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What do the levels of the Borobudur monument symbolize?
The monument's three divisions symbolize the three "realms" of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kamadhatu (the world of desires), Rupadhatu (the world of forms), and finally Arupadhatu (the formless world). Ordinary sentient beings live out their lives on the lowest level, the realm of desire.
What does Borobudur temple represent?
Collectively, Borobudur, Pawon, and Mendut symbolize the path the individual takes in attaining Nirvana. All three temples lie in a straight line as well. Another Buddhist temple - Ngawen, which dates from the 8th century CE, is located just 10 km (6 miles) from the main temple at Borobudur.
What is the lowest level of the temple of Borobudur?
The lowest level of Borobudur represent Kamadhatu (the world of desire), and is decorated with 160 reliefs showing ugly scenes of human desire and their karmic consequences. The illustrations are supposed to motivate the pilgrim to escape their earthly shackles for Nirvana.
What is the representation of Borobudur structure?
Borobudur is built as a single great stupa. When viewed from above, it takes the form of a colossal tantric Buddhist mandala, representing both the nature of mind and the Buddhist cosmology.
How many levels does Borobudur temple have mention all of them with the meaning?
Built with about 2,000,000 cubic feet (56,600 cubic metres) of gray volcanic stone, Borobudur encloses a small hill and is shaped like a stepped pyramid with three major levels—a square base, a middle level of five square terraces, and an upper level of three circular terraces—totaling, in effect, nine lesser sections ...
What are the most emphasizes principles in Borobudur temple?
The most essential tenet the religion promulgates is the impermanent, transient nature of existence.
Is Borobudur 7 Wonders of the world?
The biggest Budhist temple in the world. It is that big you have to prepare your stamina to see the entire temple. This grandiose temple has hundreds of ladders, and unbelievable historic carvings on its wall, telling the story and Buddhist teachings.
Where is the biggest Buddhist temple in the world?
Borobudur temple at Magelang, Indonesia was the largest Buddhist Temple in the world and was one of the 7 wonders by UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brahmavihara-Arama temple at Bali, Indonesia was the Buddhist Temple with traditional Balinese influence. Maya Devi temple at Lumbini, Nepal was the birthplace of Buddha.
What makes Borobudur temple so well known in the world?
The temple is well-known because it is enormous, for one thing. There are nine different levels, and it is a three-mile walk to wind one's way from the base to the stupa at the top. Each of the three main stages of the temple stands for one of the stages on a Buddhist's path to enlightenment.
What are the unique features of Borobudur Temple?
This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa.
How do you pronounce Borobudur?
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What characteristics are different or common in Borobudur?
There are no internal cell shrines, and the terraces are solid. Borobudur is thus a Buddhist stupa in the Indian sense. Each of the square terraces is enclosed in a high wall with pavilions and niches along the whole perimeter, which prevents the visitor on one level from seeing into any of the other levels.
What makes Borobudur temple well known?
The temple is well-known because it is enormous, for one thing. There are nine different levels, and it is a three-mile walk to wind one's way from the base to the stupa at the top. Each of the three main stages of the temple stands for one of the stages on a Buddhist's path to enlightenment.
How does the Borobudur reflect the Buddhist religion?
The monument is built to represent the universe according to Buddhist cosmology, divided into the Spheres of Desire, Form and Formlessness. Kamadhatu, the Sphere of Desire, is represented by the panels of the hidden base, which depict man's concern for worldly desires and pleasures.
Is Borobudur temple is the Seven Wonders of the world?
Located on the island of Java, the magnificent Borobudur temple is the world's biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world's seven wonders. The temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills.
Is Borobudur a sacred place?
The Borobudur Compounds, the sacred place of Buddhism is one of the world's largest Buddhist temples and is known as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.
Why is Borobudur forgotten?
Another reason why big temple like Borobudur forgotten is socio-cultural factor. Since time has changed, Sanskrit that used to be the language of Ancient Mataram Kingdom was no longer spoken, whereas the inscription that shows the location of Borobudur is written in Sanskrit. Thefore, no one knows about the location Borobudur and there's no comprehensive research about it before Dutch colonial period.
