Kalau Bukan Kita, Siapa lagi?

MENYEDIHKAN...adalah kata yang tepat untuk menggambarkan nasib salah satu situs prasejarah yang terdapat di kota kelahiran saya, Lumajang, Jatim. Disana terdapat sebuah situs peninggalan Majapahit, yang dikenal dengan nama "situs Biting".

Saya tidak sengaja membaca artikel tersebut, ketika saya mencari referensi seputar candi-candi di Jawa, untuk kepentingan blog ini. Betapa hati saya ingin menangis, ketika membaca nasib situs Biting. Sedih karena saya sebagai putra daerah Lumajang tidak pernah tahu bahwa terdapat sebuah situs peninggalan di kota kelahiran saya, dan semakin sedih, karena diwaktu bersamaan saat saya mengetahui tentang situs itu, kondisinya benar-benar memprihatinkan dan terancam dihancurkan untuk kepentingan segelintir orang.

Arkeolog dan sejarawan Universitas Negeri Malang, Dwi Cahyono, menduga, Situs Biting berasal dari dua masa pemerintahan: masa Hindu-Buddha hingga Mataram Islam. Sesuai bahasa lokal, biting berarti benteng. Di areal seluas 2-4 hektar terlihat struktur bata membentuk benteng.
Ada beberapa kemungkinan sejarah terkait Situs Biting. Di antaranya, peninggalan Arya Wiraraja, tokoh pengatur strategi yang diberi kekuasaan Raden Wijaya-Raja Majapahit-di wilayah Jawa bagian timur, yaitu Lamajang (sekarang Lumajang) pada masa awal pemerintahan Majapahit atau era pemerintahan Hindu Buddha (abad ke-14).(djuliantosusantio.blogspot.com)

Dilihat dari bangunan dan kisah sejarah masa lalunya diduga Situs Biting itu wilayah kedaton atau kerajaan dari Arya Wiraraja. Apalagi dikelilingi benteng yang menjaga istana itu. Kini sebagian besar area situs tersebut sudah menjadi area perumahan penduduk.

Dari yang terlihat dengan mata kepala kita, disana terdapat sebuah bangunan menyerupai candi yang terbuat dari batu dan sebuah benteng pertahanan, tapi sekali lagi saya katakan, kondisinya sangat "menyedihkan", karena tidak adanya kepedulian masyarakat sekitar serta pemerintah daerah untuk melestarikan dan menjadikannya sebagai sesuatu yang berharga yang seharusnya kita jaga. Dan dari info yang berkembang saat ini, sisa situs di areal tersebut, akan dihancurkan untuk dijadikan perumahan oleh sebuah developer. See...how sad it is... :(

Blog ini tadinya saya buat untuk memberikan informasi kepada teman-teman foreigners yang punya rencana untuk mengadakan liburan di Asia. Saya ingin sekali memberitahukan kepada mereka bahwa negara kita adalah negara yang punya sejuta keindahan dan pesona yang tidak kalah dengan negara-negara Asia lainnya. Sehingga mereka mau memilih Indonesia sebagai tempat tujuan mereka untuk menghabiskan masa liburan. Dari blog ini juga kecintaan dan minat saya akan negara kita, Indonesia, semakin besar karena semakin banyak informasi yang saya dapatkan dari berbagai sumber di internet sebagai referensi posting di blog saya. Dari yang tidak tahu menjadi tahu, dari yang sedikit tahu jadi benar-benar paham.

Saya bisa merasakan, betapa beruntungnya saya, kita, dilahirkan sebagai orang Indonesia dengan sejuta warisan berharga yang nenek moyang kita turunkan kepada kita. Kita beruntung karena memiliki nenek moyang yang royal, tidak medit, untuk membagikan apa yang mereka punya saat itu kepada kita. Tugas kita sekarang hanya menjaga, merawat, melestarikan, dan menikmatinya! Sebegitu sulitkah tugas kita sekarang? Kita bahkan sekarang tidak perlu membangun sebuah bangunan megah dari tumpukan batu seperti candi Borobudur untuk berterimakasih kepada nenek moyang kita (seandainya diharuskanpun toh juga tidak akan sulit bagi kita dengan adanya berbagai alat modern yang kita punya saat ini).

