November 12, 2012

Mysteries of Borobudur, The Largest Buddhist Temple in The World

Approximately three hundred years ago, where the temple is still a grove surrounding what people called Redi Borobudur in Indonesia For the first time, the name of the script Negarakertagama Borobudur known Craftman Master Prapanca works in 1365 AD, is mentioned about the monastery in Budur.


Then in the Jawi script Soil Chronicle (1709-1710) there was news of Mas Fund, a rebel against King Pakubowono I, who was caught in the Redi Borobudur and sentenced to death. Later in 1758, sparked the news about a prince from Yogyakarta, the Prince Monconagoro, who would like to see a statue of a warrior are locked in a cage. Then in 1814, Thomas Stamford Raffles received the news of his subordinates on a hill covered with carved stones. Based on the news that Raffles sent Cornelius, an admirer of art and history, to clean up that hill. Once cleared for two months with the help of 200 people, the temple became clear and restoration continued in 1825.

In 1834, Resident Kedu cleanse the temple again, and in 1842 the temple stupa (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of meditation) reviewed for further research.
  

Regarding the name of Borobudur, as many scholars interpret ancient, of which Prof. Dr. Poerbotjoroko explains that the word comes from two words Borobudur Bhoro and Budur. Bhoro derived from Sanskrit which means bihara or dormitories, while the word Budur refers to the name of the place. This opinion is corroborated by Prof. Dr. WF. Stutterheim who argued that Borobudur means Bihara on top of a hill. While Prof. JG. De Casparis basing on Middle Reef inscription mentioning in this new building, which Sangkala Year: sagara kstidhara taste, or Caka year 746 (824 AD), or during the Sailendra dynasty that glorifies God Indra. In the inscriptions found Bhumisambharabhudhara name meaning place of worship of the ancestors for the souls of ancestors.

How is it going to be a shift in word Borobudur? This happens because the pronunciation of the local community.

In a history lesson, it was mentioned that the Borobudur temple was made during the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty under the leadership of King Samarotthungga. While that created the temple, by speech communities named Gunadharma. Construction of the temple was completed in 847 AD According to the inscription Kulrak (784M) making of the temple was assisted by a teacher from Ghandadwipa (Bengalore) named Kumaragacya highly respected, and a prince from Kashmir named Visvawarman as an expert advisor in the teachings of Tantric Vajrayana Buddis. The construction of this temple began during the Maha Raja Sri Sanggramadananjaya Dananjaya the title, followed by his son, Samarotthungga, and by her granddaughter, Dyah Ayu Pramodhawardhani.
Before restoration, the Borobudur Temple in ruins as well as artifacts newly discovered temple today. When we visited Borobudur and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings of the temple top, sometimes we do not even think about who is credited with rebuilding the Borobudur Temple became a magnificent building and the wealth of the nation of Indonesia.

Subsequent restoration, after by Cornelius at the Raffles and Resident Hatmann, conducted in 1907-1911 by Theodore van Erp rebuild the order form from the ruins of the temple since the time eaten up the form now. Van Erp actually an engineer building Genie military with the rank of lieutenant, but then interested in studying and learning the ins and outs of the Borobudur Temple, from philosophical to the teachings it contains. For that he was trying to make a comparative study for several years in India. He also went to Sri Lanka to see the composition of the Sanchi stupa summit in Kandy, until van Erp discovered form of Borobudur Temple. While the foundation of philosophy and religion invented by Stutterheim and NJ. Chrome, ie about Buddhism Mahayana Dharma-Yogacara and there is a tendency also mixed with a flow-Tantric Vajrayana. Therefore, the pemugar must have a bit of history of religion in Indonesia. Research on the composition of the temple and a philosophy that carries itself requires substantial time, especially when linked with other temple buildings are still one family. As well as the Borobudur temple with Mendut Pawon and is geographically located in one lane.

material temple
Borobudur is the second largest temple after temple Ankor Wat in Cambodia. Borobudur like building a pyramid of Cheops at Gizeh Egypt. Borobudur Temple building area 15,129 m2, composed of 55,000 m3 of rock, from 2 million pieces of rocks. The average stone size 25 cm X 10 cm X 15 cm. Long pieces of stone the whole 500 km with a stone total weight of 1.3 million tonnes. The walls of Borobudur Temple surrounded by pictures or relief which is a series of stories that made ​​up the 1460 panel. The length of each panel is 2 feet. So if a series of reliefs that stretched the length of approximately 3 km relief entirely. The number of level ten, 1-6 levels of a square, while the round 7-10. Contained statues around the temple amounted to 504 pieces. Meanwhile, the high temple of the soil surface to the tip of the main stupa was 42 meters, 34.5 meters but now lives after being struck by lightning.

According to the survey-ethnologist Austrian anthropologist Robert von Heine Geldern, the ancestors of Indonesia already familiar with the culture in the Neolithic and Megalithic era from South Vietnam and Cambodia. In the Megalithic era that the ancestors of Indonesia made the tomb of his ancestors as well as a place of worship in the form of tiered pyramid building, getting to the top is getting smaller. One of them found in Lebak Sibedug Leuwiliang Bogor, West Java. There are also similar buildings in Sukuh near Solo, Borobudur Temple also. If we look from a distance, Borobudur will look like the composition of the staircase or a pyramid and a stupa.

Unlike the pyramids of Egypt and the Pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico Borobudur is another version of the pyramid. Borobudur pyramid form kepunden staircase will not be found in the region and any country, including India. And that's one of the advantages of Borobudur temple which is a typical Buddhist architecture in Indonesia.

Seeing the splendor of Borobudur Temple building at this time and other temples in Indonesia has given a great knowledge about the civilization of Indonesia. Various science involved in the reconstruction effort undertaken by the Borobudur temple Teodhorus van Erp. We should appreciate his efforts given the various constraints and difficulties faced in rebuilding the temple.

Until now there are some things that remain a mystery surrounding the founding of the Borobudur Temple, for example in terms of rock composition, how to transport the stone from the area of ​​origin to point of destination, whether the stones were already in the desired size or shape is still a genuine stone mountain , how long the process of cutting the stones to the size you want, how to raise the stones from the bottom to the top of the temple courtyard, the crane is used? Given the time there were no blue image (blue print), and then by means of what they are going to negotiate if the steps work to be done, in terms of the relief image, whether the stones were installed after the last image, or stones are plain new sculpted to draw. And starting from the section where the image was carved, from top to bottom or from bottom to top? And many more mysteries yet to be revealed by science, especially about finding space on the main stupa temple.
Restoration in the years 1974-1983

Treasure trove
The restoration is then carried out in 1973-1983, the lapse of 70 years of restoration was undertaken van Erp. The restoration is intended no other in an effort to preserve culture is priceless. This is the "treasure" that really can not be rewarded with money especially sold to pay debts. Awareness of the public to participate in securing the building of the temple is expected as well from the tourists.
Excavation, research, and plan for restoration of the temples or other historical objects recently found itself requires time and cost you a bit. Refurbishment of buildings and archaeological culture is not as easy as the construction of modern buildings. Any form of cultural buildings have special meanings and can not be ignored in the restoration of ancient buildings. Therefore need support from various parties, both from within and from abroad. Efforts to rebuild a civilization symbols've lost means more eye-opening our hearts about the history of human civilization Indonesia rich in science and culture. Thus, we will be able to appreciate the cultured human culture itself as a form of identity and the identity of an independent nation.

Finally, we must raise the passion to appreciate the objects of cultural heritage is not only the wealth of the community and the nation, but also a wealth of knowledge that will continue to reveal the facts of history. Enjoy the beauty and maintain its sustainability is one of the most significant concerns. Of course, the role of the institution relating to the protection of cultural heritage objects need to be increased to provide insight, understanding and dissemination of the importance of maintaining and preserving these objects.

Legal protection must be enforced consistently so it does not happen again lameness lameness law that leaves a sense of injustice for the people, as was the case blasting Borobudur Temple in 1983. ***
Remain a mystery, just added the Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world with a height of 34.5 meters and a building area of ​​123 x 123 meters. Was founded on a hill located approximately 40 km to the southwest of Yogyakarta, 7 km south of Magelang, Central Java.

Borobudur was built by the Sailendra dynasty between the years 750 and 842 AD. Buddhist Temple is likely to be abandoned about a century after construction as the center of the kingdom at that time moved to East Java.
Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles discovered Borobudur in 1814 in a damaged condition and ordered that the site be cleaned and studied thoroughly. Borobudur restoration project on a large scale and then starting from 1905 until 1910, led by Dr. Tb. van Erp. With the help of UNESCO, the second restoration to rescue Borobudur was carried out from August 1913 until 1983.

However, until now the Borobudur Temple still holds some mystery. A number of mysteries that for example, who designed the temple of Borobudur, how many people were hired to build the temple, where only the stone to build the temple? Philosophy of what I used to make these temples? But certainly this temple is an important asset for Indonesia in the eyes of the international community. We should be proud and always maintain its sustainability.


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