The Structure of Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java

1. FORM The Borobudur is erected on a hill and has the form of a step-pyramid. People who want to perform religious duties may enter the holy monuments, but the Borobudur is quite different from other sanctuaries. Since it has no room to receive visitors, these people ascent to a higher storey by means of staircases, found in the middle of each of the four sides. The Borobudur is in reality stupa, but it differs from the usual one with the form of a hemisphere, since its structure consists of a step-pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central dagob forming the summit. But all these parts form a unity and as a whole the Borobudur resembles a stupa. Besides being the highest symbol of Buddhism, The Borobudur stupa is also a replica of the universe. According to Buddhist cosmology the universe is devided into three major divisions Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu dan Arupadhatu. Kamadhatu is the phenomenal world for common people, the foot or base of the Borobudur represents this phenomenal world. Rupadhatu is the transitional sphere in which human beings are released from wordly matters; this sphere is represented by the four rectangular storeys. Arupadhatu is the highest sphere, the abode of Gods; the three circular terraces and the central dagob form the Arupadhatu. The base of monument is 123 m². It is 31,5 m high or 42 m including the pinnacle, of which a part missing. Further 55.000 m³ andesit is the material used for the edifice.

2. KAMADHATU The Original Kamadhatu is unlike the present one. The additional heavy wall stone 11.600 m³, covering the original base is intended to support the edifice and to prevent it from sliding off before its completion. In 1885 J.W. Yzerman happened to discover the original foot under the stone wall mentioned above. On the original base are 160 reliefs depicting scenes of Karmawibhangga, the law of cause and effect. These reliefs were photographed by Chepas in 1891 after having taken away the additional wall. Nowadays a part of the original base on the south-eastern side of the Borobudur is still visible; it was disclosed during the Japanese occupation. Brief inscriptions were found above one fourth of these reliefs indicating instructions for the sculptors about the kind of scene they had to carve there. There are indications among these reliefs that they were not completed, probably because the Borobudur was sliding off, so that they were forced to cover the original base before the reliefs were finished. There are two different theories on the reason of covering the base : one is for technical reasons and the other is religious ones.

3. RUPADHATU It consists of four square galleries, of which the outer parts are bordered by balustrades. There on is a chain of niches, decorated with miniature dagobs at the top, which contain Buddha images. In the middle of each gallery, and on all four sides of the monument, is a staircase leading to a higher part of the edifice. Opposite to the balustrades, the walls are decorated with reliefs depicting stories from Sanskrit manuscripts : Gandhawyuha, Lalitawistara, Jataka and Awadana. Besides, the Rupadhatu is adorned with a great variety of ornaments : Kalamakara, foliage, spiral and flowers. 4. ARUPADHATU Before you enter the Arupadhatu, you have to pass through a transitional region: a plateau of which the outer border is square, while the inner wall is circular, without beginning but also without end. Then follows the domain Arupadhatu. The Atmosphere is superlative, tranquil and pure. You have entered into a world for meditation. Noteworthy is the striking difference between the other spheres and the Arupadhatu. The three circular terraces have neither reliefs nor ornaments. They are adorned with 72 latticed dagobs, arranged in three concentric circles and surrounding the main stupa. The three terraces contain successively 32, 24 and 16 dagobs, containing Buddha images. The holes in the dagobs of the third or uppermost series sre squares, while the harmikas (the part between the body and the pinnacle) are octagonal. The holes in the dagobs of the first and seconds rows are lozenges, and the harmikas are square. The purpose of these differences is unknown. 5. MAIN STUPA The main stupa is bigger than the others and is situated in the centre forming the crown of the monument. It is 9,90 M in diameter and is 7 M high to the pinnacle. It is placed on a double lotus and the pinnacle is erected on a double harmika. The pinnacle seems to have ended in three umbrellas or chattras in succession. This uppermost part of the Borobudur is no more. The main stupa is firmly closed. Inside is an open space that is empty now. People say that it is a repository for a statue or relic, but this statement is not very convincing. Hartmann, resident of Kedu made investigations about the content of the main stupa in 1842, but written reports were missing. Accordingly all theories abou the content of the main stupa are not convincing.