Borobudur: A Testament to Indonesia’s Rich Spiritual Culture, Unique Architecture, and Impressive Heritage.
Nestled in the Kedu Valley in Central Java, Borobudur is a colossal Buddhist temple that stands abruptly in a valley enveloped by dense forests. In 2012, the Guinness World Records recognized it as the largest Buddhist temple in the world.
The Borobudur complex is located approximately 41 km northwest of Yogyakarta and over 80 km west of Surakarta, between two volcanoes – Sundoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi – and two rivers, Progo and Elo. It is also in close proximity to two other Buddhist temples in the Kedu Plain, Pawon and Mendut. Borobudur sits on a stone base at an elevation of about 265 meters above sea level.
The name Borobudur comes from Vihara Buddha Ur in Sanskrit, meaning “Buddhist Monastery on the Hill.” Visitors need to ascend more than 15 meters from the foot of the hill to reach the temple’s base.
This temple was built during the devoutly Buddhist Sailendra dynasty, around the 8th to 9th centuries.
Covering over 2,500 square meters, Borobudur is notable for its construction techniques and design. It was built without using cement or mortar, resembling a colossal assembly of interlocking blocks similar to giant Lego pieces held together without adhesives. The structure of Borobudur consists of 9 stacked levels, with each upper level smaller than the one below, attaining a total height of 42 meters, equivalent to a 10-story modern building.
The six lower levels of Borobudur have a polygonal layout with 20 sides, while the three upper levels are circular, representing the essence of the entire structure.
On the first circle, there are 36 stupas, while the second circle has 24 stupas. The stupas on these two levels are called Parinirwana and feature diamond-shaped holes surrounding them.
The third circle contains 16 stupas, with square holes, known as Nirwana, surrounding a large central stupa.
It is estimated that if one climbs each level and walks around the perimeter of all 9 levels, the total distance would be 5 km.
The walls of the six lower levels of Borobudur are covered with intricate relief carvings that portray the life of the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and enlightened heroes, as well as the teachings of Buddhism.
The total length of the sculptures exceeds 4 km. To fully appreciate the content of this monumental artwork, one would need about two days.
In addition to the reliefs, more than 400 Buddha statues are positioned within the stupas and on the four sides of Borobudur.
According to archaeologists, it took around 100 years to complete this magnificent structure.Borobudur is an impressive ancient Buddhist architectural masterpiece that can only be compared to other Southeast Asian structures such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Bagan Buddhist temples in Myanmar, and the ruins of Sukhothai in Thailand. The design of Borobudur blends Javanese style and Gupta dynasty architecture, reflecting the amalgamation of local aesthetics and Indian influences in ancient Java.
After the fall of the Sailendra Buddhist dynasty, Borobudur was left abandoned and forgotten for ten centuries.
The site was rediscovered in 1814 by a team of European scientists commissioned by the Dutch colonial government in Indonesia.
At that time, Borobudur was largely in ruins and buried under dense foliage.
It is believed that the temple was buried after a major eruption of Mount Merapi in this region during the 14th century.
This may have been fortunate, as the ash covered Borobudur, helping to limit the destruction from time and human activity.
Later, the colonial government allowed locals to excavate Borobudur, and the grandeur of the structure amazed all witnesses.
In 1970, the Indonesian government called on UNESCO for assistance to comprehensively restore Borobudur. 600 renowned restorers from around the world undertook the temple’s restoration over 12 years, costing 50 million US dollars.
Today, Borobudur has returned to its nearly original form and has become one of the world’s famous wonders.
Spiritual Significance
The Borobudur temple complex resembles a lotus flower, a sacred symbol in Buddhism. A bodhisattva must undergo “the ten stages”, the ten levels of enlightenment to become a Buddha. The 10 levels of Borobudur represent these stages. The temple is also constructed similarly to a three-dimensional mandala, a spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism representing the universe.
The structure of Borobudur reflects Buddhist cosmology and the journey towards enlightenment. The temple serves as a spiritual pilgrimage site for Buddhists from around the world who wander around the temple in a meditative state, reflecting on the teachings of Buddhism and seeking enlightenment.
The view of the Kedu Valley from the Borobudur temple complex.
The overall architecture of Borobudur can be divided into three parts from bottom to top, symbolizing three realms: Kamadhatu (the realm of desire), Rupadhatu (the realm of form), and Arupadhatu (the formless realm). Kamadhatu (the lowest part) symbolizes the underworld or human actions bound by worldly desires. Rupadhatu (the middle part) symbolizes the nature of the intermediate state or human actions beginning to detach from worldly desires. Arupadhatu (the upper part) symbolizes the noble nature or human actions that have completely transcended worldly desires.
Borobudur features perforated stupas, which are bell-shaped structures with holes at the top. This is thought to represent the Buddhist concept of emptiness, where everything is interconnected and there is no inherent existence.
