Borobudur Temple which was built around 800AD,was built by the teaching of Mahayana buddhism during the reign of king Samaratungga in Jawa.The meaning of Borobudur means "monastery in the hills" which comes from the word "coal" (temple or monastery) and "beduhur" (hills or high places) in the language of Sanskrit. The building was used for buddhism religious practices and was digged out by Sir Stamford Raffles during an expedition after british manage to colonize indonesia.
Borobudur has 10 levels consisting of 6 levels of a square, level 3 circular and a main stupa as a peak.In every level there are several stupas.Altogether there are 72 stupas addition to the main stupa as a peak.The connection of the hero's journey is related to the 10 levels of buddhist philosophy which describes the ten levels of bodhisattva who must pass the stupas to reach the perfection of the buddha in nirvana.This perfection symbolized by the main stupa at the top level.Borobudur structure when viewed from above form a structure call mandala depicting buddhist cosmology and the human way of thinking.It was suggest that the temple was facing east like the other temples build for buddhism religion as the east symbolize the final journey of one's to reach perfection in nirvana.
Every year on the full moon in May (or June in leap years),Buddhist in indonesia commemorate Wesak Day at the Borobudur Temple.Wesak Day is celebrated as the day of birth,death and the time when siddhartha Gautama reaching enlightment to become the Buddha Shakyamuni.
As of today,Borobudur has indeed become a hot tourist spot which attracts many tourist both locally and foreign tourists.and it has also become a holy place for Buddhist in Indonesia and became the center of an annual celebration of the most important Wesak Day.
I personally would like to visit the place once in my lifetime as time passed buildings will fade away either by the change of climate or by the structure of the land changes.
Choong Peng Leh
1200813
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