Experts ignore why this gallery was hidden. Some suggest that it was to hide the harsh realities of life on earth. The bas-reliefs were sculpted on the spot once the construction has been completed. Manufacturers have also provided a rainwater drainage system.
The pilgrims cross the four galleries and then reach the upper terrace. The terrace is surmounted by three circular terraces. These are bordered by Stûpas, that is to say commemorative monuments intended to contain relics or symbolize Buddhist doctrine. The stuepas appear in the form of stone bells containing bodhisatvas, or Buddhas on the awakening.
The center of these terraces is the top of the Borobudur temple. Another Stûpa is housed there, containing an unfinished Buddha. It is not known whether this Buddha was added in the years following the construction of the temple. The central Stûpa is accessible by stairs which are located in the center on each side. Doors framed by statues of lions meet on these stairs.
The three parts of the monument are symbolically linked to the three stages that lead to illumination according to the Buddhist doctrine. These three steps are The world of desires, The world of forms And The world without forms. The architecture respects this vision of the world since the base is detailed, the body is circular and the summit is smoother.
There is no document explaining the reason for the construction of the Borobudur temple. It is also unknown by whom it was built. It would have taken about 75 years to be built. The time corresponds to the construction of several Buddhist and Hindu monuments in the region of the Kedu plain. It is also unknown why the site was abandoned and then more or less forgotten.
During the centuries that followed its abandonment, the Borobudur site was hidden by the forest and by volcanic ashes. The volcanic eruptions which took place periodically may have helped to remove the pilgrims. Legends have even made the place a bearer of unluckiness.
Nowadays, the temple has regained its prestige and its status as a pilgrimage place. At the full moon of May or June, the Buddhists celebrate various events in the life of the Buddha, his birth, his death and the moment when he accessed high wisdom. The day of the ceremony is a holiday. A pilgrimage takes place Bend at Pawon Before culminating on the Borobudur site. Today, the place is most visited by tourists in Indonesia.
The integrity of the temple of Borobudur as well as that of other temples is today threatened by accelerated development. The regulations are fairly vague and the increasing number of tourists may cause damage. It has been found that the temple stone is deteriorating without being able to determine the cause precisely. Damage has sometimes been caused by visitors who had been neglected to monitor.
The visit is particularly spectacular at sunrise and sunset. From the site, tourists also have an excellent view of the Merapi volcano, which is still active. The temple is easily accessible from the city of Yogyakarta. It is possible to get there by bus or taxi at low cost.
The many bas-reliefs of the Borobudur temple are worth the trip. They cover the facades and railings. The narrative panels on the walls must be looked at from right to left to follow the progress of the story. On the railings, the narrative panels read from left to right. These provisions are linked to circular strolling ritual.
The Borobudur site also includes several statues of Buddha. It is represented in the position of the lotus. In terms of square platforms, the statues are located in niches. They are placed in a circle and their number decreases as the pilgrim rises in the temple. In terms of circular platforms, the statues are fitted out in perforated Stûpas.
The Borobudur site is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage, which has supported the Indonesian government in the restoration of the temple. It is now possible to visit the premises, which have been saved from ruin. It was in the late 1960s, after decades of small renovations, that the Indonesian government proposed a more developed safeguard plan to the international community and that UNESCO was used.
In the 1970s, a major project allowed the complete restoration of the site. The temple foundations were reinforced and all the panels were cleaned. It was when the restoration was completed that UNESCO ranked it in its World Heritage List.
The original materials were used for the reconstruction of the Borobudur temple. There were also some additions to consolidate it. Changes have also been made necessary by the need to ensure better drainage. The original materials were sufficient to ensure the entire reconstruction and renovation of the monument.
Borobudur is located in the high plain of Kedu, which is part of the central java province. Several Buddhist temples have been erected in this region. The Kedu plain is itself considered a sacred place. Its soil is very fertile. The temple of Borobudur belongs to the city of Magelang, located near several volcanoes.
Other Buddhist temples were discovered around during the restoration of the Borobudur site. The time at which the temple was built saw the birth of several constructions of this type. For example, in the region is the Pawon temples and began, also very important for pilgrims. These two temples are on the same line as the temple of Borobudur.
Legend has it that a road has already connected the three temples. This paved road would have been located between two walls and would have made it possible to move from one temple to another. A relationship between the three temples is possible since they were built at the same time, if we judge by their type of architecture.
Most of the temples built at that time were located on flat surfaces. The Borobudur temple is an exception since it was built on a hill. According to some experts, the Kedu plain could be an old lake And the temple of Borobudur would represent a lotus flower floating on the water. The lotus flower often serves as a throne to the Buddha in artistic representations. However, the region seems too dry for a lake to have already been present.
The technique of building the temple of Borobudur resembles that used for the construction of the other temples of the area. It is believed that Borobudur served Stûpa first before becoming a temple. This has a different function since it is considered the remains of a god. It must therefore include inside the places provided for worship. The complexity of the architecture testifies in favor of the thesis of the temple.
It seems that the Borobudur site has been dedicated to the pilgrimage rather than worship. A system of stairs and corridors allowed pilgrims to find their way and reach the upper platform. Cosmology Buddhistsuggests that each platform represents a step on the path of enlightenment.
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