Why was the Borobdur temple buried?
In 1006 AD, Mount Merapi had erupted. So the Borobdur temple was allegedly buried in lava and disappeared from civilization. Since then no one knows the existence of the temple because many people around the temple also died and some were displaced.
When was Borobudur built?
Borobudur Temple was built in 750 AD by an architect named Gunadharma, from the Syailendra dynasty. This temple is the largest Buddhist temple monument during the Ancient Mataram Kingdom reign.
What is the cause of the burial of Borobudir Temple?
Another historical clue, which shows the cause of the burial of Borobudir Temple is the Calcutta inscription. In the Calcutta Inscription that reads Awama which means sea of milk says that possibility. The word Awama is then interpreted as Merapi's lava which then allows Borobudur to be buried in cold lava.
What is the number 1006?
There are several things that led to the emergence of the number 1006 which in the inscriptions or old manuscripts is called the pralaya (great disaster), the disaster is considered to be related to the history of the eruption of Merapi and makes it considered as a truth.
What does the stupa symbolise?
The top consists of one giant, plain, solid stupa, symbolizing Perfection. This stupa is, poetically, empty. This symbolizes the highest state of wisdom, which is freedom from all forms, shapes, desires and therefore from the circle of Samsara. The perfect state of existence, according to this, is eternal nothingness.
What does Arupadhatu mean?
Arupadhatu, the realm of no forms. This tier symbolizes the stage where humans have freed themselves from both forms and desires, but haven’t yet reached Nirvana. There are giant stupas with holes, with a statue of Buddha meditating within each of them- symbolizes the Nirvana that’s seen in glimpses (like seeing the statue through the holes), but it being still out of reach
How much did Germany contribute to UNESCO?
In June, Germany agreed to contribute $130,000 to UNESCO for the second phase of rehabilitation, in which six experts in stone conservation, microbiology, structural engineering and chemical engineering would spend a week in Borobudur in June, then return for another visit in September or October.
What are the three Buddhist temples in the region?
During the restoration in the early 20th century, it was discovered that three Buddhist temples in the region, Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut, are positioned along a straight line. A ritual relationship between the three temples must have existed, although the exact ritual process is unknown.
How many tourists visited the Vesak ceremony in Indonesia?
Vesak ceremony at Borobudur. The monument is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia. In 1974, 260,000 tourists, of whom 36,000 were foreigners, visited the monument. The figure climbed to 2.5 million visitors annually (80% were domestic tourists) in the mid-1990s, before the country's economic crisis.
What is the origin of the name Borobudur?
The name Borobudur was first written in Raffles 's book on Javan history.
How many relief panels are there in Borobudur?
The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades. Borobudur has one of the largest and most complete ensembles of Buddhist reliefs in the world.
What is the largest Buddhist temple in the world?
Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and ranks with Bagan in Myanmar and Angkor Wat in Cambodia as one of the great archeological sites of Southeast Asia. Borobudur remains popular for pilgrimage, with Buddhists in Indonesia celebrating Vesak Day at the monument.
Why are the stairs in Borobudur so abrasive?
In August 2014, the Conservation Authority of Borobudur reported some severe abrasion of the stone stairs caused by the scraping of visitors' footwear. The conservation authority planned to install wooden stairs to cover and protect the original stone stairs, just like those installed in Angkor Wat.
How many levels of Borobudur are there?
Aside from its enchanting beauty and high artistic value, Borobodur is a structure rich in history, culture and religion. The ten levels of Borobudur are believed to be representations of the Mahayana school of philosophy which describe the ten levels of Bodhisattva that must be passed to attain the Buddhist perfection.
What is the largest Buddhist temple in the world?
Understanding the Thousands of Relief Panels of Borobudur Temple is a majestic masterpiece. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Borobodur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and the single most visited spot in Indonesia. 75 years in the making, Borobudur is constructed from 2 million intricately carved volcanic rocks, and assembled using a complex interlocking technique without the use of cement or mortar. Aside from its enchanting beauty and high artistic value, Borobodur is a structure rich in history, culture and religion.
