The uniqueness of Borobudur temple

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple located in Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. This temple is located at approximately 100 km to the southwest of Semarang, 86 km west of Surakarta, and 40 km to the northwest of Yogyakarta. This stupa-shaped temple was founded by Mahayana Buddhists around the 8th century during the reign of Shililendra. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple or temple in the world, and one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the world.

This monument consists of six square terraces on which there are three circular courts, the walls are decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally there are 504 Buddha statues. Borobudur has the most complete and complete collection of Buddhist reliefs in the world.The largest main stupa in the middle as well 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 mudra (hand attitude) Dharmachakra mudra (rotating wheel dharma).

This monument is a model of the universe and built as a sacred place to glorify Buddha as well as functioning as a place of pilgrimage to guide mankind from the world of carnal lust to enlightenment and wisdom according to Buddhism. Pilgrims enter through the eastern side to begin the ritual at the base of the temple by walking around this sacred building clockwise, while continuing up the next steps through three levels of realm in Buddhist cosmology. The three levels are Kāmadhātu (lust of nature), Rupadhatu (tangible realm), and Arupadhatu (intangible realm). In this journey pilgrims walk through a series of alleys and staircases by witnessing no less than 1,460 beautiful relief panels engraved on the walls and balustrades.

According to historical evidence, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the influence of the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms on Java and the influx of Islamic influence began. The world began to realize the existence of this building since discovered 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then served as Governor-General of England over Java. Since then Borobudur has undergone a series of rescue and restoration efforts. The largest restoration project was held in the period 1975 to 1982 for the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and UNESCO, then this historic site included in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Borobudur is still used as a place of religious pilgrimage; every year Buddhists who come from all over Indonesia and abroad gather in Borobudur to commemorate the Trisuci Waisak. In the world of tourism, Borobudur is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.