Dan ada hal lain yang menambahkan kecintaan saya kepada negara kita, yaitu ketika seorang teman dari Belgia menceritakan tentang krisis di negara mereka tentang perselisihan antara orang Belgia yang berbahasa Belanda dan orang-orang Belgia yang berbahasa Perancis. Mereka membagi negara mereka, yang besarnya tidak lebih dari sepertiga luas pulau Jawa, menjadi dua bagian. Bahkan mereka memiliki bendera dengan simbol tersendiri untuk masing-masing kelompok. Mereka saling membenci dan saling mengklaim satu sama lain tentang siapa yang lebih berhak menjadi warga "asli" Belgia. Saya jadi berpikir, bagaimana jadinya jika negara mereka sebesar negara kita, Indonesia, dengan segala perbedaan yang kita miliki di negara ini, berbagai bahasa daerah, berbagai suku dan ras, berbagai adat. Sekali lagi, saya sangat bangga akan negara kita, Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia dengan semboyan Bhineka Tunggal Ika. :)

Saya yakin disana banyak teman-teman yang mau peduli, mungkin bisa saya sebutkan salah satunya adalah komunitas yang menamakan dirinya "Masyarakat Peduli Peninggalan Majapahit", yang berjuang untuk mempertahankan situs peninggalan Majapahit, termasuk situs Biting di kota Lumajang. Dan saya masih yakin, masih banyak juga yang sebenarnya peduli, tetapi tidak tahu harus berbuat apa, karena memang tidak punya kekuasaan untuk melakukan sesuatu. Tapi setidaknya kita bisa menunjukkan kepedulian kita dengan sebuah karya. Karya yang bisa kita tunjukkan kepada sahabat, kepada teman, kepada sesama, dan kepada dunia bahwa kita peduli

Just stop talking about what peoples do, but start to think what u can do.....

Another Temples in Central Java

Not just Borobudur n Prambanan, Indonesia still has another temples which is located in Central Java. I will present a little informations and pictures about some of these temples

1. CANDI KALASAN (Kalasan Temple)
Candi Kalasan, also known as Candi Kalibening is Buddhist temple located 13 km east of Yogyakarta on the way to Prambanan temple, on the south side of the main road 'Jalan Solo' between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Initially constructed during the late 8th century. The design of Candi Kalasan underwent a considerable number of changes during the remainder of Central Java's Classic Age. One notable feature of the temple is its octagon-shaped roof, which featured carved images of the Tathagatas facing the four cardinal points, each of which was flanked by a pair of Bodhisattvas in bas-relief. It has been suggested that the Bodhisattva serial on the upper part of Kalasan represent the famous Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism.

According to a Kalasan inscription dated 778 AD, written in Sanskrit using Pranagari Script, the temple was erected by the will of Guru Sang Raja Sailendravamçatilaka (the Jewel of Sailendra family) that succeed to persuade Maharaja Tejapurnapana Panangkaran (in other part of the inscription also called as Kariyana Panangkaran) to construct a holy building for the goddess (boddhisattvadevi) Tara and also build a vihara (monastery) for buddhist monks from Sailendra family's realm. Panangkaran awarded the Kalaça village to sangha (buddhist monastic community). According to the date of this inscription, Kalasan temple is the oldest among temples built in the Prambanan Plain

2. CANDI SEWU (Sewu Temple)

Candi Sewu is a complex of approximately 257 temples located in Central Java. The Javanese translation of Sewu is “one thousand temples,” although this was probably never the case. Part of the Prambanan tourist destination area, Sewu is located in Bugisan Village, approximately 800 kilometers north of Prambanan and only 2 kilometers to the north of the Prambanan Temple.

The Sewu historic area is nestled in a valley between the northern Merapi volcano and southern Sewu mountain range at the Yogikarta border. Sewu is the second largest Buddhist temple in the cental part of Java and its proximity to the Hindu Prambanan Temple seems to indicate a harmonius co-existence of Hindu and Buddhist followers throughout history in this area. A large number of other archeological sites surround the area.

