Borobudur is a temple complex dedicated to Mahayana, one of the two major movements in Buddhism. Mahayana means "great chariot" in Sanskrit, the ancient literary language of India, and is a body of teachings for Buddhists who seek to attain Awakening for the benefit of all living beings.
Borobudur Temple was built in the 9th century and is located in the city of Magelang, Central Java province. The design of this monument is quite unusual - the temple is tiered, consists of 6 square platforms, on them there are three round platforms decorated with relief panels (more than 2500). In addition, this monument is decorated with Buddha statues (504 statues). The main dome is located in the centre of the upper platform, surrounding the dome are 72 Buddha statues, each of which is located inside a bell-shaped stupa.
Borobudur Temple is considered the largest Buddhist temple in the world, as well as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. This temple is a place of worship for Shakyamuni Buddha, the spiritual teacher and legendary founder of Buddhism, and a pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The pilgrimage begins at the base of the monument, and its and subsequent levels are circled clockwise: the first 4 platforms are the world of desire, the next 5 are the world of form, and the remaining platforms along with the large dome at the top are the world of amorphousness. All of these levels are levels of Buddhist cosmology - the view of creation, rebirth, and development.
Borobudur Temple is believed to have gained worldwide fame in 1814 when Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, Lieutenant Governor of Java Island, discovered a hill with a large number of carved stones. The process of restoration and cleaning of the monument was begun. The most extensive restoration work was carried out in 1975-1982 under the auspices of the Indonesian government and UNESCO, and the temple has since been listed as a World Heritage Site.
