Buddhist priests and monks performing the 'pradaksina' ritual on Aug 17, 2024 by circumambulating Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, to commemorate 79 years of Indonesian independence.- Antara/
JAKARTA: The government intends to conduct further research to determine whether it is appropriate to build a chattra at the top of Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, following recent opposition from archaeologists who doubt that the original temple had the umbrella-like structure
The decision is part of a seven-step plan to support installing chattra and was made at a meeting on Sept 11 led by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who also chairs the advisory council of the Borobudur Tourism Authority (BOB).
The plan includes feasibility and cultural heritage impact assessments, as well as involves communication with all related stakeholders and consultation with international bodies, such as Unesco and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos
“We are targeting these measures to finish within a year to ensure the chattra is installed properly and in line with applicable regulations to meet the aspiration of Buddhists,” Sunanto, spokesman of the Religious Affairs Ministry, said in a statement on Sept 11.
He added that construction on the chattra would not proceed without the permission of the Education, Culture, Research and Technology and the BOB advisory council.
The government initially planned to install the chattra at the top of Borobudur, a Unesco World Heritage Site and the world’s largest Buddhist temple in the world.
However, the plan was postponed due to strong opposition from archaeologists, who called for additional studies to determine if the temple originally featured the umbrella-like structure.
The topmost level of Borobudur Temple, featuring the main Yasthi stupa topped by a 'chattra' and surrounded by smaller stupas, appears in this photo taken between 1907 and 1931 after the temple’s first restoration led by Dutch army engineer Theodoor van Erp. - Wikimedia Commons/Courtesy of Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
“In-depth archaeological research still needs to be done to prove whether the temple used to have a chattra,” said Marsis Sutopo, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Archaeologists (IAAI). Marsis added that certified cultural heritage preservation experts should oversee the structure’s installation upon the completion of feasibility, planning and heritage impact assessments to determine its authenticity.
The latest commotion comes amid a debate over the historical existence of a chattra at Borobudur’s main Yasthi stupa, which has been ongoing for more than a century since the temple’s first restoration in 1907-1911 led by Theodoor van Erp.
The Dutch army engineer rebuilt a chattra for the temple’s main stupa based on his analysis of the remaining stone blocks. But he later dismantled the structure over his doubt about whether the temple structure originally included a chattra, as archaeologists had not unearthed any stones indicating their original use in such a structure.
According to Sunanto, researchers of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) used the same argument in pushing the government to postpone its plan to install a chattra by Sept 18.
Van Erp’s reconstructed chattra by is currently on display at Karmawibhannga Museum, also known as Borobudur Museum, located near the temple within Borobudur Archaeological Park.
The latest plan to construct a chattra was drawn up in July 2023 during a ministerial coordination that included the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry.
Following that meeting, officials from the Religious Affairs Ministry visited Buddhism leader Bhante Sri Pannavaro Mahathera in Magelang, who responded positively to the plan to build the chattra on top of the Borobudur Temple.
Bhikku Sasana Bodhi Thera, an ordained monk, told The Jakarta Post last week that the chattra should be installed only if researchers and other relevant authorities found enough evidence to support its historical existence.
“If there is still controversy among experts and related parties about the structure, I think the plan should not be forced,” he added
Billy Lukito Joeswanto, who chairs the advisory council of the Young Buddhist Association (YBA) of Indonesia, noted that chattra was part of the Mahayana tradition, one of the three branches of Buddhism and the one on which Borobudur is founded.
However, Billy also noted that rushing the structure’s installation at the historically significant temple would undermine the Buddhist principles of compassion and wisdom.
If the structure were eventually built, he hoped it would foster “harmony in the middle way” among all participating parties, including archaeologists. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
