Borobudur Architectural Buddhism
Uploaded by
Uday DokrasBorobudur Architectural Buddhism
Uploaded by
Uday DokrasBorobudur - architectural Buddhism
The rulers of Central Java's Sailendra dynasty manifested the concept of the god-
king, devaraja, on a grand scale. During their rule, they constructed many religious
monuments designed to instruct their people, as well as following generations, to enter the
path to enlightenment. The most famous of these monuments is Borobudur, a Buddhist
masterpiece of superior grandeur and beauty. Consisting of 1.3 million stone blocks, it was
carved and constructed by 50,000 Javanese over 50 years. At 115 feet tall and sitting atop a
403-foot square, it is still the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. To augment the grandeur,
the monument is set upon a small plateau that rises 40 feet above the Kedu Plain.
The first written records concerning Java are from 732 CE. In that year, a Hindu noble,
Sanjaya, established a kingdom called Mataram (or Medang) on the Kedu Plain. In 775 CE
his kingdom began construction on a monument to commemorate the introduction of
Hinduism to Java. A plateau created by the confluence of the Progo River and its tributaries
provided the temple’s site.
Ten years later this Hindu kingdom was replaced by the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty, vassals
to the Srivijaya Empire. Accordingly, they shifted the religious focus of the temple from
Hinduism to Buddhism. It took 50 more years to complete this architectural monument –
called Borobudur.
Borobudur is built in the style of the Indian tjandis with a pyramidal structure. However, the
Javanese introduced their own innovations. The Indian tjandis were meant to house the gods -
provide them a home - a resting spot - a sophisticated spirit house. However Borobudur was
not just meant as a memorial or shrine of the gods, a place of worship. Instead it was meant to
be an architectural representation of Buddhist philosophy. It was designed to represent
complex metaphysical theories. At this level, it was completely original. In this manner,
Borobudur provided the pattern for Angkor.
The temple mountain at Borobudur, like the Indian tjandi, was constructed from a solid mass
of stone, 2 million cubic feet around small hill, with little or no interior space - certainly no
internal shrines. (In contrast the Khmer temples of Angkor are noted for their vast amount of
empty space created by structural pillars.)
Based upon the supreme mystical power of the mandala, Borobudur has 10 stories
corresponding with the 10 stages that lead to Buddhist Enlightenment. The first level is the
entry level. The next five are associated with the 5 Buddhas. They represent the entire
external Universe - the vajra-dhatu - the realm of total reality. This group of 5 Buddhas is
familiar in the diverse areas of Tibet, Japan, and northeast India. The bottom levels are all
squarish, having a zigzag external design on their corners.
The next three levels are all circular terraces with stupas on top. They represent the 3
Buddhas of the esoteric tradition associated with Tantric Buddhism - the garbha-dhatu - the
womb of innermost secrets. The 10th level is empty, representing the final goal of
Enlightenment, the abandonment of attachment to Form. This is the Void of the Vairocana
Buddha.On the walls of each level there are sculptured relief panels, 1500 over all, which
represent the trials and traps on the journey to enlightenment. The zigzag corridors and
prescribed direction concealed the Buddhist statuary so that the adherent wouldn’t be
distracted by what lay ahead and could focus upon the lesson at hand. Thus on one level the
entire monument is a Buddhist teaching device.