Artist: unknown
Title: The Great Stupa/Mount Meru at Borobudur, view of the top stupa
level
Material: Volcanic rock
Site: Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia
Current Location: in situ
Period/Date: ca. end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th century,
under the Shailendra Dynasty
Iconography/Iconology: The top three levels of the monument have
a total of 73 stupas, including the top central stupa. The 72 secondary
stupas are understood to be radiating out of the top central supa and each
contains an image of Vairochana Buddha in dharmacakra, or teaching,
gesture. This is a reiteration of Shakyamuni as Vairochana and an
emanator of all Buddhist systems everywhere. It is also Vairochana as the
center of the Vajradhatu mandala according to the Sarvatathagatatatvasamgraha
text. The perforated stupas allow the viewer to observe the images within.
Stylistic Comments:
