HISTORY OF BOROBUDUR

CANDI BOROBUDUR

Borobudur temple is the largest in Indonesia. Borobudur is located in Magelang, Central Java, in addition to being a tourist attraction that is visited, also a center of worship for Buddhists in Indonesia, especially on the Vesak celebrations. This is consistent with the meaning of his name is "Monastery in the hills". Borobudur is currently designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Borobudur was built around 800 BC or 9th century. Borobudur was built by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty. The temple was built in the heyday of the Sailendra dynasty. The founder of the Borobudur Temple, King Samaratungga derived from the dynasty or the Sailendra dynasty. Likelihood of this temple was built around 824 AD and was completed around the year 900 AD during the reign of Queen Pramudawardhani who is the daughter of Samaratungga. While the architects who contributed to build this temple according to stories passed down through generations named Gunadharma.

Borobudur own words based on the first written evidence written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Governor General of the United Kingdom in Java, which gave the name of this temple. There is no written evidence that parents who give the name of this temple Borobudur.
The only one of the oldest documents showing the existence of this temple is Nagarakretagama book, written by MPU Prapanca in 1365. In the book written that the temple was used as a place of Buddhist meditation.

Candi Borobudur

Borobudur is the meaning of the name "monastery in the hills", which is derived from the word "bara" (temple or monastery) and "beduhur" (hills or high places) in Sanskrit. Therefore, in accordance with the meaning of the name Borobudur, then this place since long ago used as a place of Buddhist worship.

This temple for centuries is no longer used. Then because of volcanic eruptions, most of the buildings covered Borobudur volcanic soil. In addition, the building is covered with trees and shrubs for centuries. Then the building of this temple began to be forgotten in the days of Islam arrived in Indonesia around the 15th century.


In 1814 when the British occupied Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles heard about the discovery of giant archaeological object in the village Bumisegoro Magelang. Due to the great interest the history of Java, Raffles immediately ordered H.C. Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the discovery of the location was a hill covered with shrubs.


Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut down trees and remove shrubs that covered the giant building. Because the building is already fragile and could collapse, then report to the Raffles Cornelius invention includes several images. Because of that discovery, Raffles was honored as the person who started the restoration of Borobudur and the world attention. In 1835, the entire area of ​​the temple has been unearthed. This temple continues restored the Dutch colonial period.


After Indonesia's independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government requested the assistance of UNESCO to examine the damage to Borobudur. Then in 1963, out of the official Indonesian government's decision to conduct the restoration of Borobudur temple with the help of UNESCO. But this restoration was only really began on August 10, 1973. The process of restoration was completed in 1984. Since 1991, the Borobudur temple designated as World Heritage Site or Heritage Site by UNESCO.

CANDI BOROBUDUR

Borobudur temple is located in Magelang, Central Java, about 40 km from Yogyakarta. Borobudur has 10 levels consisting of six levels of a square, circular level 3 circular and a main stupa as a peak. At every level there are several stupas. Altogether there are 72 stupas in addition to the main stupa. In every stupa there are statues of Buddha. Ten levels of Buddhist philosophy which ten levels of Bodhisattva who must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha in nirvana. This perfection is symbolized by the main stupa at the top level. Borobudur structure when viewed from above form a mandala structure depicting Buddhist cosmology and human thinking.

On the four sides of the temple there is a gate and stairs to the level above it like a pyramid. This illustrates the Buddhist philosophy that all life comes from rocks. Stone then into sand, then into plants, then become an insect, then into wild animals and pets, and finally became a man. This process is known as reincarnation. The last process is the soul and finally into nirvana. Every stage of enlightenment in this life process based on the Buddhist philosophy depicted in the reliefs and sculptures in the entire Borobudur.

This huge building just a giant pile of stone blocks which have a total height of 42 meters. Each stone is connected without the use of cement or adhesive. These stones are only connected by patterns and stacked. The base of Borobudur temple is about 118 m on each side. The stones used approximately 55,000 cubic meters. All the stones are taken from the river around the Borobudur Temple. These stones are cut and transported and connected with a pattern like the lego games. All without using adhesives or cement.

While relief began to be made after the completion of rocks stacked and connected. Reliefs found on the walls of the temple. Borobudur has 2670 different relief. Relief is read clockwise. This relief illustrates a story that I read it starts and ends at the gate on the east. This shows that the main gate of Borobudur temple facing the east like most other Buddhist temples.

VESAK CELEBRATION AT BOROBUDUR

Every year on the full moon in May (or June in leap years), Buddhists in Indonesia commemorating Vesak at Borobudur. Vesak is celebrated as the birth, death and the time when Siddhartha Gautama obtain the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. The third event is called Vesak Trisuci. Vesak ceremony centered at three Buddhist temples by walking from Mendut to Pawon and ending at Borobudur.

On the eve of Vesak, especially during moments of peak full moon, Buddhists gathered around Borobudur. At that time, Borobudur is believed to be a gathering place for supernatural powers. According to belief, at the time of Vesak, Buddha will appear in a look at the top of the mountain in the south.

BOROBUDUR

Currently, Borobudur has become a tourist attraction which attracts many tourists both local and foreign. Additionally, Borobudur has become a holy place for Buddhists in Indonesia and become an annual celebration of the most important centers of Buddhist namely Vesak.

Borobudur became one proof of the greatness and human intelligence ever made in Indonesia. Borobudur become a major tourist and culture in Indonesia besides Bali and Jakarta.

After visiting Borobudur, you can also visit the surrounding villages such as Karanganyar which has some interesting attractions.

Title	HISTORY OF BOROBUDUR
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