The eighth century Sewu Temple compound is believed to have been a Royal Buddhist Temple and important religious area at the end of the rule of Rakai Pikitan, a Sanjaya Dynasty prince who married the Buddhist princess, Pramodwahardani of the Sailendra Dynasty. Also an important urban area and political domain during the mid-700′s AD, the temple complex is currently being restored after suffering significant damage from an earthquake in 2006. The main temple has been restored to prevent its collapse and is off limits to tourists due to safety concerns

Historians and archeologists believe that the Sewu temple was originally named “Manjusrighra”, meaning “The House of Manjusri,” translated from an inscription dating from 792 AD. Manjusri is a Boddhisatva or “enlightened being” in Buddhist teachings who is the incarnation of wisdom. A Boddhistva is one who self-denies the pleasure of nirvana or divine enlightenment in order to assist others in the achievement of an enlightened state. Manjusri is represented in illustrations with a book in one hand and a sword in the other to symbolize qualities of intelligence and harmony by cutting the bonds of ignorance. He is one of the more important dieties being defined as a spiritual friend, in addition to both mother and father to other Boddhisatvas.

The buildings within the complex are arranged in a Mandala or circular pattern to assist in the enlightenment of those who meditate within its walls. Mahadeva is the largest central temple, which faces east and is surrounded by four rings of smaller temples. These smaller temples are temples of the Gods. The main temple has five rooms and nine roofs each forming a stupa or dome at their crest

3. CANDI MENDUT (Mendut Temple)Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple, located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia . The temple is located about three kilometres east from Borobudur . 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.

Built around early ninth century AD, Mendut is the oldest of the three temples including Pawon and Borobudur. The Karangtengah inscription, the temple was built and finished during the reign of King Indra of Sailendra dynasty. The inscription dated 824 AD mentioned that King Indra of Sailendra has built a sacred building named Venuvana which means "bamboo forest". Dutch archaeologist JG de Casparis has connected the temple mentioned in Karangtengah inscription with Mendut temple.

In 1836 it was discovered as a ruins covered with bushes. The restoration of this temple was started at 1897 and it was finished at 1925. Some archaeologists who had conducted research on this temple were JG de Casparis, Theodoor van Erp, and Arisatya Yogaswara.

Today, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhist in Indonesia observeVesak annual ritual by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.

3. CANDI SARI (Sari Temple)Candi Sari (also named Candi Bendah) is a Buddhist temple located at Dusun (hamlet) Bendan, Tirtomartani village, Kalasan, Sleman regency,Yogyakarta. It is located about 130 meters north east from Kalasan temple. This temple was a two story building with wooden beams, floors, stairs completed with windows and doors; all from organic materials which now are decayed and gone. It is strongly suggested that the original function of this building was a vihara (Buddhist Monastery), a dwelling place for Monks. The temple's name Sari or Saré translated as "to sleep" in Javanese also confirmed the habitation nature of the building.

Historians suggested that this temple built around the same time with Kalasan temple. The Kalasan inscript dated 778 AD, pranagari script written in sanskrit, mentioned about the temple was erected by the will of Guru Sang Raja Sailendravamçatilaka (the Jewel of Sailendra family) that succeed to persuade Maharaja Tejapurnapana Panangkaran(in other part of the inscription also called as Kariyana Panangkaran) to construct a holy building for the goddess (boddhisattvadevi) Tara and also build a vihara (monastery) for Buddhist monks from Sailendra family's realm. Panangkaran awarded the Kalaça village to sangha (Buddhist monastic community). Based from this inscription, candi Sari probably served as monastery for monks served the Buddhist temple dedicated for Tara (Kalasan temple) nearby.

The ruins were discovered in early 20's, and in 1929, the effort to reconstruct the temple began and finished in 1930. However it was incomplete because many parts are missing including outer base that surrounds the temple, also the extended front room and front stairs that once projected from the east wall of the temple.

4.CANDI PLAOSAN (Plaosan Temple)Candi Plaosan, also known as the 'Plaosan Complex', is one of the Buddhist temples located in Bugisan village, Prambanan district, Central Java, Indonesia. Candi Plaosan covers an area of 2,000 square meters with an elevation of 148 meters above sea level. The Dengok river is located nearby, about 200 meters away. Candi Plaosan is surrounded by paddy fields along with vegetation such as banana and corn.
The temple was built by Rakai Pikatan for his empress, has some uniqueness compared to other temples. The two main temples are "twins" as well as a terrace with a smooth surface. In this temple there are also figures Vajrapani, Amitbha, and Prajnaparamitha.
The Plaosan complex is an ensemble of two Buddhist temples, Plaosan Lor and Plaosan Kidul. The temples are separated by a road; Plaosan Lor is located in the North and Plaosan Kidul in the South. Plaosan Lor consists of two main temples and an open area known as a mandapa. Both temples have an entrance, a gate, and the guardian statue known as Dwarapala. Plaosan Lor and Plaosan Kidul are considered to originally be one complex.

