Borobudur Temple

Borobudur is built as a huge stupa, which is made in the form of a giant mandala. Fundam stupas square with a side of 118 m. At the stupa there are eight tiers, five lower - square, and the top three - round. This mandala is the scheme of the universe in accordance with Buddhist concepts. On the upper tier 72 small stupas situated around a large central stupa. Each stupa in the bell-shaped with lots of ornaments. Inside stupas placed 504 statues of Buddha and 1460 bas-reliefs on religious subjects. Stupa built of 2 million stone blocks. Until now, scientists can not determine the exact date and duration of the construction of this temple. Archaeologists suggest that the temple was taken up in the 8-9 centuries.
Until now, Borobudur is a place of pilgrimage and prayer. The pilgrims go seven times around at each tier level in a clockwise direction. Contact with each of the Buddha stupas on the top floor of a seizure in a mortar, according to legends, brings happiness. According to researchers, the building can be seen as a great book for pilgrims. As the commission of a ritual bypass each tier pilgrims acquainted with the life of Buddha and elements of his teaching. The three levels represent the three areas of residence - Kamadhatu (sphere of passions), Rupadhatu (spherical forms) and Arupadhatu (sphere without forms).
Hundreds of years Borobudur lay covered with volcanic ash and overgrown with jungle. As this unique monument had been forgotten and abandoned - it is not clear. In the middle of XX century it was suggested that after the eruption of the volcano Merapi disaster forced the residents to leave their land and seek other habitats. The eruption occurred in the early 1 st millennium. Only 800 years later during the British occupation of the island during the Anglo-Dutch War, the monument was found. Then the monument was badly looted. In the early 20 century. was made the first major restoration of the complex.