:: A.A.S. R.A. Picture Gallery - Asia (1 - 10) Click on the Picture to get more information! Images:  [1-10] [11-12] Borobudur Temple Viewed from above, Borobudur takes the form of a giant mandala, symbolically depicting the path of the bodhisattva from samsara to nirvana, through the story of Sudhana described in the Gandavyuha Sutra, a part of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Representing the existence of the universe, Borobudur perfectly reflects the Buddhist cosmology, which divides the universe into three intermingled separate levels. The three levels are Kamadhatu (world of desire), Ruphadhatu (world of forms), and Arupadhatu (world of formlessness). The hidden base of Borobudur was originally the first level, which contains the gallery of Kamadhatu level. On the last three circular uppermost terraces, 72 stupas circle the huge main stupa on the top of this monument. The circular form represents the eternity without beginning and without end, a superlative, tranquil, and pure state of the formless world. There are no reliefs on the three circular terraces. All but the largest central stupas on the upper levels originally contained a (more or less) life-size statue of the Buddha (kneeling). Many of these statues are missing or damaged. There are also many alcoves along the lower levels which used to contain similar statues. Again, many of these are missing or damaged. The whole volume of this massive andesite monument reaches the number of 56.000m2 consists of at least 2.000.000 stone blocks. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Borobudur Temple Viewed from above, Borobudur takes the form of a giant mandala, symbolically depicting the path of the bodhisattva from samsara to nirvana, through the story of Sudhana described in the Gandavyuha Sutra, a part of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Representing the existence of the universe, Borobudur perfectly reflects the Buddhist cosmology, which divides the universe into three intermingled separate levels. The three levels are Kamadhatu (world of desire), Ruphadhatu (world of forms), and Arupadhatu (world of formlessness). The hidden base of Borobudur was originally the first level, which contains the gallery of Kamadhatu level. On the last three circular uppermost terraces, 72 stupas circle the huge main stupa on the top of this monument. The circular form represents the eternity without beginning and without end, a superlative, tranquil, and pure state of the formless world. There are no reliefs on the three circular terraces. All but the largest central stupas on the upper levels originally contained a (more or less) life-size statue of the Buddha (kneeling). Many of these statues are missing or damaged. There are also many alcoves along the lower levels which used to contain similar statues. Again, many of these are missing or damaged. The whole volume of this massive andesite monument reaches the number of 56.000m2 consists of at least 2.000.000 stone blocks. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Borobudur Temple On the last three circular uppermost terraces, 72 stupas circle the huge main stupa on the top of this monument. The circular form represents the eternity without beginning and without end, a superlative, tranquil, and pure state of the formless world. There are no reliefs on the three circular terraces. All but the largest central stupas on the upper levels originally contained a (more or less) life-size statue of the Buddha (kneeling). Many of these statues are missing or damaged. There are also many alcoves along the lower levels which used to contain similar statues. Again, many of these are missing or damaged. The whole volume of this massive andesite monument reaches the number of 56.000m2 consists of at least 2.000.000 stone blocks. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Borobudur Temple On the last three circular uppermost terraces, 72 stupas circle the huge main stupa on the top of this monument. The circular form represents the eternity without beginning and without end, a superlative, tranquil, and pure state of the formless world. There are no reliefs on the three circular terraces. All but the largest central stupas on the upper levels originally contained a (more or less) life-size statue of the Buddha (kneeling). Many of these statues are missing or damaged. There are also many alcoves along the lower levels which used to contain similar statues. Again, many of these are missing or damaged. The whole volume of this massive andesite monument reaches the number of 56.000m2 consists of at least 2.000.000 stone blocks. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Borobudur Temple Flying gods on a cloud. There are many reliefs surrounding the Borobudur temple. And many Reliefs with people sitting on a flying cloud can be found together with other flying objects. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Candi Sukuh However, where most temples would have a large square shrine, Candi Sukuh has a pyramid reminiscent of Mayan structures from Central America. This is the only Hindu temple, or Buddhist one for that matter, sporting a pyramid like this and nobody knows for sure why the builders chose this type of structure. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Candi Sukuh However, where most temples would have a large square shrine, Candi Sukuh has a pyramid reminiscent of Mayan structures from Central America. This is the only Hindu temple, or Buddhist one for that matter, sporting a pyramid like this and nobody knows for sure why the builders chose this type of structure. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Candi Sukuh Just in front of the pyramid, three large truncated turtles are haphazardly placed. Are there similarities to those flying turtles from central america? Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Flying Creature This humanlike flying Creature at Candi Sukuh has the face from an animal, the body from a human and wings from a bird. Who was this "crature"? Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Goa Gaja The Entrance of the "Goa Gaja" (Elephant Temple). Mystical Relief. Photographer: Pascal Troxler Location: Indonesia Images:  [1-10] [11-12]