Story of Bali, Indonesia

Originally, at the time of the Maurya dynasty, which ruled in northern India from the end of tile fourth century to the second century BC., the stupa was quite a simple structure: a hemispherical burial mound over tile ashes or a relic of Buddha crowed by an umbrella, symbolic of his high status. This umbrella was enclosed by stone railings, and at the foot of the whole structure there was a processional path, secured from the outside by railings with entrance-gates, torana. Later on such stupas were also created both at places where according to tradition Buddha was supposed to have preached, as well as on top of the ashes of Buddhist saints.

In the course of time the hemisphere evolved into a bell shape, in which we can perhaps see, in upturned begging-howl such as is carried by Buddhist monks. And this shape is also to be found in Java.

No doubt many smaller stupas were erected in this island. In many places we still can see ruins, for example in southern Kediri, in eastern Java; but only the base remains. The most magnificent example of stupa architecture has been preserved in an edifice, the Borobudur, undoubtedly one of tile most imposing creations of mankind.

In Borobudur the main stupa which crowns the whole structure forms the centre and climax of a grandiose conception of Mahayana Buddhism. This monument, incidentally, does not contain .a space, but is built around a natural mound of earth.

Monasteries must undoubtedly have existed, but since they were wood- Monasteries en buildings, only very few have remained. They are only mentioned and here because of their significance in the religious life of the past.

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