Bali Tapestry

Rama fighting Maricha

Prambanan temple

Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to Tri Murti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Sustainer (Vishnu), and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta city on the boundary between Yogya and Central Java province.

The temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and is one of the largest and the most beautiful Hindu temple in Southeast Asia. The Prambanan compound also known as Loro Jonggrang complex, named after the popular legend of Loro Jonggrang.

Ramayana’s relief illustrated on Prambanan temple narrating Sita, the wife of Rama, is abducted by Ravana. The monkey king Hanuman brings his army to help Rama and rescue Sita.

Rama is the main protagonist of the tale, portrayed as the seventh avatar of the God Vishnu, he is the eldest and the favorite son of the King of Ayodhya, Dasharata, and his wife Kausalya. He is portrayed as the epitome of virtue. Dasharata is forced by Kaikeyi, one of his wives, to command Rama to relinquish his right o the throne for fourteen year and go into exile.

Lakshmana is the younger brother of Rama, who chose to go into exile with him. He is portrayed as an avatara of Shesha, the naga associated with the God Vishnu.

Sita is beloved wife of Rama and the daughter of king Janaka. Rama went to Janakpurdham, current city of Janakpur, Nepal, and got a chance to marry her by lifting a heavy bow in compettion organized by king Janaka. The competition was to find the most suitable husband for Sita and many princes from different state competed to win her. Sita is a avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Sita is portrayed as the epitome of female purity and virtue. She follows her husband into exile and is abducted by Ravana. She is imprisoned on the island of Lanka until Rama rescues her by defeating the demon king Ravana.

Ravana is a rakshasa, is the king of Lanka. After performing severe penance for ten thousand years he received a boon from the creator –God Brahma, he could henceforth not to be killed by Gods, demons, or spirit. He is portrayed as powerful demon king who disturbs the penances of Rishis. Vishnu incarnates as the human Rama to defeat him, thus circumventing the boon given by Brahma.

Rama fighting Maricha demon

Rama Sita and Lakshmana journeyed southward a long he banks of river Godavari, where they built cottage and lived off the land. At the Panchavati forest they are visited by a rakshasa woman, Surpanaka, the sister of Ravana. She attempts to seduce the brothers and, failing in this, attempts to kill Sita. Lakshmana stops her by cutting off her nose and ears. Hearing of this, her demon brother Khara, organizes an attack against the princes. Rama annihilates Khara and his demons.

When news of these event reaches Rama, he resolves to destroy Rama by capturing Sita with the aids of the rakshasa Maricha, assuming form of a golden deer, captivates Sita’s attention. Entrenched by beauty of the deer, Sita pleads with Rama to capture it. Rama, aware that this is the play of the demons, is unable to dissuade Sita from her desire and chases the deer into the forest, leaving Sita under Lakshmana’s guard. After sometimes Sita hear Rama calling out to her, afraid to his life she insists that Lakshmana rush to his aid. Lakshmana tries to assure her that Rama is invincible, and that it is best if he continues to follow Rama’s order to protect her. On the verge of hysterics Sita insists that it is not she but Rama who needs Laksmana’s help. He obeys her wish but stipulates that she is not to leave the cottage or entertain any strangers. Finally with the coast clear, Ravana appears in the guise of an ascetic requesting Sita’s hospitality. Unaware of the devious plan of her guest, Sita is then forcibly carried away by the evil Ravana.

Jatayu, a vulture, tries to rescue Sita, but is mortally wounded At Langka, Sita kept under the heavy guard of rakshasis. Ravana demands Sita marry him, but Sita, eternally devoted to Rama and refuses. Rama and Lakshamana learn about Sita’s abduction from Jatayu, and immediately set out to save her. During their search, they meet the demon Kabandha and the ascetic Shabari, who direct them towards Sugriva and Hanuman. The above story is part of Aranya khanda on Ramayana ‘s story.

