Welcome to Chandi Borobudur

Welcome, it's a pleasure to meet you on this Borobudur tour with Pamong Carita. You'll be immersed in the splendor and beauty of Borobudur Temple, offering a fascinating opportunity to explore the many narratives surrounding its existence, as explored by our tour guide. 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.

Enter the splendor of the monument, named Borobudur, one of the sacred buildings of Buddhism as a World Cultural Heritage Site since 1991. The splendor and beauty of the monument has its own historical value for Indonesian people. The Indonesian government has designated Chandi Borobudur and it's area as a major tourist attraction, and also a priority tourist destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

Chandi Borobudur attracts an 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. Explore history and admire the beauty of architectural art, as well as the origin of the name Chandi Borobudur.

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

Step into Chandi Borobudur

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. The reliefs on the hidden foot wall, based on the Karmawibhangga text, relate to the offering of footwear called 'Upanat,' a special footwear offered to Brahmins to attain merit and prosperity in life. The goal is to better understand the monument, learn about its history, take a thematic tour, and admire its splendor as a sacred Buddhist temple.

This journey will be part of an appreciation for learning about, admiring, and participating in the preservation and protection of the world cultural heritage site located in Borobudur, Indonesia. Touring the temple and exploring the sources, guided by a tour guide, will be a delightful experience. This opportunity will provide an opportunity to discover the sources, explain the written history of Borobudur Temple, and learn about Borobudur at a glance.

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.

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple or shrine in the form of a stupa which was founded by followers of Mahayana Buddhism around 800 AD during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty. This monument consists of six square terraces topped with three circular courtyards. The walls are decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally there were 504 Buddha statues. Borobudur has the most complete and largest collection of Buddhist reliefs in the world. The largest main stupa is located in the center and crowns this building, surrounded by three circular rows of 72 perforated stupas in which there is a Buddha statue sitting cross-legged in a perfect lotus position with the Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of dharma).

This monument is a model of the universe and was built as a holy place to glorify Buddha as well as functioning as a place of pilgrimage to guide mankind from the realm of worldly desires to enlightenment and wisdom according to Buddhist teachings.

Pilgrims enter through the east side, beginning a ritual at the base of the temple, walking clockwise around the sacred structure, ascending to the next level through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology. These levels are Kamadhatu (the realm of desire), Rupadhatu (the realm of form), and Arupadhatu (the realm of formlessness). Along the way, pilgrims navigate a series of corridors and staircases, witnessing no fewer than 1,460 beautiful relief panels carved into the walls and balustrades.

Historically, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the influence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms in Java weakened and Islam entered the country. The world began to recognize its heritage after its discovery in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British Governor-General of Java. Borobudur has undergone a series of rescue and restoration efforts, the largest of which took place between 1975 and 1982, under the auspices of the Indonesian government and UNESCO. The historic site was subsequently inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Environment

According to local myth, the area known as Kedu Plain is a Javanese 'sacred' place and has been dubbed 'the garden of Java' due to its high agricultural fertility.

During the restoration in the early 20th century, it was discovered that three Buddhist temples in the region, Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut, are positioned along a straight line. A ritual relationship between the three temples must have existed. Initially thought to be a coincidence, local folklore suggests that a stone-paved road, fenced with balustrades on both sides, once connected these three temples. No physical evidence of a stone-paved, fenced road has been found, and this may be a myth. However, experts suspect a symbolic connection between these three temples. These three temples (Borobudur, Pawon, and Mendut) share similar architectural styles and decorations and date from the same period, strengthening the suspicion of a ritual connection. However, how the pilgrimage rituals were performed remains uncertain.

In addition to Mendut and Pawon temples, several ancient relics have been discovered around Borobudur, including pottery finds such as pots and jugs, indicating that Borobudur once housed several residential areas. These archaeological finds are now housed in the Borobudur Museum.

Not far north of Pawon Temple, the ruins of a Hindu temple called Banon Temple were discovered. Several statues of the main Hindu gods, including Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Ganesha, were found in relatively good condition. However, very little of the original stone of Banon Temple was found, making reconstruction impossible. Upon their discovery, the Banon statues were transported to Batavia (now Jakarta) and are now housed in the National Museum of Indonesia.

Moreover, soundings and levellings indicated that villages in the area that had names commencing with the word tanjung (‘cape’) are all located just above a common elevation line, 235 m above sea-level. That the Kedu plain beneath the 235 m elevation line was once a lake on which the Borobudur monument, ‘floated’. Chandi Pawon and Chandi Mendut were situated on the banks of the lake. The identification of Chandi Borobudur with a lotus flower floating in the middle of a lake. Chandi Borobudur originally represented a lotus flower floating on the surface of the lake, the mythical lotus from which the future Buddha will be born.

