Latest / The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History / The Sailendra Dynasty and the Construction of Borobudur
Transcript
- Lucas: So, we've talked a lot about Srivijaya's maritime empire, but I think it's time we looked at something a bit different — the Sailendra dynasty and their most famous monument, Borobudur. Luna: Borobudur — that massive Buddhist temple in Java, right? Lucas: Exactly. It's in Central Java, on the Kedu Plain, and it's the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Built between about 750 and 850 CE, during the Sailendra dynasty's peak. But here's the thing — the Sailendra were closely tied to Srivijaya, and some scholars even think they were a branch of the same ruling family. Luna: So they weren't just neighbors — they were family? Lucas: Possibly. The Sailendra name means 'King of the Mountain' in Sanskrit, and they appear in inscriptions both in Java and in Srivijayan records. For instance, the Kalasan inscription from 778 mentions a Sailendra king named Indra who built a temple for the bodhisattva Tara. That temple is Candi Kalasan, still standing near Borobudur. Luna: So they were building temples even before Borobudur. Lucas: Right. Borobudur itself was likely begun under King Indra, but it took decades to finish, possibly under his successors Samaratungga and his daughter Pramodhawardhani. The whole structure is a massive mandala — a three-dimensional representation of Buddhist cosmology. Pilgrims would walk up through nine platforms, starting from the world of desire, then form, then formlessness, and finally reach the central stupa at the top. Luna: It's like a spiritual journey in stone. Lucas: Exactly. And the reliefs — over 2,600 panels — illustrate Buddhist scriptures, including the Jataka tales and the life of the Buddha. The style shows heavy influence from Gupta Indian art, but also local Javanese elements. For instance, the way the clouds or trees are carved is distinctly Southeast Asian. Luna: Interesting. So how does the Sailendra dynasty connect to Srivijaya? Lucas: Well, there's an inscription from 782 — the Kelurak inscription — that mentions a Sailendra king named Dharanindra, who may have been the same as the Srivijayan Maharaja Dharmasetu. But the clearest link is through Balaputradewa, a later Sailendra prince who fled to Srivijaya after a dynastic struggle in Java. He ended up becoming a Srivijayan maharaja and built a monastery at Nalanda in India. Luna: So the Sailendra didn't just build Borobudur — they also shaped Srivijaya's Buddhist network. Lucas: Exactly. And that network connected Sumatra, Java, India, and even Tibet. Borobudur itself was a symbol of that pan-Asian Buddhist culture. It's built with volcanic stone, which is dark grey and gives it a somber, majestic look. And we should also mention the two smaller temples nearby — Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon — which are part of the same complex. Luna: I've heard of Mendut — it has a huge seated Buddha. Lucas: Yes, and the three temples are aligned in a straight line. Pilgrims would start at Mendut, walk to Pawon, and then to Borobudur. It was all planned. Now, the Sailendra dynasty didn't last long as rulers of Java. By the mid-9th century, power shifted to the Sanjaya dynasty, who were Hindu. There was probably a conflict, and Balaputradewa fled to Srivijaya. Luna: So after all that building, the Sailendra lost control of Java. Lucas: Yes. But Borobudur remained. It was abandoned sometime in the 14th century, maybe after the conversion of Java to Islam, and covered by volcanic ash and jungle for centuries. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was the British ruler of Java at the time. Luna: And then restored in the 20th century, right? Lucas: Yes, a massive UNESCO restoration in the 1970s and 80s. Over a million stones were dismantled and reassembled. Today it's a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of Indonesia. But what's less known is that the Sailendra dynasty also built other temples in Java, like Candi Mendut and Candi Sewu, which is a large complex of smaller temples dedicated to the Buddhist deity Manjushri. Luna: I didn't realize the Sailendra had such a broad building program. Lucas: They were prolific. But Borobudur is their masterpiece. And one thing that's debated is whether the Sailendra were originally from Java or Sumatra. Some scholars argue they were a Srivijayan family who took power in Java. Others say they were native Javanese who later married into Srivijaya. The evidence is murky. Luna: Which theory do you lean toward? Lucas: I think the evidence suggests they were a Javanese dynasty with close ties to Srivijaya. The names are Sanskrit, but the local art styles are Javanese. And there's no clear mention of them ruling from Sumatra. But the connection is undeniable, especially through Balaputradewa. Luna: It's amazing how much we can piece together from inscriptions and temples. Lucas: You know, it's quite something that we can still have these conversations. A small group of listeners supports this show through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, and that's what keeps us going — no ads, just history. So if you enjoy diving into these details, consider joining them. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. Lucas: Anyway, back to Borobudur — one of the most fascinating details is the hidden foot. The original base of the temple has reliefs that were covered by an outer wall, probably to reinforce the structure. Those reliefs depict scenes from the Karmavibhangga, a text about the law of cause and effect. They're only visible in a few places now. Luna: So the builders changed the design mid-construction? Lucas: It seems so. The hidden foot might have been an earlier version that was later encased. That gives us a glimpse into the construction process — how the temple evolved over decades. And the whole thing is oriented so that the entrance faces east, towards the sunrise. Luna: I guess that's common in many temples, but still, it must be stunning. Lucas: Absolutely. And the view from the top across the Kedu Plain is breathtaking. You can see Mount Merapi in the distance. The builders definitely chose the location carefully. The plain is a fertile volcanic basin, and the temple itself is built on a natural hill. Luna: So it's not just a monument — it's integrated with the landscape. Lucas: Exactly. And that's typical of Javanese temple architecture. They saw mountains as sacred, and the temple is like a symbolic mountain. The whole complex is a representation of Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain in Buddhist and Hindu cosmology. Luna: That's a lot of symbolism wrapped into one structure. Lucas: It is. And the Sailendra dynasty's legacy is really that blend of Indian ideas and local genius. Borobudur is a testament to their vision and the labor of thousands of workers, artists, and craftsmen. It's a stone encyclopedia of Buddhism. Luna: I'm glad we finally covered Borobudur. It's been a while since we talked about the Sailendra. Lucas: Yeah, and there's still so much more to explore. But for now, it's a good window into how Srivijaya's sphere of influence extended beyond trade into architecture and religion.