The Blessing Cords

One day an old man gave me a string that consisted of five colors (multicolored) and two knots (ties). He told me that the string has been blessed (not a talisman) and when it is worn, it will bring out a feeling that is endless love. I had not been a kind a person who trusted in mystical things, but after I was explained about the colors and the knots, I was a bit open and could accept it as a logical thing.


The multicolored united in the string refers to the eternal love, which is a love unity from each part of love. Each part is represented by a color: white (likeness, happiness), red (intimacy, warmth), yellow (longing, missing of a love one), green (comfort, peace), and blue (love, sympathy). Talking about the unity of each part, I remember the ribbon in the Garuda Pancasila (official seal of Republic of Indonesia) saying “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” that means despite the diversity, we are a unity.

The multicolored (five colors) has symbolical meaning and other particular meanings beside its part of love:

1. White (metal element): sincerity, purity, and honesty
2. Red (fire element): caring, intimacy, and loyalty
3. Yellow (soil element): fortune, wealth, and prosperity
4. Green (wood element): faith, life, and togetherness
5. Blue (water element): wisdom, humanity, and intelligence

Now I understand the value of the ribbon or the bracelet that is worn in special occasion. By the way, does the background color of a party show symbol or value believed, or is it only a variation? I can not answer…

Besides the five colors, there are two cords. The first cord (looks like a skewer) is a symbol of keris (Indonesian dagger) which means refraining ourselves from stupidity and other shackles. The second cord (tie from both side of the string) is a symbol of drum which means mutual cooperation, spirit, determination, love, and empathy.

It is not finished yet since the using has its own meaning. For men, it is usually worn on the left hand and for women; it is worn on the right hand. It is because men should be tough, confident in facing anything in life, and women should be on their side to assist them. However, in crisis, this string might be worn on the right hand by men, which means build together and help each other. Meanwhile, it might be worn on the left hand by women, so they will be though in facing difficulty.

I think it is proper for these days, where the county has been in crisis and disaster. It is so since it shows unity and togetherness to rise from the entire crisis in this country. My love is for you, fatherland.. Oops, sorry now I’m too emotional=)

By the way this is the prayer uttered:
“Om Sarva Tathagata Sitata Unikha Hung Phet Hung Mam Hung Ni Soha”
“Tayatha Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Soha”

This is it about the blessing cords. Enjoy, peace, and love from Sukra. (109 010608)

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The Series of Sewu Temple Journey

Temple journey in Central Java seems like a never-ending journey. This time journey is a series of temple located in the South East of Merapi Mountain. Before we start and for your information, temples in the South West of Merapi Mountain that include Ngawen Temple, Mendut Temple, Pawon Temple, and Borobudur Temple are series of temple from Syailendra Dynasty.

The series of temple located in the South East of Merapi Mountain are series of building from Sanjaya Dynasty that were majorly built by Panangkaran, the Pikatan Brothers, and the son of Pikatan in the 8th and 9th century. These series of temple have their own characteristic: Buddha temples are side by side with Hindu temples. To limit this, I will call it the series of Sewu Temple that focuses merely on Buddha temples.

Sari Temple is house for monks and means beautiful temple. This temple faces to the East and has 3 rooms whose outside walls were full of glorious Buddha and Bodhisattva reliefs.






Kalasan Temple was built in 778C which was a gift from Sanjaya Dynasty (Panangkaran) to Syailendra Dynasty and was used to worship Tara goddess. From several reliefs and rupang (Buddha statue look alike) on this temple, there is one beautiful rupang, Ratnasambawa, that is located on the top of the South of temple wall. There is an ancient well outside of this temple. The water in the well is believed to bring blessing for health and wealth.

Toward the South East from Kalasan Temple, we can find Sajiwon Temple. It is not a uniform building as it has not been restored yet. It was built by Pramodharwani, someone from Syailendra Dynasty who was married to Pikatan from Sanjaya Dynasty. This temple is believed as a place for the worship of Sri Kuwera (Zhambhala).

The next journey is toward Sewu Temple that is located in the North of Sajiwon. In the journey to Sewu Temple, we shall pass Prambanan Temple, Lumbung Temple, and Bubrah Temple. Prambanan is the biggest Hindu temple in Indonesia that becomes the world heritage. It was built by Balaputra Dewa (the step brother of Pramodharwani who was married to Pikatan). However, on another note, it was built by Pikatan. Lumbung Temple is Buddha temple built to worship the paddy god, while Bubrah Temple is a small Buddha temple as a sign entrance of Sewu Temple area.


