The Mystery of the Borobudur Tantric Ceremony

Borobudur which is located in Central Java is part of the temple series built by the Syailendra Dynasty. The temple series built by Indra Gunattha and Samaratungga (father and son) in the 9th century are Ngawen Temple, Mendut Temple, Pawon Temple, and Borobudur Temple, which is connected to 5 mountains and 4 rivers. The mountains are Merapi, Sindoro, Merbabu, Menoreh, and Sumbing. While the rivers are Kebalen, Elo, Progo, and Bengawan Solo. Those mountains and rivers represent 5 continents and 4 oceans or a Buddha’s palm that becomes a continuous unity in the ritual of Borobudur Tantric Buddhism teaching in order to save the samsara (suffer) earth.

An old fellow told me a story and this is what I heard:
Long ago, the temple series were built in the right order from the east to the west (Ngawen, Mendut, Pawon, and Borobudur). Despite the fact that they were not built consecutively, they were built based on the definite ritual concept.

The series of Borobudur Tantric ritual which are accomplished in 9 days are as the following:

The 1st- 3rd day: is the day for preparation in a hut which is located in the river T-intersection (place where Progo River and Elo River meet). The preparations are meditation, purifying of the body, the mouth, and the soul. The condition in the meditation is we have to face to the west that is the way to Bodhigaya, enlightenment place for Buddha under the bodhi tree. The body purifying is done by bathing with water from the Acorus Calamus Lin root, stalk of the Erythrina Lithosperma Mig, Piper Betle L leaf, Michelia Champaca L flower, and seed. The mouth purifying is accomplished by doing mutih that means we only eat rice and drink water /coconut water. The soul purifying is performed by doing visualization of Dewi Cintamani and its mantra as well.

The 4th day: is the ritual journey to Ngawen Temple in Muntilan. This temple has 5 tribute altars for Dhyanibuddha: Amoghasidhi, Aksobhya, Vairocana, Ratna Sambhava, and Amitabba. These five tribute altars, theirmantra, and the Bodhicitta reflection are done in order to obtain blessing and permission to this Borobudur ritual journey.

The 5th day: is the ritual journey to Mendut Temple. In the open verandah of this temple, there are reliefs of kalpataru (mythological tree that never dies), Sri Mahadewi (goddess of fertility/fruitfulness), Sri Kuwera (god of fertility/fruitfulness), and Sri Mahakala (god of protection) which are above the gate. The clockwise journey, in the outside wall, there are reliefs of Dewi Chunda, Dewi Prajna, Dewi Manjusri, Kinara Kinari universe gods, and so on. Go further inside the temple and we will see 3 statues with their approximately 3 meters height which are Buddha Sakyamuni with 2 Bodhhisattva: Avalokite and Vajrapani. This ritual is performed with meditation, visualization, and prayers with mantra to obtain blessing from the Buddha and the Bodhisattva.

The 6th day: is the journey to Pawon Temple which is a place for Vajranala’s enlightenment. This ritual is carried out with the intention of preparing ourselves with anu yoga that is kundalini yoga (3 pulse/ arteries and 7 cakra (mythical weapon) that take a shape of a lotus) and visualization of Hevajra unifying with the body and the body spouting out the light of the rainbow and beautiful scent.

The 7th day: is the journey to Borobudur Temple. It actually has 10 levels. However, if you guys are taking nowadays journey, there are only 9 levels as the first level was closed due to the construction or deliberateness (the Buddhist priests are expected to get rid of all the unpleasant desire in the effort of achieving awareness and freedom).

Borobudur has 10 levels that describe the hell until the perfection level starting from the hell, satan world, animal world, people world until Bodhissatva and Buddha world. The tenth level in Borobudur Temple is divided into 3 lives: Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu, and Arupadhatu that has 504 rupang (Buddha statue look alike). Kamadhatu is a world with desire element, has 1 level and does not have rupang. Rupadhatu is a world with shape element, has 4 levels with 368 open rupang. Arupadhatu is a world without shapeless element with 4 levels, 64 open rupang, and 72 rupang that can be peeped on. The total rupang is 432 open rupang and 72 close rupang. Now notice the bold numbers. If we count up the hundreds, the tens, and the singles, we will get 9 as the result. This is the magic number in Borobudur.

Borobudur sides that facing the four directions and circle from the 7th up to 9th level have specific rupangs that represent 5 Dhyanibuddha with its mudra (fingers postures/arrangements while meditating). Rupang facing the East with Bhumisparca Mudra means the earth as the witness. Rupang facing the South with Wara Mudra represents generosity. Rupang facing the West with Dhyana Mudra means meditation. Rupang facing the North with Abhaya Mudra means bravery. These four mudras are in the 2nd up to 5th level (Rupadathu world). Rupang in the 6th level (Arupadathu world) in each of the directions is depicted by Witarka Mudra which means ingenuity. On the center with Dharmacakra Mudra meaning the dharma wheel turning over is a symbol of Buddhism.

Ritual gone through in this journey should use tasbih (a string with 108of beads) which is made of white tridacna maxima fossil from the South Sea (Kidul Sea) with its mudra ritual. When we finish with the 10 level journeys, it will end up by going down from the hill and it is closed by tumpengan (Javanese ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape) and mandala puja. This is the end ritual of the 7th day.

The 8th and the 9th day: is another meditation and reflection in the hut in order to achieve the body, the thought, words, activities, and kindness perfection which are the goal of Sri Kalacakra (the time wheel turning over) ritual, presented to all human beings so that they could live happily and wealthily.

People say if we go through this whole Borobudur ritual journey, the reward/ merit will be the same as the reward/merit of reading the whole Maha Tripitaka Book (Da Zang Jing) and warding off the karma and the rebirth. However, is it all true?? Well, at least this is what I heard from the old fellow.

Enjoy, peace, and love from Sukra. (099 120508)