Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia
We visited Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur is a Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, in Central Java, Indonesia on November 11, 2020. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple design follows Javanese Buddhist architecture, which blends the Indonesian indigenous cult of ancestor worship and the Buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.
When we visited this temple, due to Covid-19 pandemic, we weren’t allowed to enter the main temple only the Plataran or outer terrace. Therefore, we could not explore the walls which decorated with reliefs described the history behind this grandiose temple. However, we had the opportunity to walk around the temple and observe it from the outer terrace. We observed that generally the temple was well maintained because UNESCO always auspices the site, yet the structure looks a little bit darker than usual, so we could not see the decorated relief on the walls surrounding them.
The uniqueness of this temple is that it is the world's largest Buddhist temple, yet the location is in Central Java, Indonesia and was not in the original place of the Buddha itself. Why in Indonesia? This is actually the intriguing question regarding the existence of Borobudur Temple. Moreover, in that period of time, in the history of Java, the majority of the population followed ancestor belief, or Hindu, whilst Buddha teaching was only minority. Thus, for who this temple was built?
This uniqueness and mysterious phenomenon apparently occurred in many ancient sites in Indonesia, thus to resolve this mystery we should comprehensively unveil the history of the indigenous Indonesia culture at the first place. Hopefully, in the near future, government of Indonesia as well as people of Indonesia, could be more aware on the greatness history of this country, and it is our task to step by step unveil and bring to the light the true history of Indonesia for the dignity of our future generation. Let’s define our own true history, not by anybody else.
Despite of this question and mystery, until to date this temple was used as pilgrimage place of all Buddhist around the world.
When we visited this temple, due to Covid-19 pandemic, we weren’t allowed to enter the main temple only the Plataran or outer terrace. Therefore, we could not explore the walls which decorated with reliefs described the history behind this grandiose temple. However, we had the opportunity to walk around the temple and observe it from the outer terrace. We observed that generally the temple was well maintained because UNESCO always auspices the site, yet the structure looks a little bit darker than usual, so we could not see the decorated relief on the walls surrounding them.
The uniqueness of this temple is that it is the world's largest Buddhist temple, yet the location is in Central Java, Indonesia and was not in the original place of the Buddha itself. Why in Indonesia? This is actually the intriguing question regarding the existence of Borobudur Temple. Moreover, in that period of time, in the history of Java, the majority of the population followed ancestor belief, or Hindu, whilst Buddha teaching was only minority. Thus, for who this temple was built?
This uniqueness and mysterious phenomenon apparently occurred in many ancient sites in Indonesia, thus to resolve this mystery we should comprehensively unveil the history of the indigenous Indonesia culture at the first place. Hopefully, in the near future, government of Indonesia as well as people of Indonesia, could be more aware on the greatness history of this country, and it is our task to step by step unveil and bring to the light the true history of Indonesia for the dignity of our future generation. Let’s define our own true history, not by anybody else.
Despite of this question and mystery, until to date this temple was used as pilgrimage place of all Buddhist around the world.
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