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Borobudur: Mahayana Monument, in Java, Indonesia O' Reiley, Pp. 82-83 Fisher, Pp. 196-200

Borobudur is a massive Mahayana Buddhist monument located in Java, Indonesia constructed in the late 8th century. It consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms and a central dome. The monument contains more than 500 Buddha statues and over 2,600 relief panels depicting Buddhist teachings. Borobudur's design and sculptural program illustrate the concept of enlightenment and the Buddhist cosmological view of the cosmos. It is considered one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.

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85 views35 pages

Borobudur: Mahayana Monument, in Java, Indonesia O' Reiley, Pp. 82-83 Fisher, Pp. 196-200

Borobudur is a massive Mahayana Buddhist monument located in Java, Indonesia constructed in the late 8th century. It consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms and a central dome. The monument contains more than 500 Buddha statues and over 2,600 relief panels depicting Buddhist teachings. Borobudur's design and sculptural program illustrate the concept of enlightenment and the Buddhist cosmological view of the cosmos. It is considered one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.

Uploaded by

Tribusnulla'30
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Borobudur

Mahayana monument, in Java, Indonesia


O’ Reiley, pp. 82-83
Fisher, pp. 196-200
3.19 Borobudur, Java, Late 8th century; F 175-77
Borodudur
• It was built by the Sailendra dynasty the late 8th century; it
is the biggest stupa monument in the world; located in the
Java Island of Indonesia
• Medium: volcanic rocks and massive heap of stones
• It is a Mahayana monument with 9 levels; each side
measure 370 feet in length and 12 feet in height in each
wall
• It has 5 square terraces and 3 circular diminish terraces
with series of stupas (72 stupas); crowned by a large
circular unfinished stupa (113 Feet)
• Note: no inscription was found at the site
Plan
• Lower level represents:
• Kamadhatu-Sphere of Desire (human spirit is still
chained to greed
• Rupadathu- The sphere of Form (spirit liberated from
greed but stillunable to transcend the phenomenal world)
• The upper-circular terraces-the Arupadhatu-the Sphere of
Formlessness (liberated human spirit has left all earthly
considerations behind)
• People visiting Borodubur -as pilgrims to immerse
themselves in and graph the truth of the Buddha’s
teachings--by studying the narrative releifs and to practice
meditation
Gates
• Gates: Kala or Makala (fish-elephant): 328
heads on the monumnets
• kala symbolizes sun and light
• makara symbolizes water and darkness;
together they symbolize the Universe
Jina Buddhas (Dhyani Buddha)
• Vairocana Buddha-Universal Buddha, in the center
• Gesture: dharmacakramudra
• Color: white
• Aksobhaya-Buddha of the East
• Gesture: bhumisparsamudra
• Color: yellow
• Amitabha-Buddha of the West; Sakyamuni and
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva resided (Sukhavati paradise)
• Gesture: dhyanamudra
• Color: Red
Jina Buddha
• Ratanasambhava-Buddha of the South
• Gesture: varadamudra
• Color: green
• Amoghasidi-Buddha of the North
• Gesture: abhayamudra
• Color: Blue
Gallery
• There are approximately 1300 panels with a
total length of 8,200 feet cover the walls
and the balustrades of the galleries
• It has no roof
• 540 seated Buddha in life size
• 432 are in niches (part of the balustrades)
• 72 in hollow stupas
texts
• Base: now covered depicted relief from the
Kamawibhanga text-the doctrine of cause and effects
• Along the many galleries show panels with scenes in bas-
relief. The releifs were directly drawn from the ancient
texts:
• 1st gallery: lalitavistara in the upper level of the (Life
story of the Buddha) wall and the Jatakamala in the lower
part of the wall (Jataka stories)
• 2 and 3rd galleries: Gandavyuha (story of Sudhana in
search of the Ultimate Truth; Maitreya helps him)
Interpretations
• It represents the unity of the cosmos-sacred replica of the
universe
• Unfinished Buddha symbolized the ultimate spiritual truth
• Mandala-cosmic diagram, cosmic universe: the concept of
the Three Bodies
• It associates with royal cult
• It represents the cosmic mountain-Mt Meru as described in
the Lotus Sutra (Saddharapundarikasutra)
• The ultimate message is that by hearing the Lotus sutra,
ever beings can become a Buddha after having obtained
complete enlightenment or bodhi

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