Monument to Succession
In the heart of Central Java, Indonesia, amidst a landscape of dense rice fields and majestic volcanoes, lies a monument of extraordinary beauty and spiritual depth: the Borobudur Temple. This 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist structure is a breathtaking testament to the profound power of faith and the ingenuity of ancient civilizations.
A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, Borobudur is a beacon of Buddhist cosmology, attracting pilgrims and visitors worldwide. This post will explore the temple's fascinating history, unique architectural design, and enduring significance within Buddhist philosophy.
Borobudur's origins are veiled in a slight mystique. Historians believe its construction commenced around 750 AD during the reign of the mighty Shailendra Dynasty, whose stronghold lay within Central Java.
11 Faces
This powerful dynasty was an ardent follower of Mahayana Buddhism, and Borobudur reflects their devotion. The temple's construction likely spanned several decades, involving skilled stonemasons, sculptors, and architects. However, their names are unknown and lost to time.
We still don't know
The purpose of Borobudur's construction remains a subject of scholarly debate. Some believe it served as a grand stupa (dome-shaped), a reliquary structure housing sacred Buddhist objects. Others propose that Borobudur was primarily a place of pilgrimage, where Buddhists would journey to circumambulate (walk around) its many levels and seek enlightenment. As a result, the temple likely served both these functions, intertwining ritual and spiritual practice.
Centuries after its completion, Borobudur's grandeur began to fade. Volcanic eruptions may have shrouded the temple in ash, while shifts in regional power within Java led to potential abandonment. Slowly, the jungle encroached, reclaiming Borobudur until the 19th century when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British governor of Java, heard whispers of a lost monument. Subsequently, his rediscovery led to intensive restoration efforts, culminating in its modern-day glory.
Borobudur is an architectural marvel unlike any other. The temple ascends as a colossal stone mandala, a symbolic representation of the cosmos in Buddhist doctrine. Moreover, the structure, built on a hill, has a base that comprises five square terraces representing the world of desire (Kamadhatu). Atop these sit three circular terraces embodying the world of forms (Rupadhatu). Crowning Borobudur is a monumental central stupa, symbolizing the formless world (Arupadhatu). Consequently, this three-tiered design represents the gradual ascent of the Buddhist practitioner toward enlightenment.
3 Step Process
To clarify, the Mahayana Buddhism asserts that beings cycle through three realms of existence:
- Kamadhatu: The realm of desire, characterized by attachment and suffering.
- Rupadhatu: The realm of forms, where one transcends physical desires but remains within the realm of form and perception.
- Arupadhatu: The formless realm characterized by the absence of form and the attainment of a higher state of consciousness.
In addition, adorning the walls of Borobudur are over 2,600 exquisitely carved bas-relief panels, forming a vast visual narrative. These carvings tell the stories of the Buddha's many lives (Jatakas), illustrate Buddhist teachings, and portray life in 9th-century Java. The bas-reliefs also reveal insights into the technologies, customs, and society of the time. Most importantly, walking the temple's pathways, pilgrims are immersed in a visual encyclopedia of Buddhist wisdom.
As a result, a total of 504 Buddha statues grace Borobudur. Most are housed within the 72 perforated stupas adorning the circular terraces, representing the state of ultimate liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Likewise, the central stupa, now empty, was likely the most sacred location within the complex, potentially holding a relic or representing the formless truth of enlightenment.
The writing is on the Wall
In other words, the Buddha statues symbolize various concepts in spiritual growth:
- Enlightenment: They all represent the aware state that one strives to achieve.
- Liberation: Being housed within the perforated stupas signifies liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and the limitations of the form realm.
- Accessibility of Enlightenment: The vast number of statues (504) suggests that enlightenment is potentially attainable by all.
Borobudur's importance within the Buddhist world transcends its physical beauty. It serves as a three-dimensional textbook of Mahayana Buddhism, a school focused on the ideal of the Bodhisattva, an individual who vows to achieve enlightenment for the sake of all sentient or conscious beings. Similarly, the temple's architecture guides pilgrims on the path toward this state.
The lower terraces (Kamadhatu) illustrate the phenomenal world and its ensnaring desires. The bas-reliefs here depict scenes of worldly attachments, their consequences, and the laws of karma. As one ascends to Rupadhatu, the realm of forms, the carvings shift focus to stories of the Buddha's life and teachings. These images guide proper or preferred conduct, wisdom, and compassion.
Same
Finally, reaching Arupadhatu, the realm of formlessness, one is greeted by simple, serene Buddha statues within the perforated stupas. Most importantly, this signifies the abandonment of the perceived earthly form and the attainment of a state of pure awareness, a preview of the enlightenment symbolized by the empty central stupa.
The Borobudur's design and structure details are errorly similar to other pyramid-style monuments. So, quantifying the number of structures comparable to the Borobudur Temple or the Giza pyramids presents a challenge. However, establishing a definition of "comparable" becomes more manageable when I use similar dimensions, functionality, age, and architectural style.
For example, the most immediate comparison lies with pyramids. While the Giza pyramids are the most iconic examples, Egypt alone boasts over 100 known pyramids, each with varying sizes and purposes. Pyramids also appear in Mesoamerican civilizations like the Maya and Aztecs, although their structures differ in design and materials from their Egyptian counterparts. Furthermore, similar structures have been discovered in Sudan, China, and the Canary Islands.
Do we need more Proof?
In addition, another category involves stepped pyramids. Mesoamerica again parallels structures like those found at Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza, sharing some similarities in their layered structure with Borobudur. Additionally, Mesopotamia, Iran, and other regions have yielded stepped pyramids or ziggurats, showcasing the prevalence of this architectural form across diverse cultures.
Furthermore, if we move beyond strict structural similarities, we can consider large-scale religious monuments. Angkor Wat in Cambodia, initially a Hindu temple but later influenced by Buddhism, shares aspects of Borobudur's grand scale and profound spiritual significance. Similarly, numerous other temple complexes exist worldwide, each reflecting unique architectural styles and embodying distinct cultural contexts.
We have the ability
In summation, while I can only provide an approximate number of pyramid-shaped monuments, recognizing the existence of hundreds, maybe thousands of such structures in scale, purpose, or age is eye-opening. Therefore, it's essential to remember that each mega structure holds immense historical and cultural value and information related to human history.
Consequently, we recognize that we still need to fully understand our power and the ability to bend the current laws of physics to our intention. These massive stone monuments are reminders that there is more for us to experience. What do you want to create?
