Background of Borobudur Temple

Borobudur ia a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near

Magelang Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square
platforms topped by three circular platforms and is decorated with 2.672
relief panels and 504 Budha statues. A main dom located at the center of
the top platform is surroundedby 72 statues seated inside perforated
stupa.
The monument is both a shrine to the lord Budha and a place for
Budhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the
monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while
ascending to the top through the three level of cosmology namely
Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu and Arupadhatu. The monument guides the
piligrims through a system of stair ways and corridors with 1.460 narrative
relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.
Borobudur Temple was built by King Samaratungga, one of the king
of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on
Kayumwungan incription, an Indonesia named Hudaya Kandah Jaya
revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be
built on 26th may

824 , almost one hundred years from the time the

construction was begun. The name of Borobudur as some people say

means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while others said that
Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
Borobudur

is

constructed

as

ten-terraces

building.

The

heightbefore being renovatedwas 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the

renovation because the lowest level was used as sopporting base. The
first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular
form, and on top of them is the terrace where Budha statue is located
facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line
with of Budha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of
Budhas must go through each of those life stages.

The base of Borobudur called Kamadhatu. It symbolizes human

being that are still bound by lust. The upper four stories called Rupadhatu
symbolizing human being that have set themselves free from lust but are
still bound to appeareance and shape. On this terrace, Budha effigies are
placed on open space; whlie the upper terraces where Budha effigies are
confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu. It symbolizes
human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The
top part that is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where budha is residing.
Each terraces has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the
sculptors were. In order to understand the squence of the stories on the
relief panels. The relief panels tell legendary story of Ramayana. Besides,
there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time;
for example, relief of fermers activity reflecting the advance of agriculture
system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in
Bergotta (Semarang).