5. CANDI PAWON (Pawon Temple)

Pawon (known locally as Candi Pawon) is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. Located 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 connected with the other two temples, all of which were built during the Sailendra dynasty (8th–9th centuries).Examines the detail and style of its carving this temple is slightly older than Borobudur.

The three temples were located on a straight line, suggesting there was a symbolic meaning that binds these temples.

"Between Mendut and Borobudur stands Pawon temple, a jewel of Javanese temple architecture. Most probably, this temple served to purify the mind prior to ascending Borobudur."

The original name of this Buddhist shrine is uncertain. Pawon literally means "kitchen" in Javanese, which is derived from the root word awu or dust. The connection to the word "dust" also suggests that this temple was probably built as a tomb or mortuary temple for a king.^[3]. Pawon from the word Per-awu-an (place that contains dust), a temple that houses the dust of cremated king. However who was the personage that entombed here is still unknown. Local people name this temple as "Bajranalan" based on the name of the village. Bajranalan is derived from the sanskrit word Vajra (thunder or also a Buddhist ceremonial tool) and Anala (fire, flame).

In the contemporary era during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak annual ritual by walking from Mendut passing through Pawon and ends at Borobudur.

6. CANDI SAMBISARI (Sambisari Temple)Sambisari is a 9th century Hindu temple located at Sambisari hamlet, Purwomartani village, Kalasan, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia . The temple was buried about five metres underground. Parts of the original temple have been excavated . The temple is located about 8 km east of Yogyakarta near Adisucipto International Airport.

The temple was accidentally discovered in July 1966 by a farmer when working on land that belongs to Karyowinangun. His hoe hit the carved stone which was a part of the buried temple ruins.The news of discovery reached the Archaeology office in Prambanan and the area was secured. The excavation and reconstruction works was completed in March 1987. The temple is thought to have been buried by an eruption of volcanic ash from the nearby Mount Merapi.

The discovery of Sambisari temple probably was the most exciting archaeological findings in Yogyakarta in recent years, leading to speculation about whether there are other ancient temples still underground in the vicinity, buried under Mount Merapi volcanic ash.

Based on the architecture style and ornaments of the building that resembles those on Prambanan, the findings of Hindu statues around the temple walls, and the lingga-yoni inside the main temple; historians concluded that Sambisari was a Shivaite Hindu temple built around first or second decade of 9th century (circa 812-838). This conclusion was supported by the findings of gold plate in vicinity engraved with letters that according to paleography was used in early 9th century ancient Java.

According to Wanua tengah inscription III dated 908 that contains the name of kings that ruled Mataram kingdom, the temple was probably built during the reign of Rakai garung (ruled 828-846). However, historians also consider that the construction of a temple was not always issued by a king. Lesser nobles might have also ordered and funded the construction.

7. CANDI GEDONG SONGO (Gedong Songo Temle)

This is a resort on the slope of mount Ungaran, about 900 meters above sea level. Gedong Songo (nine buildings), a group of small 8th century Hindu Javanese temples, can be reached either by car or on horseback from the town. Built at about the same time as the temples of the Dieng complex, Gedong Songo is one of the most beautifully sited temple complexes in Central Java and the views alone are worth the trip. Gedung Songo ('Nine Buildings') belong to the earliest antiquities of Java, they follow up the temples on the Dieng Plateau directly, for what about time. They were also built high in the mountains in an area full with volcanic activity; and they were also from Hinduist origin. But where the temples on Dieng Plateau are somewhat squeezed into a foggy valley, Gedung Songo are spread over the higher parts of the mountains, which guarantee a splendid view. On clear days, the horizon is one long row of volcanoes, from mount Lawu in the east, towards mount Sumbing, mount Sundoro and Dieng Plateau in the west.