Why is the Borobodur temple worth visiting?
Because of the uniqueness, beauty, historic value and priceless works of art manifested in Borobodur , this temple is certainly worth of the title as one of the greatest masterpieces of Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
How to read the panels on the Borobudur temple?
Reading the panels on the Borobudur temple walls requires a specific technique. Reading the panels on the temple walls requires a specific technique. The panels on the wall read from left to right, while those on the. balustrade read from right to left, conforming with the pradaksina, a ritual performed by pilgrims who move in a clockwise ...
What is the architecture of Borobudur?
Borobodur also has six square courtyards, three circular ones, and a main courtyard within a stupa at the temple’s peak. The entire structure is formed in the shape of a giant twirling staircase, a style of architecture from prehistoric Indonesia.
What is the significance of the narrative panels?
The narrative panels tell the story of Sudhana and Manohara – every scene of the story, a sculpted work of art of extraordinary value. UNESCO has recognized these panels as the largest and most comprehensive ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world.
How many reliefs are there in Bhadracari?
These panels are based on the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. Bhadracari is a row of 460 neatly carved reliefs along the walls and balustrades. These reliefs are scattered throughout various levels of. the temple and tell of Sudhana, the son of a wealthy merchant, who wanders in quest of the ultimate knowledge or truth.
What is the symbolism of Borobudur?
The Borobudur monument combines the symbolic forms of the stupa (a Buddhist commemorative mound usually containing holy relics), the temple mountain (based on Mount Meru of Hindu mythology), and the mandala ( a mystic Buddhist symbol of the universe, combining the square as earth and the circle as heaven). The style of Borobudur was influenced by ...
What is the most impressive monument ever created?
Borobudur is one of the most impressive monuments ever created by humans. It is both a temple and a complete exposition of doctrine, designed as a whole, and completed as it was designed, with only one major afterthought. It seems to have provided a…
How many levels are there in Borobudur?
It is both a temple and a complete exposition... Built with about 2,000,000 cubic feet (56,600 cubic metres) of gray volcanic stone, Borobudur encloses a small hill and is shaped like a stepped pyramid with three major levels—a square base, a middle level of five square terraces, and an upper level of three circular terraces—totaling, in effect, ...
What is the significance of the Waicak ceremony?
During the Waicak ceremony, which occurs once a year during a full moon, thousands of saffron-robed Buddhist monks walk in solemn procession to Borobudur to commemorate the Buddha’s birth, death, and enlightenment. Sculptures at Borobudur, central Java, Indonesia. Stupas at Borobudur, central Java, Indonesia.
When was Borobudur built?
Borobudur Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Borobudur was constructed between about 778 and 850 ce , under the Shailendra dynasty. It was buried under volcanic ash from about 1000 and overgrown with vegetation until discovered by the English lieutenant governor Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1814.
How many levels are there in the Bodhisattva?
Each of the monument’s three main levels represents a stage on the way to the bodhisattva ideal of enlightenment; symbolizing this spiritual journey, a pilgrim begins at the eastern stairway and walks clockwise around each of the monument’s nine levels before reaching the top, a distance of more than 3 miles (5 km).
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Why was Borobudur abandoned?
For centuries, Borobudur laid hidden under layers of volcanic ash and jungle vegetation. The exact reason behind its abandonment remains a mystery. Sometime between 928 and 1006 AD, King Mpu Sindok relocated the capital of Medang Kingdom to the region of East Java after a string of volcanic eruptions; it is not confirmed whether this is the cause, but various sources mention this as the most likely period of the abandonment.
How many stupas are there in Borobudur?
Seventy-two small stupas surround one large central stupa on the uppermost platform. The apex of the central stupa is the highest point of Borobudur temple, measuring 35 metres above ground level. Each and every stupa is bell-shaped and perforated by decorative openings. Inside each pierced enclosure sits a statue of the Buddha.
How many cubic metres of andesite stones were used to build the Borobudur Temple?
