Uploads from Back to Nothing

Aksobhya

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:29:09 -0700

Sometime between 928 and 1006, King Mpu Sindok moved the capital of the Medang Kingdom to the region of East Java after a series of volcanic eruptions; it is not certain whether this influenced the abandonment, but several sources mention this as the most likely period of abandonment.

Borobudur

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:26:04 -0700

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Borobudur lay hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth. The facts behind its abandonment remain a mystery. It is not known when active use of the monument and Buddhist pilgrimage to it ceased.

Corner

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:23:17 -0700

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The Buddhist monuments, including Borobudur, were erected around the same time as the Hindu Shiva Prambanan temple compound. In 732 CE, the Shivaite King Sanjaya commissioned a Shivalinga sanctuary to be built on the Wukir hill, only 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Borobudur.

Detailed Carved Reliefs

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:21:23 -0700

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There is confusion between Hindu and Buddhist rulers in Java around that time. The Sailendras were known as ardent followers of Buddhism, though stone inscriptions found at Sojomerto suggest they may have been Hindus. It was during this time that many Hindu and Buddhist monuments were built on the plains and mountains around the Kedu Plain.

Mountain Temple

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:16:35 -0700

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The construction has been estimated to have taken 75 years and been completed during the reign of Samaratungga in 825.

Meditation

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:15:21 -0700

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Borobudur was likely founded around 800 CE. This corresponds to the period between 760 and 830 CE, the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in central Java,[19] when it was under the influence of the Srivijayan Empire.

Glory

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:14:27 -0700

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There is no written record of who built Borobudur or of its intended purpose. The construction time has been estimated by comparison between carved reliefs on the temple's hidden foot and the inscriptions commonly used in royal charters during the 8th and 9th centuries.

Reliefs on the Wall

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:05:44 -0700

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The name Borobudur was first written in Sir Thomas Raffles' book on Javan history. Raffles wrote about a monument called borobudur, but there are no older documents suggesting the same name.

Stupa

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:05:36 -0700

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The origins of the name Borobudur however are unclear, although the original names of most ancient Indonesian temples are no longer known.

Candi Borobudur

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:05:28 -0700

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In Indonesian, ancient temples are referred to as candi; thus locals refer to "Borobudur Temple" as Candi Borobudur.

Top Platform

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:05:24 -0700

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Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Light on the Dome

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:05:16 -0700

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The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Watercolors

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:49:12 -0700

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Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations.

The Way to Here

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:49:08 -0700

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Evidence suggest Borobudur was constructed in the 9th century and abandoned following the 14th century decline of Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam.

Warm Sunrise

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:49:04 -0700

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The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.

Breathless

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:49:00 -0700

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The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels symbolic of Buddhist cosmology: Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).

Purple

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:48:56 -0700

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The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage.

Blue

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:48:51 -0700

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Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple's design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region. It also depicts the gupta style from India and shows influence of Buddhism as well as Hinduism.

Rising Sun

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:48:47 -0700

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A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa.

Domes

nobody@flickr.com (Back to Nothing) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:48:42 -0700

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The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.