balustrade: jataka and avadana

Welcome to Borobudur, one of the sacred buildings of Buddhism as a World Cultural Heritage site. The splendor and beauty of Borobudur has its own historical value for Indonesian people. The Indonesian government has designated Chandi Borobudur as a major tourist attraction, and also a priority tourist destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

Chandi Borobudur attracts extraordinary enthusiasm to visit and explore several narrative sources in thematic tours, with the aim of getting to know more closely the history, architecture and fine arts of this building.

The friendly Pamong Carita will accompany and guide you to provide explanations and narratives about Borobudur and its surroundings. Introducing 'Upanat', namely special footwear worn when visiting the terraces through a corridor with a series of relief panel galleries, leading to the top of the circular upper terrace with a row of stupas at Borobudur Temple. Explore history and admire the beauty of architectural art, as well as the origin of the name Chandi Borobudur.

Stories are about the Buddha

before he was born as Prince Siddhartha. Hundreds of times Bodhisattvas are born and reborn, both as animals and as humans.

Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto a screenshot arisguide.

Welcome, nice to meet you on the Borobudur tour, You will now step on and visit the splendor of  Borobudur which is one of the world's cultural heritage sites. The reopening of Borobudur sends an interesting opportunity to explore several narrative sources about the existence ofĺ the Borobudur in the insights of travel guides on to Borobudur.

Mentioned in the history of Borobudur, there is one of the relief panels carved on a hidden foot, based on the text of Karmawibhangga, panel number 150, concerning about the offering of footwear called 'Upanat', which is dedicated to Brahmins.

The bas-relief of the foot wall is hidden in the Karmawibhangga text panel number 150, regarding the offering of footwear with the name 'Upanat', the footwear offered to Brahmins, in order to obtain rewards and prosperity in life.

The relief found on the wall of hidden foot, based on the Karmawibhangga text panel 150, concerns the offering of a footwear as its name 'Upanat', a special footwear offered to Brahmins, to obtain merit and prosperity in life. 

Introducing 'Upanat', a footwear used to visit on the terraces of Chandi Borobudur, with the aim of getting to know the monument better, learning history, doing thematic tours and admiring the splendor of Chandi Borobudur as a sacred temple for Buddhists. The trip will be part of an appreciation in learning, admiring, and participating in safeguarding and protecting the world cultural heritage site located at Borobudur Indonesia.

It's fun going around the temple to get a source of explanation guided by a tour guide. Opportunity to find out the source, explanation of the written history of Chandi Borobudur and study about the panel relief carved on the wall of Borobudur, written from jataka and avadana text.

Welcome to Chandi Borobudur

You will now step on and visit the splendor of Chandi Borobudur which is one of the world's cultural heritage sites. Chandi Borobudur or Barabudur is a 9th–century Mahayana Buddhist temple, which consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome, surrounded by 72 stupas and decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Step on Borobudur

Chandi Borobudur is one of a world cultural heritage site or World Heritage Site, a Buddhist temple located in Borobudur, belongs to Magelang regency and located in Central Java province. To reach the monument is approximately 96 kilometers from Semarang, the capital city of Central Java, and approximately 86 kilometers from the city of Surakarta, and about 40 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta.

Chandi Borobudur is located right above the hill and built in the middle of several mountains and hills. Looking to the west, there are Mount Sundoro and Sumbing. Looking to the east you can see Mount Merbabu and an active volcano, Merapi. View to the north, it is approximately 15 kilometers from Borobudur, there is Tidar hill, and to the south it is bounded by the Menoreh hill range. Borobudur is located at the confluence of two rivers, they are Progo and Elo, located right in the middle between the east of Chandi Borobudur and Chandi Pawon.

jataka and avadana

The Jatakas are stories about the Buddha before he was born as Prince Siddhartha. They have a main theme which is good deeds that distinguish Bodhisattvas from other beings. The accumulation of virtue is a hallmark of the preparatory stage leading to the attainment of Buddhahood. Hundreds of times Bodhisattvas are born and reborn, both as animals and as humans.

The Jataka and avadana stories found at Borobudur are treated in the same order without any real differences in the panel reliefs of Chandi Borobudur. There is no proven specific replacement system. The relief row on the wall of the first gallery depicts mostly avadana. Several jataka are included by way in the variations. The system in the top row of balustrade sets is very different. The reincarnation as an animal to his rebirth in heaven, and neither are the reliefs.

The first 20 panels in the lower series on the wall on the first gallery depict the Sudhanakumaravadana (The Saintly Deeds of Prince Sudhanakumara), derived from the Divyavadana. The story starts with the rivalry of two kingdoms: the prosperous kingdom of North Panchala, and the poverty stricken kingdom of South Panchala.

The first 135 panels in the upper series on the first gallery balustrade are devoted to the 34 legends of the Jatakamala. The remaining 237 panels depict stories from other sources, as do also the lower series and those on the balustrade of the second gallery. These stories are not all jatakas, but also include several avadanas. Some jatakas are depicted twice, though not in the same series. The story of King Sibhi, is shown on both the main wall and the balustrade of the first gallery. The jatakas are not arranged chronologically from the Bodhisattva’s reincarnation as an animal to his rebirth in heaven, and neither are the reliefs.

Bodhisattva was born as a hare.

Bodhisattva was born as a hare. His closest friends were an otter, a jackal and a monkey. Wanting to put the hare to the test, the God Sakra appeared in the forest in the shape of a Brahman who had lost his way and was starving. The four friends rushed to the Brahman and rendered help. The otter brought seven fishes, the jackal a lizzard, and the monkey ripe fruits. The hare could not offer anything. The Brahman lighted a fire for an offering, and immediately the hare jumped into the fire, offering itself as a sacrificial animal. The king of the gods admired the saintly deed, and while resuming his own shape he praised the hare for his self-sacrifice.

Bodhisattva was born as a giant tortoise.

A striking example of self-sacrifice was shown by the Bodhisattva when he was born as a giant tortoise. One day five hundred merchants were ship wrecked, and fought desperately against the waves. The Bodhisattva appeared, took the five hundred men on his back, and brought them safely to the shore. The tortoise was exhausted, and fell asleep. The merchants, tormented by hunger, decided to kill the tortoise and feed on its flesh. The Bodhisattva woke up, and when he understood what was going on, he took pity on the starving merchants. He offered them his body to feed on, and thus the unlucky people were saved.

Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide.

arisguide

It's fun on the temple trip with me.

KEBUDAYAAN BOROBUDUR - BELAJAR DENGAN PEMANDU WISATA.

Get more reading the materials about Chandi Borobudur in Barabudur atau Borobudur, Candi Buddha Pusaka Budaya Indonesia.

Reading is more fun exploring the thematic narratives, beyond travel guide its more detail in UPANAT - Wisata di Borobudur.

Reading in English is fun and also seems so interesting to translate into language that is easy and flexible, get readings in detail in Welcome to Borobudur Temple, the fabric of life in the Buddhist culture.

Explore, admire the beauty of art in pictures and photos by typing the detailed link in PHOTO IMAGE BOROBUDUR.