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| Borobudur Tample |
The Borobudur sanctuary is one of the jawels of the world cultural heritage. A vast Mahayana Budhhist monument in the form of a pyramid-shaped mandala, it was built in the heart Java arround 800 AD by the Sailendra dynasty and abandoned shortly after completion. It covers an area of almost one and half hectares, with a central dome almost 35 meters above the base. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, then three circuler platforms of 72 openwork stupas and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walss and balustrades are decorated with 1.400 bas-reliefs and 432 statues of Buddha. (source: UNESCO)
The Shapes of Borobudur have full of philosophical ornaments which symbolizing the unity in diversity of path to reach the ultimate aim of life. With all its long history and natural surroundings, Borobudur is undeniably a cultural masterpiece. Borobudur is amonument like no other, itcontains of a series of concentric terrace of decreasing size that rise like steps to a central peak. It has not roof, no vault, no cnamber; its masonary was laid without mortar. Thus Basic simplicity of form is counterbalanced by extraordinary rich and complex decoration. Most striking of all, perhaps, are the beautiful bas-relief, in all some 1400 carved stone panels covering a total area of about 1900 square meter, with another 600 square meter of decorative carving surroundings. Beside being the symbol of the Buddhism, Borobudur is also a replice of the universe. Accourding the Buddhist cosmologi, the universe is divided into three major devisors, Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu, and Arupadhatu. Kamadhatu is the phenomenal world for the common people. The base of the Borobudur represents this phenomenal world. On the original base area 160 relief's depicting scenes of karmawibangga, the law of cause and effect.