Sewu Temple is the second largest Buddha temple after Borobudur. This temple, that was built by Guruwangi (the son of Pikatan), has 249 small temples and so it is called Thousand Temple. Those small temples consist of 240 perwara temples, 8 apit temples, and 1 main temple which is used to worship Sri Majusri goddess. The name Manjus’riga on an ancient inscription is believed to be the initial name for this temple.

Plaosan Temple, about 2.5 km from Sewu Temple, was built by Garung (Pikatan’s brother) in the 9th century. This temple consists of Plaosan Kidul Temple and Plaosan Lor Temple (bigger in size). Plaosan Lor has 2 main temples: the South is for men and the North is for women. Each main temple has 6 Bodhisattva rupangs with the human size, 128 stupas, and 58 perwara temples facing to the East which generally has been broken. On the front door there are 2 Dwarapla and 6 Bodhisattva rupangs: Manjusri, Nirwana Viskabhi, Vajrapani, Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, and Samantha Bhadra.

The last journey is the Boko Queen Palace complex which is in 3 km away in the South of Prambanan Temple. It was built in the 9th century by Balaputradewa. This palace is the blend of 2 religions that can be seen from its gate: one gate as Buddhism symbol and the other as Hindu symbol.

This is the end of the series of Sewu Temple journey that is explored from Jogjakarta to the East through road to Solo.

Enjoy, peace, and love from Sukra. (101 160508)

Photo by Eileen

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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)

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The Secret of Borobudur Tantric

Borobudur Temple is a tour de force mainly for Buddhists. This temple which was from the 9th century is believed to be from Syailendra Dynasty. This temple disappeared mysteriously and in the same time, the mystery of Borobudur Tantric was locked in the secret place.

An old fellow told a story:

Once upon a time, in the 4th century before the Syailendra Dynasty held the power in West Java, there was a Shepo Kingdom (Bumi-Sherpa) that consisted of Holing Dynasty (Buddhist) and Taruma Dynasty (Hindu), proved with the existence of Batujaya Site. These kingdoms kept on expanding its area, even until outside the area. There are 3 kingdoms: Tarumanegara Kingdom (Hindu) in West Java, Kalingga Kingdom (Buddhist) in Central Java, and Sriwijaya Kingdom (Buddhist) in Sumatra.

In the 7th century, Kalingga Kingdom, which had power over Java (Sansekerta Language: Pavaya Dwipa) and Sriwijaya Kingdom, which had power over Sumatra (Sansekerta Language: Suvarana Dwipa) developed and became great kingdoms because they were located in the shore that was a trading and religion spreading zone. This zone connected China, India, and Arab (Silk Road) through the South Sea. No wonder that our culture is a mixture of those three cultures. Btw, there was a famous Dharma Buddha teacher at that time, named Jnana Bhadra.

In Kalingga Kingdom in the 8th century, there was a teacher who was the descendant of Shanyang Purwa Barata from Himalaya Mahameru Mountain, North India. This Dharma Vajra Carya teacher named Ban Hong (Bagong) was very expert in Arya Tara, Arya Chunda, and Cintamani Cakra spiritual siddhi. With the existence of the Silk Road, Ban Hong had a chance to go to China and India to learn to a teacher named Hui Go. He learned Madhyamika, Yogacara, Shusiddhi Karma, Vajra Sekhara Yoga, Mahavairocana Garbhasoka, Zhishey Chod, Phowa, etc. What he learned was the beginning of the teaching of South Sea (Laut Kidul)Tantric Buddhism (Borobudur).

Ban Hong kept on thinking about his homeland. He went back in the 9th century and found out that Kalingga Kingdom had become Mataram Kingdom (Ancient). In that era, the area dissection in the construction of Buddhism temples in Central Java took place. The reason was the kingdom which consisted of Syailendra Dynasty (Buddha) that had a marriage knot to a Sriwijaya Kingdom princess and Sanjaya Dynasty that related to Taruma Dynasty in West Java. Moreover, the temple dissection was divided into 2 groups:
Temples built by the Syailendra Dynasty that are located in the South West of Merapi Mountain (Ngawen Temple, Pawon Temple, Mendut Temple, and Borobudur Temple)
Temples built by the Sanjaya Dynasty that are located in the South East of Merapi Mountain (Kalasan Temple, Sari Temple, Sajiwo Temple, Sewu Temple, Lumbung Temple, Bubrah temple, and Plaosan Temple). Those temples are side by side with the Hindu Temples, which is the characteristic of the temples built by Sanjaya Dynasty.

