Borobudur Temple, Revealing Its Origins and History

Borobudur Temple is a very magnificent Buddhist temple and is one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the world. The location is located in the Borobudur area, Magelang, Central Java. The Borobudur Temple is in the shape of a Stupa which according to history, was founded by Mahayana Buddhists around the year 800 AD during the reign of Syailendra Dynasty by King Samaratungga.

Based on the Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that "Borobudur Temple is a place of worship that was completed on May 26, 824, almost 100 years since the earliest times were built. The origin of the name Borobudur Temple itself according to some people means a terraced mountain (Budhara), while some others say Borobudur means Monastery which is located on a high place.

The Borobudur Temple building has a punden terraces consisting of 10 levels. With a height before renovation 42 m and after renovation to 34.5 m because the bottom level is used for anchoring. It is square for the bottom six levels, a circle for the three levels above it, and one highest level in the form of a Buddhist stupa facing west.

Each level has a meaning in the stages of human life. Like the Mahayana Buddhist School, someone who wants to reach the level of a Buddha must go through each of these stages of life.

While the bottom of the Borobudur Temple is called Kamadhatu, it symbolizes humans who are still bound by lust. For the four levels above it is called Rupadhatu symbolizes a human being who can free himself from lust, but is still bound by form and form. At that level the Buddha statue is placed openly.

For the three levels above, Buddha is placed in a perforated stupa called Arupadhatu (symbolizing human beings who are free from lust, form and form). While the very top part called the Arupa which symbolizes nirvana (where Buddha resides)

Each level has beautiful reliefs, showing how skilled the maker is. The relief will be read sequentially if you go clockwise. Relief at Borobudur Temple tells the story of a very legendary story (Ramayana).

There are also reliefs that describe the state of society at that time. Like, reliefs about farmers' activities that reflect the advancement of the agricultural system at that time and relief of sailing ships which is a picture of the progress of the cruise that was centered at Bergotta (Semarang).

All reliefs in Borobudur Temple reflect the teachings of the Buddha. Because this temple can be used as an educational medium for people who want to learn Buddhist teachings. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century visited the Borobudur Temple which was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Great Cathedral in Europe.

Thanks to visiting the Borobudur Temple and armed with Buddhist scriptures from Serlingpa (a king from Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhist teachings. Atisha became the abbot of Vikramasila and taught the Tibetans about practicing the Dharma. The six Serlingpa texts are summarized into a core of teachings called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" commonly known as Bodhipathapradipa.

Before you visit there, you should know first about the history of Borobudur Temple and its origins so that your visit to Borobudur is more meaningful.