Buddhist Sanctuaries

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.

Borobudur, Pawon, Mendut

The relationship between three temples

Straight-line arrangement of Chandi Mendut is somethree kilometres from Chandi Borobudur, while Chandi Pawon is half that distance away. The pilgrim had to pass Chandi Pawon as his way from Chandi Mendut to Chandi Borobudur along the paved processional paths. Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Welcome, nice to meet you on the Borobudur tour, You will now step on and visit the splendor of Chandi 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 of 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. Source: Borobudur Conservation Center. Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto a screenshot arisguide.

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 Buddhist sanctuaries.

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 a screenshot 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 Pawon Temple.

History states that Chandi Borobudur is located right on a hill and was built in the middle of several mountains and hills. Looking to the west, there are Mount Sundoro and Sumbing. To the east are Mount Merbabu and Merapi. Looking to the north, approximately 15 kilometers from Borobudur is the Tidar hill, and to the south it is bordered by the Menoreh hills. Borobudur is located at the confluence of two rivers, namely Progo and Elo, which are located to the east of Chandi Borobudur and Chandi Pawon.

Borobudur or also known as Barabudur, is a sacred Buddhist temple. Mentioning the name of the Borobudur temple, comes from two words, namely the word 'bara' comes from the word 'monastery' which means a place of worship for Buddhists or temple, and the word 'budur' comes from the Balinese word 'beduhur' which means 'above' or 'hill'. So the meaning of the words 'biara and beduhur' changed to Bara Budur, because the sound shifted to Borobudur, which means temple or monastery on a hill.

Borobudur is a Mahayana Buddhist temple which consists of six square terraces and three circular platforms, and there is the largest stupa in the middle, which is surrounded by 72 perforated stupas, and decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

Three Buddhist Temples

A large number of monuments built on the Kedu plains were erected here. Hindu and Buddhist holy places packed together within a radius of less than three kilometers from the meeting point of the two Kedu rivers. From west to east, the main Buddhist monuments in the area are: Chandi Borobudur, Chandi Pawon, Chandi Mendut and Chandi Ngawe complex which consists of five buildings.

The first three Buddhist monuments are assumed to have formed one complex as well; although standing at a considerable distance from each other, the straight line drawn from Chandi Borobudur to Chandi Mendut via Chandi Pawon shows the unity of the triads. This layout is not found at Borobudur. According to oral tradition, the three sacred buildings were once connected by a paved processional road, flanked by lavishly decorated balustrades.

This composition has given rise to much speculation about the relationship between Chandi Borobudur, Chandi Pawon and Chandi Mendut. The most plausible link is religion, if the 'plural' denomination is interpreted in several ways; the three monuments can be taken as a whole to represent one religious conception.

Chandi Borobudur has no inner room, no place where people can worship. Most likely it is a place of pilgrimage, where Buddhists can seek the Supreme Wisdom. The passages around the building, leading successively to the top terrace, were evidently meant for ritual rounds. Guided and instructed by narrative reliefs, pilgrims proceed from terrace to terrace in silent contemplation.

Chandi Mendut views this building as a place of worship. The Buddha is represented by a solid monolith, seated with his legs dangling from a throne and flanked by the accompanying Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani. The depiction of the Buddha preaching the first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath is apparently meant to remember the right conduct in life for those who take refuge in the Buddha of Compassion. The straight arrangement of Mendut Temple is about three kilometers from Borobudur Temple, while Pawon Temple is half way.

Chandi Pawon also has an inner space, but it does not reveal what deity might have been the object of worship. It is impossible to say what was the function of the temple in relation to Chandi Mendut or to Chandi Borobudur?. The pilgrim had to pass Chandi Pawon as his way from Chandi Mendut to Chandi Borobudur along the paved processional path might suggest that Chandi Pawon was a kind of station on the long journey; after being purified through the required ceremonies of worship at Chandi Mendut, Chandi Pawon allowed to pause and reflect before proceeding on the pilgrimage to Chandi Borobudur where attire some series of circumambulations awaited.

Monuments dating from the old Javanese period in Indonesian history are usually called chandi, regardless of their original purpose. Thus, the building does not only include temple buildings, but things such as gates and altars.

Straight-line arrangement of Chandi Mendut is somethree kilometres from Chandi Borobudur, while Chandi Pawon is half that distance away. The pilgrim had to pass Chandi Pawon as his way from Chandi Mendut to Chandi Borobudur along the paved processional paths.

The depiction of the Buddha preaching the first sermon in the deer-park at Sarnath is apparently meant to recall right conduct in life to those who seek their refuge in the Compassionate Buddha. Stairs of Borobudur through arches of Kala, A narrow corridor with reliefs on the wall.

Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. foto arisguide.

arisguide

It's fun on the temple trip with me.

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

Reading is more fun exploring the thematic narratives in more detail in KEBUDAYAAN BOROBUDUR - BELAJAR DENGAN PEMANDU WISATA.

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.