Around 55,000 cubic metres of andesite stones were taken from adjacent stone quarries to build the Borobudur temple. Each was cut to size, transported to the site and laid without mortar. Knobs, dovetails, and indentations were used to form joints between stones. The roof of niches, stupas, and arched gateways was constructed in the corbelling method. After the building had been completed, reliefs were created in situ.
What is the purpose of the encasement base?
The purpose of the encasement remains unknown, but it was first assumed to be an effort to prevent the monument from being subsided into the hill. Regardless, the encasement base was made with meticulous design and with religious and aesthetic consideration.
Where is the Borobudur Temple?
By Nadia Fauzia. 5/11/2020. Borobudur is one of the most remarkable Buddhist monuments in the world. Situated in the Kedu Valley, Central Java, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let’s delve deeper into the history and architecture of the ancient wonder of Indonesia.
What is the architecture of Borobudur?
Borobudur is built as a single great stupa. When viewed from above, it takes the form of a colossal tantric Buddhist mandala, representing both the nature of mind and the Buddhist cosmology.
What are the three realms of Buddhist cosmology?
The monument's three divisions emblematize the three realms of Buddhist cosmology. The first one is Kāmadhātu, or The Realm of Desires, represented by the base. The second is Rūpadhātu, or The Realm of Forms, represented by the five square platforms (the body).
What do stupas represent?
However, the symbolization of enlightenment these stupas represent is not intended to be merely aesthetic. Buddhist stupas and mandalas are understood as “spiritual technologies” that harness spiritual “energies” in the creation of sacred space. The repetition of form and the circumabulatory progress of the pilgrim mimic, and thereby access, the cosmological as a microcosm. The clockwise movement around the cosmic center reproduces the macrocosmic path of the sun. Thus, when one emerges from the dark galleries representing the realms of desire and form into the light of the “formless” circular open air upper walkways, the material effect of light on one’s physical form merges concomitantly with the spiritual enlightenment generated by the metaphysical journey of the sacred path.
What is the meaning of the path of enlightenment?
Enlightenment entails embracing the concept of “no-self” ( anattā ), understood to be at the heart of eliminating the suffering and dissatisfaction ( dukkha) of sentient beings. This is the ultimate message expressed in the sacred scriptures that are solidified in artistic magnificence along the stone walls and railings of Borobudur. The physical movement of circumambulating the structure symbolizes the non-physical—or spiritual—path of enlightenment. In a real sense, then, the concept of path within Borobudur monumentalizes the impermanent. Like a river that is never the same from moment to moment, to physically move along the path while meditating on the spiritual message of the sutras is meant to help one fully embrace the Buddha’s paradoxical message of impermanence.
What is the brilliance of Borobudur Mandala?
The brilliance of the site can be found in how the Borobudur mandala blends the metaphysical and physical, the symbolic and the material, the cosmological and the earthly within the structure of its physical setting and the framework of spiritual paradox. Notes:
How many stupas are there in the temple?
Moving past the base and through the four galleries, the devotee emerges onto the three upper terraces, encountering 72 stupas each containing a three-dimensional sculpture of a seated Buddha within a stone latticework. At the temple’s apex sits the large central stupa, a symbol of the enlightened mind.
What does the movement of the structure symbolize?
The physical movement of circumambulating the structure symbolizes the non-physical—or spiritual—path of enlightenment. In a real sense, then, the concept of path within Borobudur monumentalizes the impermanent.
What is the theme of the Gandavyuha Sutra?
The last chapter of a larger text called the Flower Garland Sutra, it relates the story of Suddhana, a youth who commences a journey to meet fifty-three teachers while seeking the path to enlightenment. The concept of “path” is a central theme in the text. He eventually meets an enlightened being (bodhisattva) named Samantabadhra. Excerpts from the larger sutra illustrate the concepts under discussion:
What does Buddha say about sentient beings?
All sentient beings are on false paths—Buddha shows them the right path, inconceivable, causing all worlds to be vessels of truth...”
Why was Borobudur abandoned?