Rama fighting Mericha demon on tapestry

Sudhana

Borobudur temple

Sudhana is a young merchant's son as he travels the world in search of wisdom at Borobudur’s Gandavyuha reliefs portrays on third until forth terrace level of Borobudur temple. Borobudur is Buddhism temple located in Central Java, Indonesia. Reliefs portrays at wall of the temple narrating the story of historical Budha called the Sakyamuni.

During his many journeys, the young man Sudhana encounters a total of fifty-five spiritual teachers who share their spiritual knowledge and experiences with the young man. In the ancient Sanskrit language of India, Sudhana means "good wealth." The use of this particular name for the hero suggests that the riches that one accumulates in life should be applied to good use for the benefit of others. The young noblemen of Java undoubtedly saw their own reflections in these reliefs.

Like Sudhana, these Buddhist princes likely had traveled the world on the ships of the Sailendra fleet in their search for wisdom and knowledge. For this reason other have suggested that the Gandavyuha reliefs may contain elements that pertain to Javanese missions to the Holy Land of India and elsewhere.

Sudhana's relief on Gandavyuha terrace at Borobudur temple

Borobudur's Gandavyuha reliefs often portray Sudhana with an umbrella over his head to his status as a nobleman or prince. In the text itself, however, Sudhana is merely identified as the son of a merchant. And yet the Gandavyuha reliefs at Borobudur reliefs portray Sudhana with an entourage that is equipped with elephants and other accoutrement’s that were associated with royalty.

During his travels from guru to guru, Sudhana contemplates what he has just learned and then integrates each new-found piece of knowledge into his spiritual practice. The underlying message of the text is that the spiritual practice of enlightening beings is not to be found in any one place or embodied in any single individual.

Sudhana says, "Bodhisattvas are navigators showing the way on the ocean of truth; bodhisattvas are bridges conveying all sentient beings across the sea of mundane life; enlightening beings are a pathway to the holy for all sentient beings."


Sudhana's relief

Among Sudhana's other teachers is the Hindu god Mahadeva, eight night goddesses, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and a host of other saints, monks, and sages. At each stage of the journey, the young man is shown inconceivable miracles, vast treasures, a multiplicity of worlds, visions of innumerable Buddhas and bodhisattvas, incomparable magical powers, and the infinity of space and time itself. But perhaps the most important revelation is that the ultimate truth is not only to be found in heaven, but also in meetings with ordinary people from all walks of life. In the Gandavyuha, the mundane world of everyday life is transformed into a luminous existence that consists of one continuous and miraculous teaching.

"From a fisherman he learned the lore of the sea. From a doctor he learned compassion toward sick people in their suffering. From a wealthy man he learned that saving pennies was the secret of his fortune and thought how necessary it was to conserve every trifling gained on the path to Enlightenment.

"From a meditating monk he learned that the pure and peaceful mind had a miraculous power to purify and tranquilize other minds. Once he met a woman of exceptional personality and was impressed by her benevolent spirit, and from her he learned a lesson that charity was the fruit of wisdom. Once he met an aged wanderer who told him that, to reach a certain place, he had to scale a mountain of swords and pass through a valley of fire. Thus Sudhana learned from his experiences that there was a true teaching to be gained from everything that he saw or heard.

"He learned patience from a poor, cripple woman, he learned a lesson of simple happiness from watching children playing in the street; and from some gentle and humble people, who never thought of wanting anything that anybody else wanted, he learned the secret of living at peace with the world. He learned a lesson of harmony from watching the blending of the elements of incense, and a lesson of thanksgiving from the arrangement of flowers.

"One day, passing through a forest, he took a rest under a noble tree and noticed a tiny seedling growing nearby out of a fallen and decaying tree and it taught him a lesson of the uncertainty of life. Sunlight by day and the twinkling stars by night constantly refreshed his spirit. Thus Sudhana profited by the experiences of his long journey.

"Indeed, those who seek for Enlightenment must think of their minds as castles and decorate them. They must open wide the gates of their minds for Buddha, and respectfully and humbly invite Him to enter the innermost chamber, there to offer Him the fragrant incense of faith and the flowers of gratitude and gladness.