Borobudur - Indonesia

In past, so called court astrologs got, as a task, to find a place in King´s Empire, where the sun-man is joining with the earth-woman. The scientists started to investigate sunny signs, and marked, as a contact point, one dome-shaped hill inside fertile area of Java Island. So, in such way, it was found, in the middle of 8th century, just the right place for construction of Meru Holy Mountain. According to Hinduists´ ascertainments, the whole world is turning round. Tens of thousands of slaves were forced to construct eight-storey church on this chosen hill. So, nearly eighty years passed, when they managed to accumulate unbelieavable quantity of hacked stones (nearly 60000 cubic metres), without connecting material. So, this nature hill was changed into a mountain, constructed by means of human hands.

The construction of this sanctuary was influenced, except Hinduism, by Buddhism, too. This religion started to penetrate Java area quite quickly. On each terrace, hundreds of Buddha statues were placed there, in a form of stone plastic arts, bronze statues or relief pictures. The church, finished in 830, got the name of Borobudur, what means „The Church of Numerous Buddha Statues“.

Many Buddhist pilgrims who came to Borobudur, saw in this golden-brown church mountain a religious miracle, which does not have any similar copy in the world. The mountain along nine terraces (in clock direction, this marked a step to nirvana), when each stage was higher, by means of experience level. This nine-section path consisted of six great square terraces and three smaller ring-shape ones. On the way upstairs, the pilgrims passed thousands reliefs, presenting the scenes of Buddha´s life. The path passed along numerous niches with Buddha and his followers´ statues, up to the highest three church circular terraces with 72 Buddhist sacred  buildings, bell-shaped stone small towers, when each of them hid stone Buddha statue.

On the highest floor of the church, the highest pagoda (diameter 1,5 metres) waited for the pilgrims. This part remained undecorated, as the only one, symbolizing absolute quiet, liberation, nirvana. Till the middle of 10th century, Borobudur became most important Buddhist shrine in the area of today´s Indonesian group of islands. Later, the faith centre was changed to East Java, where Buddhist religion brought new boom. However, in 1006, Merapi volcano erupted, and Borobudur was hardly damaged. Many cracks appeared on walls, the statues strated to be disintegrated, and the Church of Numerous Buddhas was covered with thick ash stratta. Shortly afterthat, wild jungle quickly swallowed the sanctuary and the whole complex was covered for many years in front of man´s views.

The re-discovery of the church in 1814 could be thankful to Sir Raffles, British Governor. He was very interested in, what these hacked stones, overgrown with dense vegetace, would hide. So, in following years, great parts of Borobudur were discovered for the world again. However, the church was really in miserable state, most of bronze statues disappeared and many statues missed their heads. During 1907-1911, first restoration works, under leadeing of Theodor van Erp, Dutchman, were effected. At the same time, very detailed documentation of the whole buidling was made. So, within 20th century, Borobudur could obtain its original look again. Now, the Buddhist pilgrims wander, similarly as thousand years ago, to earthly copy of Meru Mountain. If the pilgrim puts his arm into one of hollows in the niche and awakes Buddha, he would have, according to Buddhist religion, really good luck!

Text: Denisa Arvajová

Translation. ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: wikipedia.com - Gunkarta, picasaweb.com - andrew.nelson.phoenix, Lorelle, Toyo