Borobudur viewed from Bukit Dagi.

The western and the southern sides of the plain are closed by a long chain of hills, that form a rugged skyline of towering masses of indefinite shape. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Photo screenshot arisguide.

According to the story, it used to be said that the island of Java was waving, and stumbling in the ocean, it had to be nailed to the center of the earth before it could be inhabited. The story of the great nail is becoming a hill called Tidar, located on the southern outskirts of the present city Magelang. The outstanding monument Chandi Borobudur is built.

The western and the southern sides of the plain are closed by a long chain of hills, that form a rugged skyline of towering masses of indefinite shape. Hence the denomination 'Menoreh range' menoreh stands for ‘menara’ and means ‘tower’.

The region around the ‘Nail of Java’, better known as the ‘Kedu Plain’, forms the geographical centre of the island. Its extreme fertility, and very industrious population, explain why it is often called the Garden of Java.

Borobudur's corridor

There was a litle known documents and references about the construction of Borobudur. To whom the architect had built the monument, and the purpose for it was dedicated. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto screenshot arisguide.

Step into history

No written documents on the construction of Chandi Borobudur. Nor are there any references to the authority that had it built or the purpose for which it was intended. However, inscriptions carved above the reliefs on the ‘hidden foot’ of the monument have graphical features similar to those in the script commonly used in royal charters between the last quarter of the eighth century and the first decades of the ninth. The obvious conclusion is that Chandi Borobudur was likely founded around the year 800 A.D.

Abandonment

Borobudur stupa’s over looking a mountain. For centuries, it was deserted.

Borobudur lay hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and undergrowth. The reasons behind its neglect remain a mystery. It is unknown when the monument's active use and Buddhist pilgrimages to it ended. The Babad Mataram (History of the Mataram Kingdom) recounts an unfortunate incident in 1757 involving a visit to a statue in one of Borobudur's perforated stupas. It wasn't until 1814 that Borobudur emerged, both literally and figuratively, from its dark past.

While there are no written records of who first built the temple, it is believed to have been constructed between 780 and 840 AD, when the Sailendra Dynasty ruled the region. The structure lay abandoned for centuries, buried under layers of volcanic ash from Mount Merapi, with only locals aware of its existence.

Between 1811 and 1816 Java was under British rule. The representative of the British Government was Lieutenant Govenor–General Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was extremely interested in Java’s past. In 1814, on an inspection tour in Semarang, he was informed of the existence of a monument, called Chandi Borobudur, in the village Bumisegoro near Magelang. He sent Cornelius, a Dutch engineer officer who had experience in exploring antiquities in Java, to investigate. Cornelius employed some 200 villagers to fell trees, burn down bushes, and dig away the earth and rubbish in which the monument had been buried. In two months he had completed the work, though many parts of the galleries could not be unearthed because of the danger of collapse.

Restoration of Borobudur, until the middle of the nineteenth century, concern for Chandi Borobudur was confined to amateurs. Investigations and excavations were mostly carried out because of someone’s personal interest or an eagerness to know more about what was still kept hidden by the rubbish. Government interest dates from 1849. Wilsen was sent to make accurate scale-drawings of the reliefs. A few years later Brumund was designated to prepare an extensive description of the monument. This work was to be followed next by a monograph embodying all the details of Chandi Borobudur and the results of the various studies made.

UNESCO identified three specific areas of concern under the present state of conservation: (i) vandalism by visitors; (ii) soil erosion in the south-eastern part of the site; and (iii) analysis and restoration of missing elements. The soft soil, the numerous earthquakes and heavy rains lead to the destabilization of the structure. Earthquakes are by far the most important contributing factors, since do stones fall down and arches crumble, but the earth can move in waves, further destroying the structure. There is no limit the number of visitors allowed per day to visit.

Ancient buildings are originating from the old Javanese period in Indonesian history, the narratives are usually called chandi. At the first, they did not only mention the name which included the temple's building, but the building structure and the other thing such as the shape of the gates and the arches as well as a bathing place.

Name of Borobudur

Monuments dating back to the ancient period of Indonesian history are commonly called chandi, irrespective of what they were originally meant for. They thus include not only temple buildings, but such things as gates and bathing-places.

In the case of most chandis the original name is not known. Often people of nearby villages do not even know of their existence. Much of this cultural heritage had to be rediscovered. No wonder that chandis are simply called after the nearest village. It is very difficult to find out whether Chandi Borobudur is called after the village of the other way about.