Some theorize that volcanic eruptions in the area caused the Mataram Kingdom to move its capital away from Borobudur in the 10th or 11th century, which may have decreased the temple’s religious significance. Furthermore, the arrival of Islam in the 9th and 10th centuries and the rapid conversion to the religion in the 15th century may have diminished Borobudur’s importance to the Javanese who converted to Islam. In addition, centuries of volcanic eruption and rainforest growth, among other natural events, may have caused the temple to become inaccessible.
What is the Borobudur Temple?
The Borobudur Temple Compounds resemble a lotus, which is the sacred flower of Buddha. A bodhisattva has to go through 10 stages before reaching Buddhahood. The 10 mounting terraces symbolize these stages. Borobudur was built to resemble a three-dimensional mandala, which is a diagram of the cosmos used for meditation, and a symbol of the universe.
How many blocks of rock were used to build the Borobudur Temple?
It was also made without using any cement or mortar and constructed by interlocking blocks. There are approximately 1.6 million blocks of volcanic rock used to create the temple compound. It resembles a stepped pyramid with three levels — a square base, a middle level, and an upper level. There are five square terraces on the middle level and three circular terraces on the upper level.
Where is Borobudur Temple located?
The Borobudur Temple Compounds is located in Kedu Valley in central Java, approximately 26 miles northwest of Yogyakarta and over 50 miles west of Surakarta. The temple sits between two volcanoes — Mt. Sundoro-Sumbing and Mt. Merbabu-Merapi and two rivers — Progo and Elo. It is also situated close to two other Buddhist temples in the Kedu Plain: Pawon and Mendut. Borobudur sits on a bedrock that is located 869 feet above sea level.
What is the significance of Borobudur Temple?
The Borobudur Temple Compounds is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of spiritual significance to the Buddhist religion and was designed as a three-dimensional path to enlightenment. Many experts believe it was built in the 8th and 9th centuries and abandoned for centuries before its rediscovery in 1814. It has experienced damage due to the elements, and the increase in tourism remains a significant threat to the monument.
When was Borobudur built?
No records exist regarding its construction or purpose. However, many believe it was built in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Sailendra Dynasty. Archaeological and scholarly experts agree that Borobudur’s construction ended around 800-825 CE , and many believe that King Samaratungga oversaw the temple’s construction.
What is the Borobudur?
The Borobudur’s design is in Gupta architecture and reflects India ’s influence on the region while also incorporating indigenous Indonesian elements. The monument has the largest number of Buddhist sculptures of any single site in the world. There are statues of the Buddha on 72 openwork stupas, which surround the circular platforms. Stupas are commemorative mounds in Buddhism that typically have holy relics.
Location
Architecture
- The main temple is a stupa built in three tiers around a hill which was a natural centre: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,520 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas…
Structure
- The vertical division of Borobudur Temple into base, body, and superstructure perfectly accords with the conception of the Universe in Buddhist cosmology. It is believed that the universe is divided into three superimposing spheres, kamadhatu, rupadhatu, and arupadhatu, representing respectively the sphere of desires where we are bound to our desir...
Significance
- The Temple should also be seen as an outstanding dynastic monument of the Syailendra Dynasty that ruled Java for around five centuries until the 10th century.
Use
- The temple was used as a Buddhist temple from its construction until sometime between the 10th and 15th centuries when it was abandoned. Since its re-discovery in the 19th century and restoration in the 20th century, it has been brought back into a Buddhist archaeological site.
Introduction
- Criterion (vi): Laid out in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha, Borobudur Temple Compounds is an exceptional reflection of a blending of the very central idea of indigenous ancestor worship and the Buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana. The ten mounting terraces of the entire structure correspond to the successive stages that the Bodhisattva has to achieve before …
Risks
- The main threat to the ensemble is from development that could compromise the extraordinary relationship between the main monument and its wider setting and could also affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The approach to the property has to a degree already been compromised by weak developmental regulations.
Preservation
- There is a growing rate of deterioration of the building stone, the cause of which needs further research. There is also a small degree of damage caused by unsupervised visitors.
