GATEWAY TO YOGYAKARTA, THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF JAVA
This beautiful ancient capital with an old history and
culture is, as the gateway to the two national archaeological parks, Borobudur
Temple and Prambanan Temple, Indonesia’s third most prominent tourist city
beside Bali and Jakarta. Let us consider some of the attractions of this city
of tranquil residential areas and abounding cultural vitality.
THE BOROBUDUR SANCTUARY IS ONE OF THE JEWESLS OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL HERITAGE
A vast Mahayana Buddhist monument in the form of a pyramid
shaped mandala; it was built in the heart of Java around 800 AD by the
Sailendra dynasty and abandoned shortly after completion. It covers an area of
almost one and a half hectares, with a central dome almost 35 metres above the
base.
It was built in 3 tiers: a pyramidal base with 5 concentric
square terraces, then 3 circular platforms f 7 openwork stupas and at the top,
a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with 1400
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 a monument like no other, it contains of a
series of concentric terrace of decreasing size that rise like steps to a
central peak. It has no roof, no vault, no chamber; its masonry was laid
without mortar. This 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 meters of
decorative carving surroundings.
Besides being the symbol of the Buddhism. Borobudur is also
a replica of the universe. According the Buddhist cosmology, the universe is
divided into 3 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
are 160 relief’s depicting scenes of Karmawibangga, the law of cause and effect.
Rupadhatu is the transitional sphere in which human beings
released from worldly matters; this sphere is represented by 4 rectangular
storeys, of which the outer parts are bordered by balustrade. The walls are
full of relief’s and so are the balustrades. No less than 1300 panels of
narrative relief’s and a further 1212 panels of decorative relief’s. There are
432 niches around the 5 galleries, each containing a seated Buddha statue.
Arupahatu is the highest sphere, the abode of Gods. The
atmosphere is superlative, tranquil and pure. This sphere is represented by 3
circular terraces and central dagob. Circular is without beginning but also
without end. The 3 circular terraces have neither reliefs nor ornaments. There
are adorned with 72 latticed dagobs , containing Buddha images; arranged in
there concentric circles and surrounding the main stupa.
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