[INDONESIA] Ancient Hindu and Buddhist Temples

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Let's post pictures of ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples in this thread and show the world what we have to offer...

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Let's start by posting Candi Borobudur, one of the grandest temples ever built in Indonesia

Quote:
Borobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.[1] A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam.[2] It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. 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.[3] Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.[4][5][6]

posted by XxRyochanxX
















posted by Ampelio

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posted by Blue_Sky

Borobodur Temple complex is one of the greatest monuments in the world. It is of uncertain age, but thought to have been built between the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth century A.D. For about a century and a half it was the spiritual centre of Buddhism in Java, then it was lost until its rediscovery in the eighteenth century.

The structure, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill in the form of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

For each direction there are ninety-two Dhyani Buddha statues and 1,460 relief scenes. The lowest level has 160 reliefs depicting cause and effect; the middle level contains various stories of the Buddha's life from the Jataka Tales; the highest level has no reliefs or decorations whatsoever but has a balcony, square in shape with round walls: a circle without beginning or end. Here is the place of the ninety-two Vajrasattvas or Dhyani Buddhas tucked into small stupas. Each of these statues has a mudra (hand gesture) indicating one of the five directions: east, with the mudra of calling the earth to witness; south, with the hand position of blessing; west, with the gesture of meditation; north, the mudra of fearlessness; and the centre with the gesture of teaching.

Besides being the highest symbol of Buddhism, the Borobodur stupa is also a replica of the universe. It symbolises the micro-cosmos, which is divided into three levels, in which man's world of desire is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level, the world in which man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses; the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire.

It is devotional practice to circumambulate around the galleries and terraces always turning to the left and keeping the edifice to the right while either chanting or meditating. In total, Borobodur represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.








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let's have a look a some temples located around Candi Borobudur...

taken from Wikipedia:
Pawon (known locally as Candi Pawon) is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. Located neatly between two other Buddhist temples, Borobudur (1.75 km (1 mi) to the northeast) and Mendut (1.15 km (1 mi) to the southwest), Pawon is a strongly related with the other two temples, all of which were built during the Sailendra dynasty (eight–ninth centuries).[1]

Candi Pawon

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from Wikipedia:
Mendut is an eighth century Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line. There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples, although the exact ritual process is unknown.[1] Today, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak annually by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.[2]

[CrazyForID]

Let me help you...
muara takus isn't famous, but muara takus is the center of srivijaya empire before srivijaya moved near palembang

from wikipedia (too) :
Candi Muara Takus is a Buddhist temple complex, thought to belong to the Sriwijaya empire. It is situated in Kampar Regency in Riau province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Its surviving temples and other archaeological remains are thought to date to the eleventh and twelfth century AD. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient temple complexes in Sumatra.

[Alphonse Not-Elric]

Burried Ancient Temple in UII (Islamic University of Indonesia, Yogyakarta)


anyone can translate it??

Originally Posted by bharadya

Artikel dari kompas.com:
Candi Kuno Terkubur di Kampus UII Yogya

Minggu, 13 Desember 2009 | 03.45 WIB

SLEMAN, KOMPAS -*Sebuah struktur yang diduga kuat sebagai bagian dari candi zaman Mataram Kuno ditemukan dalam suatu penggalian proyek pembangunan perpustakaan di kampus Universitas Islam Indonesia, Jalan Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, Sabtu (12/12).

Candi itu diperkirakan berusia lebih dari sepuluh abad dan kemungkinan berstruktur luas dan besar.

Menurut Asnawi, pengawas proyek, candi ditemukan oleh pekerja proyek yang tengah menggali tanah untuk kolom-kolom fondasi tiang bangunan perpustakaan baru di Kampus UII tersebut. ”Penemuan terjadi Jumat pagi kemarin, awalnya pekerja mengira itu batu biasa. Tapi setelah digali lebih jauh, ternyata batu itu ada ukiran-ukirannya,” ujar Asnawi.

Dari 24 kolom berukuran 3 x 3 meter dengan kedalaman 3,5 meter yang dibuat itu, pada tiga kolom di antaranya ditemukan batu-batu candi. Satu bagian yang diduga sebagai sisi luar candi masih tersusun rapi dengan panjang 2,7 meter dan lebar 0,5 meter.

Beberapa bagian dari batuan candi yang ditemukan rusak karena penggalian kolom fondasi sempat menggunakan alat berat. ”Tadinya kolom fondasi ini hanya akan digali sedalam 3 meter. Tapi karena ada perubahan rencana, maka ditambahkan kedalamannya 50 sentimeter menjadi 3,5 meter. Kalau tidak ada penambahan kedalaman, kemungkinan adanya bangunan candi ini tidak akan terungkap,” ujar Asnawi.

Hentikan proyek

Ketua Kelompok Kerja Perlindungan Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala (BP3) Yogyakarta Indung Panca Putra langsung menurunkan tim ke lapangan pada Sabtu pagi. Indung mengatakan telah meminta pelaksana proyek dan pihak kampus menghentikan sementara pembangunan perpustakaan itu untuk penelitian lebih lanjut mengenai penemuan candi tersebut. ”Kalau dilihat temuannya, ini jelas bangunan candi. Dugaan saya ini candi perwara (pendamping). Karena itu, bentuk candi utamanya masih harus dicari dan diungkap,” kata Indung.

Untuk keperluan pengungkapan, Kelompok Kerja Perlindungan BP3 Yogyakarta melakukan rangkaian penelitian test pit. Yang dimaksud test pit adalah membuat beberapa lubang di sekitar temuan untuk mencari dan menemukan struktur lain. Penemuan struktur lain itu diperlukan untuk mengetahui luasan candi.

Dari perkiraan sementara, candi tersebut diduga merupakan bangunan abad ke-9-10 Masehi pada masa kerajaan Mataram Kuno. Menyangkut raja yang memerintahkan pembangunan serta fungsi candi tersebut masih harus diteliti lebih jauh. ”Jika ternyata temuan ini signifikan kemungkinan besar akan dilakukan ekskavasi penuh untuk mengungkap struktur aslinya, dan proyek pembangunan perpustakaan UII harus berhenti total. Tapi, Jika tidak signifikan, kami hanya akan melakukan preservasi benda-benda yang ditemukan serta pencatatan,” kata Indung.

Dibutuhkan waktu 7-10 hari untuk menentukan apakah temuan candi itu layak pugar atau tidak. (ENG)