MENDUT TEMPLE

Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple)

Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple) is 3 kilometers eastward from Borobudur Temple. It is a Buddhist temple, built in 824 A.D. by King Indera of Cailendra dynasty.

There are three big statues inside, they are:

1.       Cakyamuni sitting in cross legged pose with dharma cakra mudra (= turning the wheel of dharma hand pose)

2.       Awalokiteswara, a bodhi satwa as human being helper.
Awalokiteswara is a statue with Amitabha on her crown, Vajrapani. She is holding a red lotus and put on her palm.

3.       Maitreya, a savior of human beings in the future.

There are stories for children on its walls.

Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple) is frequently used to celebrate the Waisak day every May full moon and the pilgrims from Indonesia and all parts of the world come to this ceremony.

It is older than Candi Borobudur. Its architecture is square, and having an entrance on its steps. Its roof is also square and terraced. There are stupas (= bell-shaped structures) on it.

SEWU TEMPLE

Sewu temple is an 8th-century Buddhist temple located 800 meters north of Prambanan in Central Java. Candi Sewu is actually the second largest Buddhist Temple in Central Java after Borobudur. Candi Sewu predates "Loro Jonggrang". Although originally only around 257 temples are present, the name in Javanese transto 'a thousand temples,' which originated from popular local folklore; The Legend of Loro Jonggrang. The original name of this temple compound is probably Manjusrigrha.

  

Sewu main temple before reconstruction.

Based on the inscription from 792 AD which was found in 1960, the original name of the temple complex was probably “Manjus’ri grha” (The House of Manjusri). Manjusri is a Boddhisatva in Buddhist teaching. Sewu Temple was probably built in the 8th century at the end of Rakai Panangkaran administration. Rakai Panangkaran (746 – 784 AD) was a popular King from the Mataram Kingdom. The temple was probably expanded and completed during Rakai Pikatan's rule, a Sanjaya dynasty prince whom married to a Buddhist princess of Sailendra dynasty, Pramodhawardhani. Most of his subjects retained their old religion after the return of Sanjaya dynasty. The proximity of the temple to Prambanan Temple which is a Hindu Temple suggests that the Hindus and Buddhist lived in harmony in the era that the temples were built. The scale of the temple complex suggests Candi Sewu was a Royal Buddhist Temple and was an important religious site of the past. The temple is located on the Prambanan Plain, that is between the southern eastern slopes of Merapi volcano and the Sewu mountain range in the south, near the present border of the Yogyakarta province and Klaten Regency, in Central Java. The plain houses many archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away, suggesting that this area was an important religious, political, and urban center.
The temple was severely damaged during the earthquake in Java in 2006. The structural damage is significant and the central temple suffered the worst. Large pieces of debris were scattered over the ground and cracks between stone blocks were detected. To prevent the central temple from collapse, the metal frame structures were erected on four corners and attached to support the main temple. Although some weeks later in 2006 the site were re-opened for visitors, the whole part of main temple remains off-limits for safety reasons.

The images of Boddhisattva on wall of perwara temple

The temple complex is the largest Buddhist compound in the Prambanan area, with rectangular grounds that measure 185 meter north-south and 165 meter east-west. The entrance is found on all four cardinal points, however judging from the layout of the temple complex, the main entrance is located on the east side. Each of the entrances were guarded by twin Dvarapala statues. This large guardian statues have been better preserved and replicas can be found at Jogja Kraton. There are a total of 257 buildings in the complex arranged in a Mandala pattern around the central main hall as an expression of the view of the universe of Mahayana Buddhism. The smaller temples are consist of 248 temples with similar design and arranged in four rectangular concentric rows. Two outer rows are arranged closer and consists of 176 smaller temples, while two inner rows are arranged in certain interval and consist of 72 slightly larger temples than the outer ones. The 248 temples that are located in the second precinct all were made with a square frame but varied by different statues and orientations. Many of these statues are now gone and the arrangements on the current site are not in the original orientations. The statues are comparable to the statues of Borobudur and were likely made of bronze.
Along the north-south and east-west central axis at a distance of about 200 meter, between 2nd and 3rd row of smaller temple are located the perwara (vanguard) temples, a couple on each cardinal points facing each other. The perwara temples are the second largest ones after the main temple, however only eastern twin perwara temples and one northern perwara temples still remains today. These smaller temples encompass a larger sanctuary that has been heavily looted. Behind the 4th row of smaller temples lies the stone paved courtyard where the main temple stood on the center.

