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Borobudur & Bali Photos
December 2007
All photos World Rights © ATMann 2007
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The inactive Mt Merbabu and the active Mt Merapi are two of the four encircling volcanoes, as seen at sunrise from the top of Borobudur.
Borobudur was built by Sanmaratungga in the 8th century, and belongs to Buddhist Mahayana tradition. Shortly afterward there was an Islamic invasion that expelled the Buddhists, and then an eruption of the nearby volcanoes covered the entire monument for a thousand years, until Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles revealed Borobudur in 1814. He found the temple in ruined condition, having been buried under mounds of soil and towering trees for a millennium.
Two sets of twin volcanoes — Merapi and Merbabu to the northeast, Sumbing and Sindoro to the northwest — stand sentinel across the plains. Mt Merapi, the “fire mountain,” is active, and indeed erupted in 2010, displacing 350,000 people. An adjacent ridge reputedly depicts the profile of Gunadharma, the architect of Borobudur, who is believed to keep watch over his creation through the ages.
Ascending the staircase to the first of the seven levels are four series of reliefs, two on each side, where there is an account of the Buddha from his birth 3500 years ago as the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama, to his renunciation and spiritual journey to enlightenment.
In November 2007 I guided a tour of 25 to Yogyakarta and Borobudur and took these photos.
© 1990, Marcllo and Anita Tranchini, in "Borobudur: Golden Tales of the Buddha," Periplus Editions, HK
This is Borobudur from the air. Note the size of the people to get a sense of its immense size. (The only one that is not my photo!)
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Both Mt Merbabu and Mt Merapi from the sixth terrace of Borobudur.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Life-size meditating Buddha within a stupa at sunrise.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
A view from Borobudur towards Mt Merapi late in the morning shows stupas containing Buddhas.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The Buddha and the twin volcanos of Java. The top of this stupa has been removed in the restoration process.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
One of the Kala (Hindu Great God of Time) gateways up to the stupa level. It is as though one passes through time as one ascends Borobudur. At the sides, Rishis (wise men) sprinkle seeds (of enlightenment) on passers-by.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Buddha sentinels meditate towards the four directions.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The stupas are more than fifteen feet (3m) high and all contain life-size Buddhas.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
One can see meditating Buddhas through the patterned stone stupas.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Three Buddhas awaiting repositioning during restoration.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Stupas enclose meditating Buddhas on the circular upper terraces and symbolize the "pure land" of enlightenment.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Buddha in a niche on the fourth level of Borobudur.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
View of Borobudur (in the almost farthest distance center) from the amazing Amanjiwa Hotel in the nearby mountains with the Mt Sumbing volcano in the far distance.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
View from within the Amanjiwa Hotel towards Borobudur behind the palm tree.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The Buddha.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Carving showing the Buddha blessed by the Moon and Sun and the Pleiades between them.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Prayers to the six-armed Avalokitishvara.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Another view of Mt Merapi volcano from among the stupas.
Yogyakarta, Java
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Prambanan, a Hindu temple to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma near Yogyakarta, Java, built in the 8th century.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The active volcano Mt Merapi in Java, seen through a doorway in the Prembanan Shiva temple.
Bali
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Lotus flowers and water lillies abound in Bali.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
Lake Batur in Bali, formed from the caldera of the Mt Batur volcano millions of years ago.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
This is the inactive volcano and caldera of Mt Batur, which last blew in 1968, seen as the Balinese "home of the gods." The dark layer below is volcanic ash stone shipped all over Bali for building temples and shrines. The volcano, nearby Mt Agung blew recently in 2017, causing much damage all over the island.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
A mandala of flowers (and my toes) at a hotel in Ubud, Bali.
World Rights © ATMann 2007
The altar in the NE of my house in Ubud, Bali with flower offerings.
If you would like large prints of any of these photos, contact me for prices and availability. If you would like to reproduce any of the photos, you must contact me for permission.
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