Ecology
- The eruption of Mount Merapi is also considered as one of the potential threats because of its deposit acidic ash as happened in 2010.
Construction
- The original materials were used to reconstruct the temple in two phases in the 20th century: after the turn of the century and more recently (1973-1983). Mostly original materials were used with some additions to consolidate the monument and ensure proper drainage which has not had any significant adverse impact on the value of the property. Though the present state of Borobudur …
Management
- The legal and institutional framework for the effective management of the property is regulated by a Presidential Decree Number 1 Year 1992. The established zones within the World Heritage property are respectively under the responsibility of the Borobudur Heritage Conservation Office under Ministry of Education and Culture, of state-owned institute PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borob…
Conservation
- Monitoring programs has been effectively executed to monitor the growing rate of deterioration of building stone and also damage by unsupervised visitors. A research is being conducted to determine the long- term impact of deposit acidic ash of eruption of Mount Merapi to set further protection and conservation management of the property. Furthermore, a risk preparedness pla…
Overview
Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur (Indonesian: Candi Borobudur, Javanese: ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦧꦫꦧꦸꦝꦸꦂ, romanized: Candhi Barabudhur) is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally 504 Buddha …
Etymology
In Indonesian, ancient temples are referred to as candi; thus locals refer to "Borobudur Temple" as Candi Borobudur. The term candi also loosely describes ancient structures, for example gates and baths. The origins of the name Borobudur, is derived from Boro for big and Budur for Buddha The name Borobudur was first written in Raffles's book on Javan history. Raffles wrote about a monument called Borobudur, but there are no older documents suggesting the same name. The …
Location
Approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Yogyakarta and 86 kilometres (53 mi) west of Surakarta, Borobudur is located in an elevated area between two twin volcanoes, Sundoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi, and two rivers, the Progo and the Elo. According to local myth, the area known as Kedu Plain is a Javanese "sacred" place and has been dubbed "the garden of Java" due to its high agricultural fertility.
History
There are no known records of construction or the intended purpose of Borobudur. The duration of construction has been estimated by comparison of carved reliefs on the temple's hidden foot and the inscriptions commonly used in royal charters during the 8th and 9th centuries. Borobudur was likely founded around 800 AD. This corresponds to the period between 760 and 830 AD, the peak of the Sailendra dynasty rule over the Mataram kingdom in central Java, when their power en…
Architecture
The archaeological excavation into Borobudur during reconstruction suggests that adherents of Hinduism or a pre-Indic faith had already begun to erect a large structure on Borobudur's hill before the site was appropriated by Buddhists. The foundations are unlike any Hindu or Buddhist shrine structures, and therefore, the initial structure is considered more indigenous Javanese than Hindu or Buddhist.
Reliefs
Borobudur is constructed in such a way that it reveals various levels of terraces, showing intricate architecture that goes from being heavily ornamented with bas-reliefs to being plain in Arupadhatu circular terraces. The first four terrace walls are showcases for bas-relief sculptures. These are exquisite, considered to be the most elegant and graceful in the ancient Buddhist world.
The bas-reliefs in Borobudur depicted many scenes of daily life in 8th-century ancient Java, fro…
Buddha statues
Apart from the story of the Buddhist cosmology carved in stone, Borobudur has many statues of various Buddhas. The cross-legged statues are seated in a lotus position and distributed on the five square platforms (the Rupadhatu level), as well as on the top platform (the Arupadhatu level).
The Buddha statues are in niches at the Rupadhatu level, arranged in rows on the outer sides of the balustrades, the number of statues decreasing as platforms progressively diminish to the up…
Legacy
The aesthetic and technical mastery of Borobudur, and also its sheer size, has evoked the sense of grandeur and pride for Indonesians. Just like Angkor Wat for Cambodia, Borobudur has become a powerful symbol for Indonesia — to testify for its past greatness. Indonesia's first President Sukarno made a point of showing the site to foreign dignitaries. The Suharto regime — realized its important symbolic and economic meanings — diligently embarked on a massive project to rest…