  The main temple has a cross-like 20 corners polygon ground plan, with 29 meters in diameter and it soars up to 30 meters high. On each four cardinal points of the main temple, are projected outward structures each with its own stairs and entrances into each rooms and crowned with stupas, thus forming a cross-like layout. All of the structures made of the andesite stones. These four rooms are all connected with outer corner galleries with balustrades. From the findings during the reconstruction process, the original design of central sanctuary only consisted of a single roomed temple. It was later surrounded by four additional structures. Doorways were later constructed so as to join the temples together into one main building with five rooms. The central chamber can be reached from the eastern room. The central chamber is larger than other rooms with a higher roof. Now all the five rooms are empty.. However the lotus carved stone padestal in central chamber suggested that the temple once contains large bronze Buddhist statue (possible the bronze statue of Manjusri), probably reaching 4 meters tall. Now the statue is missing, probably being looted for scrap metal over centuries

RATU BOKO TEMPLE

Ratu Boko Temple - Yogyakarta

Ratu Boko Temple is one of the fascinating ancient temples in Yogyakarta. It showcases the rich cultural and architectural traditions of Indonesia and is a popular tourist attraction of Yogyakarta visited by thousands every year. It also displays a blend of Hindu and Buddhist architectural elements indicating the extensive spread of both religions in Indonesia, once upon a time.

Location

Ratu Boko Temple is located 196 m above sea level on a mountain, about 3 km south from Prambanan Temple.

History of Ratu Boko Temple, Yogyakarta

The Ratu Boko Temple is considered to have been built as a dormitory for monks, according to inscriptions dating back to the mid 700's. It is also a remainder of King Boko's palace built around 8th century. Ratu Boko Temple was originally named Abhayagiri Vihara. Several legends say that the temple was used for staging mortal combats.

Description

Ratu Boko Temple has a width of 2.5 lakh square meters and boasts beautiful monasteries, terraces, ponds and temples.

The impressive entrance gate of the Ratu Boko Temple boasts two separate gateways set at different levels. It is decorated with intricate stone facings. About 50 m from the main gate is a temple of white stone. Just nearby you can see two square terraces used for burning corpses. Within the Ratu Boko Temple, there is a well called Amerta Mantana. The water of this well is considered lucky and used on auspicious days by Indonesia's Hindu people.

At Ratu Boko Temple you'll also see a series of circular pools carved into the limestone. These were used for royal baths.

Two caves formed of sediment stones lie at the eastern end of the palace, The upper cave is called Gua Lanang (Male Cave) and the lower cave Gua Wadon( Female Cave). These Buddhist caves also have Hindu elements of Linga and Yoni, and statue of Ganesha.

So, visit the beautiful Ratu Boko Temple, Yogyakarta and get an insight into Indonesia's fascinating heritage



Sunset From Boko



Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta

Prambanan

 

 







Prambanan temple is 16 km to the east from Yogyakarta downtown,about 30 minutes drive

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend.

In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shines') that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that - in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.

If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since 18 September 2006, you can enter zone 1 area of Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on 27 May 2006 is being reconstructed. Please come and enjoy Prambanan temple.

Borobudur Temple

EXPLORING JAVA



Sunrise

 Borobudur is the biggest Budhis temple in Indonesia ..among other temples, like Mendut,Pawon,Sewu,Kalasan and others,as well as one of wonders in the world,among Angkor Watt in Cambodia,sinking tower Pisa,Tajmahal in India,Great wall of China,Piramida in Egipt and Eiffel tower in Paris.

