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                                                                                                                      ~ Kamadhatu bas-
                                                                                                                      reliefs of musi<ians

                                                                                                                      Y  Seated Buddha
                                                                                                                      Sitting within an arched
                                                                                                                      niche in the temple, this
                                                                                                                      Buddhaisthoughtto
                                                                                                                      represent a hermit in a
                                                                                                                      mountain cave.




                                       A  One of the Medilating Buddhas
         A  Carved Gateway
                                    RESTORATION
                                    In 1973, a $21  million restoration project
                                    began at Borobodur. The terraces were
                                    dismantled, cataloged, cleaned, and
                                    reconstructed on a concrete foundation.
                                    This Buddhist site is now a national
                                    monument in a Muslim country.



                                             ~ Carved Gateway
                                             This archway leading to the roof is   A  Rupadhatu Bas-Reliefs
                                             guarded by Kala, a protective deily   These carvings depict the
                                             and a mythica I monster who           life of Siddhartha Gautama,
                                             swallowed his own body.               the Buddha.
                                                                                           View of Borobodur
                                                                                                  Temple>-
                                                                                        The name of this colossal
                                                                                      structure probably came from
                                                                                       the Sanskrit Vihara Buddha
                                                                                       Uhr,  meaning High Buddhist
                                                                                       Monastery. It is the earthly
                                                                                       manifestion of the Buddhist
                                                                                           vision of the universe.


                                                                        CONSTRUCTION
                                                                        Borobodur is square in plan and 113 ft
                                                                        (34.5 m) high. Originally, five square
                                                                        terraces of diminishing size were built,
                                                                        leading to a sixth from which three
                                                                        circular terraces rose, with a stupa at the
                                                                        summit. The original intention seems to
                                                                        have been to construct a pyramid, but
                                                                        theweightwas so great that a stone
                                                                        buttress had to be built around the base
                                                                        to stop it from collapsing.





                                                                                                       A  A graceful, bejewelled king and
                                                                                                       queen holding wurt at Borobodur
                                           ~ Kamadhatu Bas-Reliefs
                                           These superb carvings on the
                                           first level of the temple illustrate
                                           ancient Javanese society.



                                                      KEY DATES
                  ~ Seated Buddha
                                                      7704!50      c. 928        c.900         1815         1907-11       1991
                                                      Constructbn of   The balance of   Heavy volcanic   Borobodur is   The temple   Borobodur is
                                                      Borobodur Temple   power shifts to east   activity submerges   rediscovered by   undergoes its first   declared a UNESCO
                                                      under the Sailendra   Java and the temple   the temple in layers   British colonial agent  renovation, by   World Heritage Site.
                                                      dynasty.     is abandoned.   of ash.     Sir Stamford Raffles.   the Dutch.
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