In Javanese chronicles of the eighteenth century mention is made of a hill called Borobudur. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles - ‘discoverer’ of the monument’ - it have been told in 1814 about the existence of a monument called Borobudur in the village of Bumisegoro. Borobudur would therefore seem, in any case, to be the original name. But no ancient document yet found contains this name. An Old Javanese manuscript of 1365 A.D., called Nagarakrtagama and composed by Mpu Prapancha, mentions ‘Budur’ as a Buddhist sanctuary of the Vajradhara sect. It is not impossible that ‘Budur’ is to be associated with Borobudur, but the lack of any further information makes a definite identification difficult.

Viewed from the monument

It looks very much like the profile of a man lying on the ridge of the mountain. The nose, lips and chin are clearly delineated. This peculiarity has not escaped notice. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto screenshot arisguide.

Architecture of Borobudur

The archeological excavation into Borobudur during reconstruction suggests that adherents of Hinduism or a pre-Indic faith had already begun to erect a large structure on Borobudur’s hill before the site was appropriated by Buddhists.

Chandi Borobudur differs completely from the general design of such structures. It is not a building erected on a flat, horizontal base, leaving an inner space for the enthronement ofa statue, but a stepped pyramid, consisting of nine superimposed terraces, and crowned by a huge bell - shaped stupa. The design of Borobudur took the form of a step pyramid. Previously, the prehistoric Austronesian megalithic culture in Indonesia had constructed several earth mounds and stone step pyramid structures called punden berundak.

The monument's three divisions symbolize the three "realms" of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kamadhatu (the world of desires), Rupadhatu (the world of forms), and finally Arupadhatu (the formless world). Ordinary sentient beings live out their lives on the lowest level, the realm of desire.

Borobudur temple represents many layers of Buddhist theory. From a bird’s eye view, the temple is in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala. A mandala is central to a great deal of Buddhist and Hindu art, the basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four entry points, and a circular centre point.

Borobudur differs markedly from the general design of other structures built for this purpose. Instead of being built on a flat surface, Borobudur is built on a natural hill.

The Relief of Borobudur

Borobudur is constructed in such a way that it reveals various levels of terraces, showing intricate architecture that goes from being heavily ornamented with bas-reliefs to being plain in Arupadhatu circular terraces.

Borobudur contains approximately 2,670 individual bas reliefs (1,460 narrative and 1,212 decorative panels), which cover the façades and balustrades. The total relief surface is 2, 500 square metres (27,000 sq ft), and they are distributed at the hidden foot (Kāmadhātu) and the five square platforms (Rupadhatu).

The Buddha statues

Chandi Borobudur is exceptionally rich in splendid stone statues, all depicting Dhyani Buddhas. Each mudra represents one of the Five Dhyani Buddhs; its own symbolism.

Apart from its abundance of narrative reliefs and ornamental carvings, Chandi Borobudur is exceptionally rich in splendid stone statues, all depicting Dhyani Buddhas. They are to be found in the rupadhatu and in the 3 Cross-section of Chandi Borobudur. The Buddha statues of the rupadhatu are placed in niches, which are arranged in rows on the outer sides of the balustrades. The five different Dhyani Buddhas are emanations of the Adi Buddha (the Supreme or Primeval Buddha), who generally is not represented in any tangible form.

The three superimposed spheres of kamadhatu, rupadhatu and arupadhatu accord perfectly depicting with bhurloka (earth), bhuvarloka (atmosphere) and svarloka (heaven), symbolizes the Cosmic Mountain, which is in turn the symbol parexcellence of the Universe.

The Cosmic Mountain concept is purely Hindu and alien to Buddhism. The Buddhist cosmology ascribes no obvious significance to it. The Lord Buddha is said to have once instructed his disciples to burn his corpse after that he had entered nirvana, and to deposit the ashes in a stupa.

The daring break with tradition is a further demonstration of the high esteem of the founder of Chandi Borobudur for the forefather whom he identified with the Buddha; and a stepped pyramid with a stupa on top was a most appropriate symbol to depict the virtue the dynasty had accumulated successively along the Path of the Bodhisattva.

In the sense that there was no god to be worshipped, Buddhism was not originally a religion. It was rather a doctrine explaining how to achieve the ultimate release from all sufferings: to nullify karrna, to break up samsara, and finally to achieve nirvana.

Stairs thorough the decoration of Kala

Consisting of nine superimposed terraces and crowned by a huge bell - shaped stupa. Borobudur stupas on the ninth levels, the terrace of Arupadhatu. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide.

Get more reading the materials about the monument, and learning more fun in Barabudur atau Borobudur, Candi Buddha Pusaka Budaya Indonesia.

Reading is more fun exploring the thematic narratives, beyond travel guide its 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.