Largest Budhist Temple in the World (and an awesome Hindu one nearby)
- Richard Namikas
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
On the island of Java is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur. With a full day to explore and seven of us from the ship ready to roam, we took a van from the port in Semarang through the countryside and into the mountains.
We were asked to remove our shoes and wear special sandals to reduce the wear on the 9th-century stone structure as we climbed to the top. The nine tiers represented the three realms of Buddhist cosmology: Kamadhatu (the world of desires), Rupadhatu (the world of forms), and Arupadhatu (the formless world).
Relief images covered most of the surfaces, telling stories from Buddhist teachings.
There are 504 Buddha statues in total at the temple. Unfortunately, many have had their heads stolen. 432 sit in the open on the five lower terraces, and 72 are enclosed in the perforated bells on the upper circular terraces.
A cool rain gutter opening along the climb.
The topmost terrace with the perforated bells, each containing a stone statue of Buddha.
Statue with the bell removed
Peeking inside one of the other 71 bells.
We always run into friends from the ship when we are out and about. This is Shirene with Ellie (Ellie is the tall one)
Our group
Prambanan Temple. The largest Hindu temple in Indonesia with 240 seperate structures.
Our guide asked us to stretch out our arms, so a little drama was in order.
I often try to listen for a message when I am in a place of worship. When I listened here in a Hindu holy place after visiting a Buddhist temple while listening to a Muslim call to prayer, I heard:
All things are one. When you accept the connection and move forward in unison, life flows as it is meant to.
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