Jataka Awadana

Welcome to Chandi Borobudur, one of the sacred buildings of Buddhism as a World Cultural Heritage site. The splendor and beauty of Borobudur has its own historical value for Indonesian people. The government has designated Borobudur as a major tourist attraction, a priority tourist destination for local and foreign visitors.

Traveling and visiting Borobudur have enthusiasm aims to know its monument more closely, learn about its history and admire the splendor and beauty of architectural art, as an appreciation and participation in maintaining and protecting the world cultural heritage site of Borobudur.

Your journey to Borobudur will send to an excellent trip with the hospitality of Pamong Carita who will guide you on a special tour to visit and explore history, admiring the beauty of the arts and architecture of Chandi Borobudur more closely.

One of the relief stories in Borobudur that is very beautiful and beautiful in Buddhism is the story about Jataka and Awadana. Stories about good deeds and high moral values.

wall of reliefs telling the story

One of the corridors and gallery walls is carved with reliefs of Jataka and Awadana story, walls and balustrades. Source: Guidance Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. photo arisguide.

Jataka and Awadana

The reliefs of the Jataka and Awadana stories at Borobudur temple are lined up from the east side and are on level I on a row of relief panels on the balustrade of the upper chain, beautifully arranged with fine carvings with the beautiful aesthetic value of Borobudur cultural art.

Walking from the east side you will find the first row of twenty panels on the walls of the first gallery which depict the journey of Sudhanakumaravadana or Sudhana's holy works.

With a total of 135 panels, the first upper wall in the same gallery on the balustrade is devoted to 34 Jatakamala legends. The remaining 237 panels depict stories from other sources, such as series and lower panels in the second gallery. Some Jataka stories are described twice, for example the story of King Sibhi (Rama's ancestor).

Meanwhile, Awadana is basically almost the same as Jataka, but the perpetrator is not the Bodhisattwa, but another person and the stories are collected in the book Diwyawadana, which means noble divine deeds, and the book Awadanasataka or one hundred Awadana stories.

In the reliefs of the Borobudur temple Jataka and Awadana, they are treated the same meaning that they are both found in the same row without being differentiated. The most famous collection of the life of the Bodhisattva is Jatakamala or a series of Jataka stories, the work of the poet Aryasura who lived in the 4th century AD.

Jataka

Jatakas are various stories about the Buddha before he was born as Prince Siddharta. Its contents are the main points of highlighting good deeds, such as the attitude of being willing to sacrifice and helping, which distinguishes the Bodhisattva from any other being. Some Jataka stories feature fables, namely stories involving animal characters who act and think like humans. In fact, the accumulation of merit or good deeds is a preparatory stage in the effort to reach the level of Buddhahood.

The Story of a Woodpecker and a Lion. 

This relief is located on the south side of level I of the balustrade of the series above areas j number 133, 134 and 135.

The story tells that in a forest there lived a kind bird. He has beautiful fur and doesn't want to hurt other creatures. Therefore he felt it was enough to just eat flowers, leaves and fruit.

One day, the woodpecker saw a lion who was in pain because a bone was stuck in his throat. The woodpecker ordered the lion to open its mouth wide and with a piece of wood placed upright between its jaws the lion's mouth could open. The woodpecker was finally able to remove the bone from the lion's throat with its peck.

One day, the woodpecker was hungry and happened to see the lion he had once helped eating deer meat. The woodpecker begged the lion to give him some meat but the lion didn't give it to him and even chased the woodpecker away. The woodpecker left the lion and did not hold a grudge against him. Even though Dewa suggested that the woodpecker peck the lion's eyes to make it blind, the woodpecker did not want to do it (Istiyarti, 2008).

The Story of Quail and Forest Fires.

This relief is located on the south side of level I of the balustrade of the upper series of area a No. 58.

A family of quail lives nesting in the forest. There was a child who didn't want to eat the living things his mother brought him. It only eats plants and seeds. In the end he didn't seem to grow well. It cannot fly because it has no feathers on its wings. Without knowing the reason, suddenly a forest fire broke out. All the animals in the forest were confused and afraid, trying to find shelter. The animals were amazed to see that a weak bird, having no feathers and therefore unable to fly, remained calm in its nest and the fire seemed unable to burn it.

Thanks to his attitude and behavior of not wanting to eat other living creatures and always doing good, his prayer to be safe from the fire was answered by God. Even though he couldn't run, he remained calm and it turned out that the fire was actually extinguished near his nest. (Istiyarti, 2008).

Awadana

Meanwhile, Awadana, basically has similarities to the Jataka story, but the Bodhisattva is not the protagonist being told. The Avadana story which is related to the Jataka story, where the main character is not the Bodhisattva himself, tells about sacred moral deeds in avadana which are associated with legendary people and the stories are collected in the book Diwyawadana which means noble divine deeds, and the book Awadanasataka or one hundred Awadana stories.

In the reliefs of the Borobudur temple Jataka and Awadana, they are treated the same, meaning that they are both found in the same row without being differentiated. The most famous collection of the Bodhisattva's life is the Jatakamala or series of Jataka stories, the work of the poet Aryasura who lived in the 4th century AD.

Source: Guide Book arisguide. Guidance Techniques Chandi Borobudur arisguide.

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Borobudur-insight into a meditation.

Get more narration and materials about Chandi Borobudur in Barabudur atau Borobudur, Candi Buddha Pusaka Budaya Indonesia.

Reading is more fun exploring the thematic narratives in more detail in KEBUDAYAAN BOROBUDUR - BELAJAR DENGAN PAMONG CARITA.

Visiting and traveling becomes even more fun, explore the thematic narrative in more detail in:

Travel to Borobudur - learning with tour guides.

Reading in English is fun and also seems so interesting to translate into language that is easy and flexible, get readings in detail in Welcome to Borobudur Temple, the fabric of life in the Buddhist culture.

Explore, admire the beauty of art in pictures and photos by typing the detailed link in PHOTO IMAGE BOROBUDUR.

Welcome to more narrative about Chandi Borobudur in Selamat Datang di Kebudayaan Borobudur - wisata dengan Pamong Carita.

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Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide, Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide.

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