Borobudur temple lies in Borobudur village,..magelang regency ,..central java,..and surrounded by some mountain and volcanos..like Merapi and Merbabu in the north east,tidar in the north ,Sumbing and sindoro in the north west and menorah in the south ….and..it  42 km to the north west of Yogyakarta city..With the elevation 269 m above sea level

We can see nice view from the top of it.

According to the theory based on the archeological finding..the name of Borobudur derived from two words “ Biara and Beduhur”..biara means vihara or holly place and Beduhur means above ,so its means vihara or holly place wich was built above or on the hill.As we know that inside the temple is massive,a natural hills with 20 m hight

Borobudur temple built by King Samara Tungga and His doughter Pramudyawardani from Syailendra family,back to 8th century,it  took about 75 to 100 years long to built…So.. they..put  one by one of the stones block on the hill without any mortar (glue or cement) only by interlocking system like puzzle…and they needed around 2 millions block of lava stones.with 42 m hight and 123 x 123 m wide has made this temple to became so magnificent building…but no one know how many peoples who built this temple. So…inside the temple there is no room,only stones and the earth…its mean no body could go in, it make one prediction that the temple did not use to keep the ashes of the king or others.

At that time it temple used for meditation place,teaching about budishme,worship and propaganda

In the middle of tenth century there was civil war,between Hindu and Budhis Kingdom..coused by that political reason and some natural dissaster like volcanos eruption  so they just left the temple,Since that time no one took care of the temple and it realy abundant for almost 800 years long….so finally this temple  became a ruiny place.The wall collaps,the statues felt down and broken,the floor started singking and the plantations overgrowt, it had covered by the ashes from the volcanos.When peoples start built houses and seattle around here they took some stones for it.even worst…some carving stones and statues had sent by the Dutch to other country for souvenirs like to the King of Rama fifth from Cululongkoren

Finally in 1814 Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles a British Governor General for CentralJava,rediscovered this temple…then the first restoration began in 1907 until 1910 done by Dutch government leaded by Theodorous Van Erp.He was a Dutch military engineer..whom renovated one floor on the first level,…3 circular terraces on the top and some stupas on it,..included the main stupa ..He also tried to rejoined some statues.,..

60 years later the scond restoration done by Unesco…that in 1973 till 1983 so 10 years long and spant 25 million USD..,support by 28 countries as the member of Unesco…Done by around 600 workers from local and overseas whitin 10 years.

At that work  they put number or marked the stones then dismantled and took down around 1 million block of stones,and some statues.. ,also recollect the stones and statues included carving stones from every where,..took  them back from villages then cleaned that stones from dirt,moss,algeaes and from some microorganisme,..They reinforced the temple by put concrete on the floors,made new drainage system,put layers with Araldite,something like glue then… put the stones and the statues back..during that work they added around 8% were new stones to reinforce some part of the temple

Finally……. the scond restoration has finished ..and innagurated by President Suharto on February 23th 1983 ,as the monument we can see on the western side of the temple.But …since that time this temple became a death monument,it means ..Borobudur temple officially not used anymore by Budhist..only as monument and museum….Although recently they use it again for Budhist cellebration like Wicak (waisak) a cellebration for Budhas birthday on the fullmoon of may.

According to the Indonesian Budhis philosophy (Mahayana) that Borobudur is symbol of Micro Cosmos or Small the world and the way how to visualize their universal.Where… in the Budhis cosmology there are three levels of the world like we can see in this temple consist of three levels,there are Kamadhatu,Rupadhatu and Arupadhatu.

 1.KAMA DHATU level  : Kama means Karma and Dhatu means the world..the world where human being still totally controlled by all of worldly desire or possession.,..like common peoples….it .was displayed on the first terrace of temple.

