BorobudurMahayana monument, in Java, IndonesiaO Reiley, pp. 82-83Fisher, pp. 196-200

3.19 Borobudur, Java, Late 8th century; F 175-77

BorodudurIt 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 IndonesiaMedium: volcanic rocks and massive heap of stonesIt is a Mahayana monument with 9 levels; each side measure 370 feet in length and 12 feet in height in each wallIt 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

PlanLower level represents:Kamadhatu-Sphere of Desire(human spirit is still chained to greedRupadathu- 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 Buddhas teachings--by studying the narrative releifs and to practice meditation

GatesGates: Kala or Makala (fish-elephant): 328 heads on the monumnetskala symbolizes sun and lightmakara symbolizes water and darkness; together they symbolize the Universe

Jina Buddhas (Dhyani Buddha)Vairocana Buddha-Universal Buddha, in the centerGesture: dharmacakramudraColor: whiteAksobhaya-Buddha of the EastGesture: bhumisparsamudraColor: yellowAmitabha-Buddha of the West; Sakyamuni and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva resided (Sukhavati paradise)Gesture: dhyanamudraColor: Red

Jina BuddhaRatanasambhava-Buddha of the SouthGesture: varadamudraColor: greenAmoghasidi-Buddha of the NorthGesture: abhayamudraColor: Blue

GalleryThere are approximately 1300 panels with a total length of 8,200 feet cover the walls and the balustrades of the galleriesIt has no roof 540 seated Buddha in life size432 are in niches (part of the balustrades)72 in hollow stupas

textsBase: now covered depicted relief from the Kamawibhanga text-the doctrine of cause and effectsAlong 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)

InterpretationsIt represents the unity of the cosmos-sacred replica of the universeUnfinished Buddha symbolized the ultimate spiritual truthMandala-cosmic diagram, cosmic universe: the concept of the Three BodiesIt associates with royal cultIt 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