The temples were built between 730 and 780, the first temple excepted, which could have been built some 30 years later. Gunung Songo is not the original name and also doesn't point at the number of structures. The number nine has a special meaning in the Javanese culture, in which there is a strong attachment to numbers. The temples are located at about the same distance from each other (100 meters, 200 meters) on a naturally formed terrace of edge of a mountain. (source : indonesia-tourism.com)

8. CANDI SUKUH (Sukuh Temple)Sukuh temple is located in Berjo Village, Argoyoso district, in the slope of mount Lawu 35 Km east of Solo at a height about 910 m above sea level. The temple stretches from the east to the west with the main gate in the west. Sukuh Temple is decorated with wayang stone carvings of Hindu origin, the only erotic temple in Java. The stepped pyramid is like the ones in South America of the Maya culture. The temples are distinctive compared with other ancient temples in Central Java such as Borobudur and Prambanan, and its uniqueness lies in the landscaping, statuettes, and relief. The temples occupy an 11,000m2 area and consist of three terraces, each connected with an ascending alley. The most influential part is the last terrace, at the very back of the compound. At this very sacred area, once erected a homogenous phallic statue, which is now displayed at the National Museum, Jakarta. Another interesting and controversial factor of this historical site is the artistic relief on its floor, which depict male and female organs symbolizing the birth of life. This kind of construction is common in prehistoric time, especially in the megalithic era of pundan berundak (terrace grave). The temple consist of three terraces, the first terrace is the lowest level, followed by the second and the third above it. The terrace are connected with stairs to each other, each of it has an entrance gate. The temple has believed to be constructed in the 15th century during the declining years of Majapahit Empire. The relief found beside the first gate are believed had mean (sengkalan) reads Gapura Buta Aban Wong and Gapura Buta Anahut Bubut, meaning the year of 1359 saka or 1437 AD. (source : indonesia-tourism.com)

Karimunjawa Island, Unspoilt National Marine Park

Karimunjawa is an archipelago of 27 islands in the Java Sea, Indonesia, approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Jepara. The islands' name means 'a stone's throw from Java' in Javanese. They have a total land area of 78 km². The main island is known as Karimun (2,700 ha), while the second largest island is Kemujan (1,400 ha). The islands' population is 6,632 (as of 1997) who inhabit seven of the islands.

The natural panorama, under water beauty, various sea organisms, mangrove forests, all are still be natural and pure, so that Karimunjawa now becoming a sea national park. The average temperature in this area is about 26 until 30 degrees Celcius, with minimum temperature is 22 Celcius and maximum is 34 Celcius. The fascination of Karimunjawa is its flora and fauna. It can be seen from five species of flora ecosystem, those are; coral reef ecosystem, forest of mangrove, coastal forest, field-ponder and lowland forest. On the other side, there are many kinds of fauna, like long tail monkey, deer, and also aquatic fauna which is consisting of 242 decorative fish types and 133 kinds of aquatic biota and there are also 2 types of turtles which live in National Park ecosystem of Karimunjawa island.

With its beautiful nature which relatively pure, Karimunjawa becomes an interested place that offering maritime tourism object and natural adventure. Besides, local community lived in Karimunjawa with their unique traditions and culture, bring some fascinations to this place. Maritime objects offer various tourism activities and water sports. Some are below.

- Diving
This activity can be done in northern and western part of Karimunjawa island, eastern part Menjangan Besar island, around of Menjangan Kecil island, southern and western part of Geleang, western part of Bengkoang island, western part of Parang island, eastern part Kembar island, around of Katang island, northern and eastern part of Krakal Kecil island , and western part of Kumbang island.

- Snorkling
This activity can be done in Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil island, western part of Bengkoang island, around of Kembar island, and northern and eastern part of Krakal Kecil island.

- Swimming
Locations used by swimming activity are eastern and southern part of Karimunjawa island, southern and western part of Menjangan Kecil island, western of Tengah island, around of Parang island, Kembar island, and Kumbang island.

- Fishing
Tourists can do this activity in around of Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil island, Menyawakan island, Kemujan island, Parang island, around of Kembar island, and western part of Bengkoang island.