2.RUPA DHATU   level : Rupa means form…so in this level humen being have been trying to be free from all of worldly desire .BUT they still bounded by the human form.like budhis monks.showing us on the 5 square terraces from second to the sixth level.

3.ARUPA DHATU level : Arupa means no form…where in this level humen being has already to be free from all of karma..and they reach anlightenment so  they are formlesness.and.. We can see on the three circular terraces from the seventh till ninth terraces.

And the main stupa as the biggest stupa on the top is symbol of eternity or everlasting.

The south east part of the temple..where this part representing the fisrt level of live in the Budhis cosmology,and they call it “Kama Dhatu”symbol of the wordly desire.Where we can also see what do we call “ The Hidden Base “,because ..before They finished to built the temple… it started sink…,then they had to put 13,000 m3 of lava stones to stoped and reinforced it.And here You can see some reliefs as apart of a thousands reliefs in this temple wich tell Us about six main stories….there are Mahakarma Wibangga tex,Lalitavistara,Jatakamala,Awadana,Gandawyuha and Badracari.

The first story wich we can see here now originally there are 160 panels go around the temple clockwise,but but coused by these extra stones so we can see now only 4 panels of them ..the athers pannels are 156  still behind this extra stones…before it was totally covered..no body could see the reliefs inside.Untill in 1885 this story rediscovered by Icerman a deutch student.. then in 1890 Kasian Chepas opened and documented these panels,as we can see those photos now in the Karmawibannga Museum just north side of the temple , This story talling us about “Mahakharmawibangga text” a teaching about the Low of Karma and also about their daily life of the people

Budhas statues…where.. origilally there were 504 Budhas statues.,but now 43 had missing,..247 statues are not complit or broken…like no heads,no arms,and so on…some stolen,..some broken coused by nature and peoples.These statues has 6 deferrent of hands position or Mudras like :

1.Bhumisparsa Mudra   : bumi means the earth,parsa means touching and mudra means hand       positions….so its means the hand positions of touching to the earth,symbol of reaching anlightenment or   to be frre from the worldly desire.

2.Vara Mudra………this mudra with the open right palm symbol of a give blassing or charity.

3.Dhyani Mudra   ….symbol of meditation

4.Abhaya Mudra …...symbol of no worry or no dangerous

5.Vitarka Mudra   ….on the fivth level all side the same mudra that is vitarka mudra symbol of teaching

6.On the three circuler terraces inside the stupas… the statues with the hand position Dharmacakra Mudra …this symbol of turning the weel of live.which there is beleave that one of them peoples call as Wishing Budha.Its a beleave not from religions…  if we can touch the budhas finger or the foot of that statues so we have a good luck…so…You may try Who…knows,...

Another statues we can finde in this temple are the Lion statues,..there are 32 lion statues standing on the gates,those are symbol of “Sakya family” where Budha come from,so peoples call him Sakyamuni that means “Holly person from Sakya family”…On the lower level those as the door keeper and facing to the out side but on the sixth terrace the lions statues facing to the nirwana as a symbol that Sakya tribe try lead  peoples to the Nirwana or anlightenment.

Right here we can see there are something that we call Jala Dwara it means Water gate or drainage system,they built 100 jaladwara in this temple,to drain out  water (from rain and others)but after the restoration these not used anymore,because they made new system already…

OK let us go to the second level…in here You can see on the stairs side and the gate…the carving of giant ,with the mouth on the top and the tongue put out down..this what do we call Kalamakara,the figure of Jowless face,big nose,big eyes,canine tooth, as a door keeper,or to purify the pilgrimer whos come into the temple from the bad spirit or evil.

Aruphadatu level :

Welcome to Arupadhatu…the level of anlightenment,where people already free from all of the worrdly form and desires.

Like we can see here symbolized by three circular terraces and no more carving  and stories mean nothingness..

Circular that symbol  : everlasting,,no start no ending

Three circular terraces  symbol of three level of Nirwana : Nirwana,Parinirwana and MahaParinirwana..and there are 73 stupas on it included the main stupa on the top.from the bottom there are 36,24 ,16 and 1 on the top,with Budhas satue in each stupa in the hand position Dharma Cakra Mudra mean turning the weel of live,except the main stupa is empty.And on of them what people beleave as the holly Budha,according to this beleave if we can touch the Budhas ring finger for a man and the heel for woman so we will have a good luck…so You may try..who knows..but once more it is beleave …not from religions.

Ok…so..I’ll see You there

By.Imam Widodo

Indonesian Tour Guide

CLEANING BOROBUDUR TEMPLE POST MERAPI'S ERUPTION

Iwithn a few weeks " Culture lovers" and "Community of Tourism "are voluntary work together to save a monument that became the pride of the Indonesian nation, and one of a tourism icons in Indonesia and Yogyakarta espescially.Thaosands people came from all over the place around the temple came to assist the government to clean the Borobudur temple and surround from the ashes of Merapi volcano's eruption that covered it In the park which covers about 85 h that was built in 1985 and ..also..we clean the first floor of the temple.From the second floor up is the responsibility of the experts. Tourism community..... they also participate as volunteers.. they are from the Indonesian Travel Agent Association, Hotel and Restaurant, Indonesian Guide Association, traders etc.This photos I took when we work as volunteer last week..

DAMPAK MERAPI

 Letusan tahun 2010 merupakan letusan yang jauh lebih besar dibandingkan sebelumnya yang tentunya sangat besar dampaknya,salah satunya didunia kepariwisataan Yogyakarta dan sekitarnya,banyak wisatawan yang terutama Wisatawan Domestik atau mancanegara telah membatalkan kunjungan ataupun acara ke jogja,Borobuduryang merupakan salah satuicon pariwisata utama di Indonesiapun tidak luput dari dampak letusan kali ini...,abu darigunung Merapi telah menyebabkan beberapa kawasan dinyatakan ditutup,seperti airport Adisucipto Yogyakarta<kawasan Taman Wisata CandiBorobudur dll.Kebetulan Kampungku berdampingan dengan kawasan Taman Wisata candi Borobudur...,ketika merapi meletus tanggal 5 November dini hari kami suara gemuruh kami rasakan sangat jelas disusulhujan lumpur dikarenakan hujan yang turun hanya rintik2 selama beberapa hari.Ini memperparah keadaan yang menimbulkan robohnya pepohonan.Dimalam itu kami tidak tidak pada tidur karena semalaman kami mendengar suara suara pepohonan patah dan roboh,jalan jalan pun tertutup oleh tebanya lumpur dan pepohonan yang bertumbangan dimana mana,listrikpun padamsampai sekarang.Pagi hari jam 5 kamipun mulai bergotong royong menebang dan menyingkirkan pohon 2 yang patah ataupun roboh,ada beberapa rumah yang rusak tertimpa pepohonan.sampai sekarang warga kami tiap malam berkumpuldi masjid yang kebeyulan ada penerangan dari jenset kecil satu satunya,dan sepanjang malamkami berjaga jaga dari segala kemungkinan.ini beberpa foto yang sempat saya ambil tanggal 5 november dengan kamera seadanya. 



EXPLORING JAVA



Sunrise

 Borobudur is the biggest Budhis temple in Indonesia ..among other temples, like Mendut,Pawon,Sewu,Kalasan and others,as well as one of wonders in the world,among Angkor Watt in Cambodia,sinking tower Pisa,Tajmahal in India,Great wall of China,Piramida in Egipt and Eiffel tower in Paris.

Borobudur temple lies in Borobudur village,..magelang regency ,..central java,..and surrounded by some mountain and volcanos..like Merapi and Merbabu in the north east,tidar in the north ,Sumbing and sindoro in the north west and menorah in the south ….and..it  42 km to the north west of Yogyakarta city..With the elevation 269 m above sea level

We can see nice view from the top of it.

