Borobudur Temple

Borobudur is the name of a Buddhist temple located in Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Location of the temple is approximately 100 km southwest of Semarang, 86 miles to the west of Surakarta, and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Shaped stupa temple was founded by the Mahayana Buddhists around the year 800's AD during the reign of Sailendra dynasty. This monument comprises six square terraces on which there are three circular courtyard, the walls are decorated with original 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues there.  The main stupa in the middle of the biggest teletak once crowned this building, surrounded by three rows of circular 72 perforated stupa in which there are statues of buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position perfectly with the mudra (hand gesture) Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of dharma).This monument is a model of the universe and built as a shrine to venerate the Buddha as well as serves as a place of pilgrimage to lead mankind to switch from natural lust to enlightenment and wisdom according to the teachings of Buddha. The pilgrims enter through the east side start at the base of the temple ritual walking encircling this sacred building in a clockwise direction, while continuing to go up to the next steps through the three levels of the realm in Buddhist cosmology. The third level is Kamadhatu (the realm of lust), Rupadhatu (tangible realm), and Arupadhatu (intangible realm). In this journey of pilgrims walking through a series of hallways and stairs to see no less than 1460 beautiful relief panels are engraved on the walls and balustrades.According to historical evidence, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the weakening influence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms in Java and started the influence of Islam.  The world is aware of the existence of this building since it was discovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then as Governor-General of British control over Java. Since then it has undergone a series of Borobudur rescue and restoration efforts. Largest restoration project was held in the period 1975 to 1982 the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and UNESCO, and historic sites in the list of World Heritage Sites. Borobudur is still used as a place of religious pilgrimage; each year Buddhists who come from all over Indonesia and abroad gather at Borobudur to commemorate Vesak Trisuci. In the world of tourism, tourism Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist.

In the Indonesian language, ancient religious buildings called candi; temple term is also used more broadly to refer to all the ancient buildings originating from the Hindu-Buddhist in the archipelago, such as gates, arches, and petirtaan (outdoor baths and showers). The origins of the name Borobudur is not clear, [8] although it is the original name of most temples in Indonesia is not known. [8] The name Borobudur was first written in the book "History of Java" by Sir Thomas Raffles. [9] Raffles wrote about a monument called Borobudur, but none of the older documents mentioning the exact same name. [8] The only old Javanese manuscript that hints of a Buddhist shrine which probably refers to Borobudur is Nagarakretagama, written by mpu Prapanca in 1365. [10]Bore-Budur name, which is then written Borobudur, probably written Raffles in English grammar to refer to the nearest village to the temple is the village of Bore (Boro); most temples is often named after the village where the temple stood. Raffles also suggested that the term 'Budur' may be related to Buda in Javanese term meaning "ancient" - it means "ancient Boro". [8] However, other archaeologists assume that the name comes from the term bhudhara Budur meaning mountain. [ 11]Many theories attempt to explain the name of this temple. One of them states that the name is probably derived from the word Sambharabhudhara, which means "mountain" (bhudara) where the slopes are located terraces. In addition there are some other folk etymology. Suppose borobudur word derived from the words "the Buddha" is due to shift the sound to Borobudur. Another explanation is that the name is derived from two words "coal" and "beduhur". The word bara said to have originated from the word monastery, while there are also other explanations where the coal comes from Sanskrit which means temple or monastery complex and beduhur meaning is "high", or to remind the Balinese language means "above". So the point is a monastery or hostel located on high ground.Historian J.G. de Casparis in his dissertation for a doctorate in 1950 found that Borobudur is a place of worship. Based on the inscriptions Karangtengah and Tri Tepusan, Casparis estimate Borobudur is the founder of the dynasty king of Mataram dynasty named Samaratungga, doing construction around 824 AD The giant new building could be completed at the time of her daughter, Queen Pramudawardhani. Borobudur Development is expected to take half a century. In Karangtengah inscriptions also mentioned about the bestowal of land sima (tax-free land) by Cri Kahulunan (Pramudawardhani) to maintain Kamulan called Bhūmisambhāra. [12] The term itself comes from the word Kamulan early which means the origin, the ancestral shrine to glorify, probably ancestors of the dynasty Sailendra. Casparis estimates that Sambhāra Bhudhāra Bhumi in Sanskrit which means "Hill set ten levels boddhisattwa virtues", was the original name of Borobudur.