- Sunbathing
Almost all the coasts in Karimunjawa island have white sands with long coast line. This situation made a lot of Karimunjawa coasts are right places for sunbathing, watching the sunset, or sunrise.

- Roaming the Sea
For anyone who can not swim and dive, using glass bottom boat can be a good reason to roam the sea in Karimunjawa. The tourists are able to see the under water scenery. It's really fantastic for whom like fishing, snorkling, and diving.

- Watching Under Water Aquarium
Menjangan Besar island have a location where an under water aquarium resides. Here, the tourists can see beauty of aquatic faunas, the life of sharks, and others.

Prambanan, The Most Beautiful Hindu Temple in the World

Prambanan, named after the village, is the biggest temple complex in Java. It is actually a huge Hindu temple complex about 15 km north-east of Yogyakarta. Dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities, this temple with its decorated reliefs is an outstanding example of Siva art in Indonesia and the region.

It was built in the 9th century and designed as three concentric squares. In all there are 224 temples in the entire complex. The inner square contains 16 temples, the most significant being the 47 m high central Siva temple flanked to the north by the Brahma temple and to the south by the Vishnu temple. These three ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture are locally referred to as the Prambanan Temple or Rorojonggrang Temple (Slender Maiden); the compound was deserted soon after it was completed, possibly owing to the eruption of nearby Mount Merapi.

A square platform is divided into concentric courts by square-plane walls. In the middle of the last enceinte stand the temples dedicated to the three great Hindu gods and three small temples dedicated to their animal vehicles (Bull for Siva, Eagle for Brahma and Swan for Vishnu). Other minor temples were located at the entrance gates or outside the central enceinte (four ensembles).

The Siva temple had four statues: located in the centre chamber is the Siva statue; in the north chamber stands the Dewi Durga Mahisasuramardhini statue; in the west chamber stands the Ganesya statue; and the south chamber contains the statue of Agastya. Inside the Brahma temple there is Brahma statue, and in the Vishnu temple there is the Vishnu statue. In the Vishnu temple is carved the story of Kresnayana, while the Brahma temple houses the continuous story of the Ramayana. The temples of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma are decorated with reliefs illustrating the Ramayana period (history of the Hindu hero Rama, written around 300).

The neighbouring Buddhist ensemble at Sewu comprises a central temple surrounded by a multitude of minor temples. Surprisingly, it shares many design attributes with the Hindu Roro Joggrang Temple, perhaps indicating the degree to which such temples also reflect state policies and control. Three other temples in ruins set between Sewu and Roro Joggrang complete the ensemble around Prambanan: Lumbuna, Burah and Asu.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

Borobudur, The Greatest Buddhist Monument in The World

Borobudur is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. Founded by a king of the Saliendra dynasty, it was built to honour the glory of both the Buddha and its founder, a true king Bodhisattva. The name Borobudur is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words vihara Buddha uhr, meaning the Buddhist monastery on the hill. Borobudur temple is located in Muntilan, Magelang, and is about 42 km from Yogyakarta city.

This colossal temple was built between AD 750 and 842: 300 years before Cambodia's Angkor Wat, 400 years before work had begun on the great European cathedrals. Little is known about its early history except that a huge army of workers worked in the tropical heat to shift and carve the 60,000 m³ of stone. At the beginning of the 11th century AD, because of the political situation in Central Java, divine monuments in that area, including the Borobudur Temple became completely neglected and given over to decay. The Sanctuary was exposed to volcanic eruption and other ravages of nature. The temple was not rediscovered until the 19th century. A first restoration campaign, supervised by Theodor van Erp, was undertaken shortly after the turn of the century. A second one was led more recently (1973-82).

A harmonious marriage of stupas, temple-mountain and the ritual diagram, this temple complex was built on several levels around a hill which forms a natural centre. The first level above the base comprises five square terraces, graduated in size and forming the base of a pyramid. Above this level are three concentric circular platforms crowned by the main stupa. Stairways provide access to this monumental stupa. The base and the balustrades enclosing the square terraces are decorated in reliefs sculpted in the stone. They illustrate the different phases of the soul's progression towards redemption and episodes from the life of Buddha. The circular terraces are decorated with no fewer than 72 openwork stupas each containing a statue of Buddha.