In the 10th century, there was a nature phenomenon which made Matraram Kingom (Ancient/Old) and Borobudur Temple disappeared mysteriously. The earthquake, tsunami, and volcanoes caused the Borobusur Temple Tantric vanished from this motherland. However, the tantric teaching remained was inherited by the descendants of Syailendra Balaputra Dewa Dynasty who became a Sriwijaya King. It was also inherited by Sanjaya Dynasty that was King Pikatan and Queen Pramodhawardhani, that later developed into Buddha Syiwa Tantric in East Java.

The tantric inherited by Syailendra descendants was carried and developed in Tibet by Atisa in the 11th century. However, the tantric teaching in Sumatra faded away due to the collapse of Sriwijaya Kingdom int the 14th century. The tantric inherited by Sanjaya Kingdom was disappeared as well because of the collapse of Majapahit Kingdom in the 15th century.

Here are some spells I heard form the old fellow :

1. The Arya Tara Mantra : Om Tare Tam Soha
2. The Arya Dakini Mantra : Om Sarva Dakini Sita Mapala Saparana Vajra Nuwite Ah Hung
3. The 5 Dhyanibuddha Mantra : Om Vajradhatu Vah, Om Aksobhya Hung, Om Ratna Sambhawa Tram, Om Lokesvara Raja Hrih, Om Amogha Siddhi Ah (Om Hung Tram Hrih Ah)
4. The Vajra Sattva Mantra : Om Vajra Satto Hung Phet
5. The Puja Mandala Mantra : Om Vajra Bhumi Ah Hung, Om Vajra Rake Ah Hung, Om Mandala Puja Mega Samudra Saparana Samaya Ah Hung

Are they all true? Well, those are what I heard from the old fellow.

Enjoy, peace, and love from Sukra. (096 090508)

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A Temple Which Is Older Than Borobudur

Temple areas or Batujaya Sites, which are stupa buildings, are estimated from the 4th century (Borobudur Temple is from the 9th century). This area which was discovered in 1984 by the University of Indonesia’s archeology team is used as the centre of Waisak 2552/2008 celebration for West Java area. It takes about an hour to go to these sites from West Karawang highway gate and they are believed to have 24 temples: 13 temples in Segaran village and 11 temples in Tegaljaya village (Karawang).

I had the chance to visit Jiwa Temple and Blandongan Temple. These temples have uniqueness: their location which is in the middle of farm and their material which are from 3 items: andesit stone for the bottom part of the temple, bricks for the body, and tiny stones which are glued to white layer (stuko) for the roof ornament. It breaks the myth that temple with andesit stone as its material tends to remain longer than the one with bricks.

If you take a glance at Jiwa Temple, it might look ordinary. Yet, if you look it from above and imagine how it looks like, you will be very amazed. Its upper structure forms lotus and there is also a circular structure as a place for stupa in the middle of the temple. This temple does not have any stairs and according to some archeologists there is a big Buddha statue sitting on a blossom and floating lotus. Btw, its name was given so since every time the residents put their livestock in the temple debris, the stocks would all die.

The incomplete note from China says that in 414, a monk from China named Fa Shien visited Java Island. He stated that the residents in West Java had already followed some beliefs, Hindu, and Buddha. Two of the actual proofs are Cibuaya Site with Hindu element and Batujaya Site with Buddha element. In that note, it is also stated that a prince (probably from India/Khasmir/Srilanka) who became a monk named Qiu Na Ba Mo (Gunavarman) who spread his teaching in the Northern Beach of West Java and ordained the king, the queen, and the residents to be under the protection of Triratna.

Blandongan Temple is the main temple because of its big size and it has four entrance doors in four of each sides. It was named after the local resident dialect, Blandongan which means rest area. Nearby the building, there was a Viotive Tablet (Tsa Tsa) which is made of clay. It has relief which relates to Saraswati story.

For your info, there is also a monument in Rengasdengklok which was built to remember the kidnap of Soekarno. If it had not happened, our county (Indonesia) would not have had the independence on August 17, 1945.

Enjoy, peace, and love from Sukra. (078 080408)

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