According to the theory based on the archeological finding..the name of Borobudur derived from two words “ Biara and Beduhur”..biara means vihara or holly place and Beduhur means above ,so its means vihara or holly place wich was built above or on the hill.As we know that inside the temple is massive,a natural hills with 20 m hight

Borobudur temple built by King Samara Tungga and His doughter Pramudyawardani from Syailendra family,back to 8th century,it  took about 75 to 100 years long to built…So.. they..put  one by one of the stones block on the hill without any mortar (glue or cement) only by interlocking system like puzzle…and they needed around 2 millions block of lava stones.with 42 m hight and 123 x 123 m wide has made this temple to became so magnificent building…but no one know how many peoples who built this temple. So…inside the temple there is no room,only stones and the earth…its mean no body could go in, it make one prediction that the temple did not use to keep the ashes of the king or others.

At that time it temple used for meditation place,teaching about budishme,worship and propaganda

In the middle of tenth century there was civil war,between Hindu and Budhis Kingdom..coused by that political reason and some natural dissaster like volcanos eruption  so they just left the temple,Since that time no one took care of the temple and it realy abundant for almost 800 years long….so finally this temple  became a ruiny place.The wall collaps,the statues felt down and broken,the floor started singking and the plantations overgrowt, it had covered by the ashes from the volcanos.When peoples start built houses and seattle around here they took some stones for it.even worst…some carving stones and statues had sent by the Dutch to other country for souvenirs like to the King of Rama fifth from Cululongkoren

Finally in 1814 Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles a British Governor General for CentralJava,rediscovered this temple…then the first restoration began in 1907 until 1910 done by Dutch government leaded by Theodorous Van Erp.He was a Dutch military engineer..whom renovated one floor on the first level,…3 circular terraces on the top and some stupas on it,..included the main stupa ..He also tried to rejoined some statues.,..

60 years later the scond restoration done by Unesco…that in 1973 till 1983 so 10 years long and spant 25 million USD..,support by 28 countries as the member of Unesco…Done by around 600 workers from local and overseas whitin 10 years.

At that work  they put number or marked the stones then dismantled and took down around 1 million block of stones,and some statues.. ,also recollect the stones and statues included carving stones from every where,..took  them back from villages then cleaned that stones from dirt,moss,algeaes and from some microorganisme,..They reinforced the temple by put concrete on the floors,made new drainage system,put layers with Araldite,something like glue then… put the stones and the statues back..during that work they added around 8% were new stones to reinforce some part of the temple

Finally……. the scond restoration has finished ..and innagurated by President Suharto on February 23th 1983 ,as the monument we can see on the western side of the temple.But …since that time this temple became a death monument,it means ..Borobudur temple officially not used anymore by Budhist..only as monument and museum….Although recently they use it again for Budhist cellebration like Wicak (waisak) a cellebration for Budhas birthday on the fullmoon of may.

According to the Indonesian Budhis philosophy (Mahayana) that Borobudur is symbol of Micro Cosmos or Small the world and the way how to visualize their universal.Where… in the Budhis cosmology there are three levels of the world like we can see in this temple consist of three levels,there are Kamadhatu,Rupadhatu and Arupadhatu.

 1.KAMA DHATU level  : Kama means Karma and Dhatu means the world..the world where human being still totally controlled by all of worldly desire or possession.,..like common peoples….it .was displayed on the first terrace of temple.

2.RUPA DHATU   level : Rupa means form…so in this level humen being have been trying to be free from all of worldly desire .BUT they still bounded by the human form.like budhis monks.showing us on the 5 square terraces from second to the sixth level.

3.ARUPA DHATU level : Arupa means no form…where in this level humen being has already to be free from all of karma..and they reach anlightenment so  they are formlesness.and.. We can see on the three circular terraces from the seventh till ninth terraces.

And the main stupa as the biggest stupa on the top is symbol of eternity or everlasting.