Stylistically the art of Borobudur is a tributary of Indian influences (Gupta and post-Gupta styles). The walls of Borobudur are sculptured in bas-reliefs, extending over a total length of 6 km. It has been hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece. The narratives reliefs on the main walls read from the right to left, those on the balustrade from left to right. This was done for the purpose of the Pradaksina, the ritual circumambulation which the pilgrims make moving on the clockwise and keeping the sanctuary to the right.

The Karmawibangga reliefs on the hidden foot are devoted to the law of karma. The Lalitavistara series do not provide a complete biography of the Buddha, from the Hushita heaven and end his sermon in the Deer Park near the Benares. Jataka are stories about the Buddha before he was born as Prince Sidharta. Awadana are similar to Jataka, but the main figure is not the Boddhisatva, and the saintly deeds are attributed to other legendary persons.

The stories are compiled in the Dvijavadana (Glorious Heavenly Acts) and the Awadana Sataka (Hundred Awadanas). The first twenty panels in the lower series of the first gallery depict, the Sudhanakumaravadana. The series of reliefs covering the wall of the second gallery is devoted to Sudhana's tireless wanderings in search of the Highest Perfect Wisdom. The story is continued on the wall and balustrade of the third and fourth galleries. Its depiction in most of the 460 panels is based on the holy Nahayana text Gandavyuha, the concluding scenes being derived from another text, the Badracari.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

Myths of Borobudur

Borobudur has several myths that circulate in the community around the temple. The most famous myth is Kunto Bimo, the statue in a stupa which is said to grant the request. The stupa is right on the terrace of the first circle. According to the story if we managed to touch certain parts of the statue on it while praying for the request, then our wishes will come true. The part is hand positions or mudras for men, and soles of the feet for women.

There are also myths about Singa Urung, is a pair of stone lions on the right and left of the ascent of the temple. According to the story, two lovers who passes between the two statues will not come to the marriage level. Urung in the Java language can be interpreted fail.

Geography of Indonesia

Indonesia lies between latitudes 11°S and 6°N, and longitudes 95°E and 141°E. It consists of 17,508 islands, about 6,000 of which are inhabited. These are scattered over both sides of the equator. The largest are Java, Sumatra, Borneo (shared with Brunei and Malaysia), New Guinea (shared with Papua New Guinea), and Sulawesi. Indonesia shares land borders with Malaysia on Borneo, Papua New Guinea on the island of New Guinea, and East Timor on the island of Timor. Indonesia shares maritime borders across narrow straits with Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines to the north, and with Australia to the south. The capital, Jakarta, is on Java and is the nation's largest city, followed by Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.

At 1,919,440 square kilometers (741,050 sq mi), Indonesia is the world's 16th-largest country in terms of land area. Its average population density is 134 people per square kilometer (347 per sq mi), 79th in the world, although Java, the world's most populous island, has a population density of 940 people per square kilometer (2,435 per sq mi). At 4,884 metres (16,024 ft), Puncak Jaya in Papua is Indonesia's highest peak, and Lake Toba in Sumatra its largest lake, with an area of 1,145 square kilometers (442 sq mi). The country's largest rivers are in Kalimantan, and include the Mahakam and Barito; such rivers are communication and transport links between the island's river settlements.^[74]

Indonesia's location on the edges of the Pacific, Eurasian, and Australian tectonic plates makes it the site of numerous volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Indonesia has at least 150 active volcanoes, including Krakatoa and Tambora, both famous for their devastating eruptions in the 19th century. The eruption of the Toba supervolcano, approximately 70,000 years ago, was one of the largest eruptions ever, and a global catastrophe. Recent disasters due to seismic activity include the 2004 tsunami that killed an estimated 167,736 in northern Sumatra, and the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006. However, volcanic ash is a major contributor to the high agricultural fertility that has historically sustained the high population densities of Java and Bali.

Lying along the equator, Indonesia has a tropical climate, with two distinct monsoonal wet and dry seasons. Average annual rainfall in the lowlands varies from 1,780–3,175 millimeters (70–125 in), and up to 6,100 millimeters (240 in) in mountainous regions. Mountainous areas—particularly in the west coast of Sumatra, West Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua—receive the highest rainfall. Humidity is generally high, averaging about 80%. Temperatures vary little throughout the year; the average daily temperature range of Jakarta is 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).