Page 220 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

Borobodur Temple, Java
218 ASIA

The world's largest Buddhist stupa (Buddhist Style, see
p.209}, Borobodur Temple is made from 1.6 million blocks
of volcanic andesite and is constructed over nine levels. F ive
PACIFIC
OCEAII square terraces are surmounted by three circular ones and
another stupa at the top. The structure's powerful image is
I NDONESIA
. Jakarta enhanced further by five levels of sublime carvings depicting
Q
BOROBODUR the lives of the Buddha, expounding the meaning of his
TEMPLE, JAVA
.,r doctrine. These images form the most comprehensive
lti{)IAW OCEAW ensemble of Buddhist reliefs ever carved. As pilgrims
AUSTRALIA
circumambulate, praying before each image, they ascend
from the terrestrial to the divine world. Abandoned in the
THE BAS-RE LIEFS
A Temple Roof
There are 1 .460 superbly carved bas-relief!\. 1Oth century, and later buried under ash from a volcanic
extending for 3 miles (5 krn), around the five eruption, the temple was not found again until 1815.
I ower I e vels of Borobodur. As visitors walk
cl ockvvise, keeping the monument to the right.
~ Medi1ating Buddhas
the rei iefs on the lowest terrace s how daily I ife,
Most of the Buddhas on the
earthly pleasures, the punishments of hell, and temple roof are enclosed in
the laws of cause and effect, or !Grma. This individual stupas, but several are
exposed. They are remarkable for
vivid evocation of daily life in ancient Javanese
their serenity and poise.
society was later covered with stone to support
the temple's weight The second level depicts
the Buddha and his life These reliefs feature
graceful figures wrth serene expressions
wearing jewels and headdresses Images on
the other levels follow texts such as the Jataka
Tales and La5tavistara, and the Buddha's earl1er
incarnations and search for enlightenment

THE SAILENDRA DYNAS TY
Between />D 730 and 930, the Sa1lendra
dynasty ruled most of Java 1n lndones1a. Their
name is Sanskrit for "Lords of the Mountain"
and they were heavily influenced by the Indian
Gupta culture through the maritime trade
routes of the region. Java was one of Asia's
leading civilizations during this period, enriched
by trade and the sale of rice, and the S ailendras
created the greatest temples and monuments
in Southeast Asia at the time. Borobodur
Temple, arguably their finest accomplis hment.
took 75 years to complete.

THE MEANING OF BOROBODUR
Initially built as a Hindu temple, Borobodur is
a re-creation of Mount Meru, the mythical
mountan abode of H1nd.J gods Symbolically,
it is a mandala, an a1d to medtat1on, and
a meeting place of he<PJen and Earth It
represents the transrtJon from the lowest
manrfestabons of realrty through to the nghest
spiritual awareness at the sunm1t The base
represents the lowest sphere of consaousness ~ Temple Roof
(Kamadhatu bas-reliefs) The next level The view from the top of BOfobodur
Temple is of the volcanic plain with its
(Rupadhatu bas-reliefs) IS the mtermediate
palm trees and groves.
period of consciousness. The upper levels, with
72 small, perforated stupas, each containing
a seated Meditating Buddha, represent the
~ Rupadhatu
sphere of formlessness. At the top, the empty
Bas-R eliefs
central stupa s uggests nirvana, and symbolizes
enlightenment. the ultimate spiritual realm.