The south east part of the temple..where this part representing the fisrt level of live in the Budhis cosmology,and they call it “Kama Dhatu”symbol of the wordly desire.Where we can also see what do we call “ The Hidden Base “,because ..before They finished to built the temple… it started sink…,then they had to put 13,000 m3 of lava stones to stoped and reinforced it.And here You can see some reliefs as apart of a thousands reliefs in this temple wich tell Us about six main stories….there are Mahakarma Wibangga tex,Lalitavistara,Jatakamala,Awadana,Gandawyuha and Badracari.

The first story wich we can see here now originally there are 160 panels go around the temple clockwise,but but coused by these extra stones so we can see now only 4 panels of them ..the athers pannels are 156  still behind this extra stones…before it was totally covered..no body could see the reliefs inside.Untill in 1885 this story rediscovered by Icerman a deutch student.. then in 1890 Kasian Chepas opened and documented these panels,as we can see those photos now in the Karmawibannga Museum just north side of the temple , This story talling us about “Mahakharmawibangga text” a teaching about the Low of Karma and also about their daily life of the people

Budhas statues…where.. origilally there were 504 Budhas statues.,but now 43 had missing,..247 statues are not complit or broken…like no heads,no arms,and so on…some stolen,..some broken coused by nature and peoples.These statues has 6 deferrent of hands position or Mudras like :

1.Bhumisparsa Mudra   : bumi means the earth,parsa means touching and mudra means hand       positions….so its means the hand positions of touching to the earth,symbol of reaching anlightenment or   to be frre from the worldly desire.

2.Vara Mudra………this mudra with the open right palm symbol of a give blassing or charity.

3.Dhyani Mudra   ….symbol of meditation

4.Abhaya Mudra …...symbol of no worry or no dangerous

5.Vitarka Mudra   ….on the fivth level all side the same mudra that is vitarka mudra symbol of teaching

6.On the three circuler terraces inside the stupas… the statues with the hand position Dharmacakra Mudra …this symbol of turning the weel of live.which there is beleave that one of them peoples call as Wishing Budha.Its a beleave not from religions…  if we can touch the budhas finger or the foot of that statues so we have a good luck…so…You may try Who…knows,...

Another statues we can finde in this temple are the Lion statues,..there are 32 lion statues standing on the gates,those are symbol of “Sakya family” where Budha come from,so peoples call him Sakyamuni that means “Holly person from Sakya family”…On the lower level those as the door keeper and facing to the out side but on the sixth terrace the lions statues facing to the nirwana as a symbol that Sakya tribe try lead  peoples to the Nirwana or anlightenment.

Right here we can see there are something that we call Jala Dwara it means Water gate or drainage system,they built 100 jaladwara in this temple,to drain out  water (from rain and others)but after the restoration these not used anymore,because they made new system already…

OK let us go to the second level…in here You can see on the stairs side and the gate…the carving of giant ,with the mouth on the top and the tongue put out down..this what do we call Kalamakara,the figure of Jowless face,big nose,big eyes,canine tooth, as a door keeper,or to purify the pilgrimer whos come into the temple from the bad spirit or evil.

Aruphadatu level :

Welcome to Arupadhatu…the level of anlightenment,where people already free from all of the worrdly form and desires.

Like we can see here symbolized by three circular terraces and no more carving  and stories mean nothingness..

Circular that symbol  : everlasting,,no start no ending

Three circular terraces  symbol of three level of Nirwana : Nirwana,Parinirwana and MahaParinirwana..and there are 73 stupas on it included the main stupa on the top.from the bottom there are 36,24 ,16 and 1 on the top,with Budhas satue in each stupa in the hand position Dharma Cakra Mudra mean turning the weel of live,except the main stupa is empty.And on of them what people beleave as the holly Budha,according to this beleave if we can touch the Budhas ring finger for a man and the heel for woman so we will have a good luck…so You may try..who knows..but once more it is beleave …not from religions.

Ok…so..I’ll see You there

By.Imam Widodo

Indonesian Tour Guide