BOROBUDUR nation's heritage

Borobudur Buddhist statues and Mount Manoreh
courtesy ©2008 Renee Scipio

Borobudur Temple is a Buddhist temple, Borobudur is situated in the village of Magelang regency, Central Java, was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of ancient Mataram Kingdom, Dynasty dynasty descendants. The name Borobudur is a combination of words and Budur Bara. Coals from Sanskrit means temple or monastery. While Budur derived from the word meaning beduhur above, thereby Borobudur means monastery on the hill. While according to other sources, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other sources said that Borobudur means monastery on the heights.

Stupa Candi Borobudur ©2009 arie saksono

Borobudur punden staircase-shaped building consists of 10 levels, measuring 123 x 123 meters. Height of 42 meters and 34.5 meters before it was renovated after the renovation because the lowest level was used as a drag. This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Six lowest level square and the upper three circular form, and the highest level in the form of a Buddhist stupa facing westward.
Each level represents the stages of human life. In accordance schools of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of the Buddha must through every level of life is.

     Kamadhatu, the base of Borobudur, symbolizing man who is still bound by lust.
     Rupadhatu, four levels above it, symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but still tied to appearance and shape. At that level, put a statue of Buddha is open.
     Arupadhatu, three levels above where Buddha placed inside perforated stupa. It symbolizes man who was freed from lust, appearance, and shape.
     Arupa, the very top that symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has reliefs that will be read coherently runs clockwise (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). In the reliefs of Borobudur tells of a legendary story, a variety of story content, among others there are reliefs of the Hindu epic Ramayana, there are also reliefs Jataka stories. In addition, there are relief panels depicting the condition of society at that time. For example, the relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of the time shipping was centered in Bergotta (Semarang).

Prambanan Hindu Temple Beautiful in the World

Prambanan is incredibly beautiful building built in the 10th century during the reign of two kings, Rakai Rakai Pikatan and Balitung. Rose as high as 47 feet (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, in the middle of the area that is now a beautiful park.
There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. Once, a man named Roro Jonggrang Bondowoso love. Because of his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso make 1000 temples with statues in one night. The request was nearly fulfilled Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and make a big fire that created an atmosphere like the morning. Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed into a statue to Jonggrang-1000 because he felt cheated.
Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. These three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. The third temple is facing east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Swan to Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition, there are two temples wedge, 4 temples color, and 4 corner temples. In the second had 224 temples.
Entering Shiva temple located in the middle and the highest building, you will find a room 4. One main room with a statue of Shiva, while the other 3 chambers each containing a statue of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (the son of Shiva). Durga is mentioned as a statue of Roro Jonggrang described in the legend above.
In the Vishnu temple is located in the north of the temple of Shiva, you will only find one room with a statue of Vishnu. Brahma temple, which lies south of Shiva temple, you will only find one room with a statue of Brahma.
Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple located near the Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird called Garuda. Garuda is a mythical bird in Hindu mythology who was gold, white face, red wings, beak and wings like eagles. Estimated, figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu figure (meaning 'sunrise' or 'shining', associated with the god Re) in ancient Egyptian mythology or Phoenix in Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's brother who was born handicapped) by stealing Tirta Amrita (holy water of the gods).
Ability to save that which is admired by many people until now and are used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the symbol of the state. That said, the emblem of Garuda Pancasila creator for inspiration in this temple. Other countries also use it to sign the country 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. According to experts, the relief is similar to the Ramayana story is revealed through oral tradition. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that the Hindu religion is considered as a tree of life, sustainability and environmental compatibility. At the Prambanan reliefs depicted Kalpataru trees flanking the lion. The existence of this tree makes experts consider that the people of the 9th century had wisdom to manage its environment.
Just like the figure of Garuda, Kalpataru is now also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru became a symbol of Environment (Walhi). In fact, some scientists in Bali to develop the concept of Tri Hita Karana for environmental conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. Tree of life can also be found in the mountains that used to open the puppet arts. A proof that the relief panels in Prambanan has worldwide.
If careful, you can also see various birds relief, this time a real bird. Bird reliefs at Prambanan are so natural that biologists can identify to genus level. One was relief of Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) that invites questions. Why, the bird was actually just there Masakambing Island, an island in the Java Sea. Then, whether the type that was once widely available in Yogyakarta? Please find out yourself. Because, until now no single person who could solve the mystery.
Well, there are many more that can be extracted at Prambanan. You certainly should not be bored. If it was finally exhausted, you can relax in the garden around the temple. Interested? Come immediately. Since September 18, 2006, you can enter a zone of Prambanan, although not yet able to enter the temple. Some of the damage caused by the earthquake last May 27, 2006 are now being repaired.