048 Borobudur Buddha Head

The Buddha lived in northeast India around 500 BCE. He gave up worldly comforts, and found spiritual enlightenment through a simple lifestyle and meditation. This head, which is made of volcanic stone, represents the Buddha with his special characteristics: the long earlobes remind us of the heavy earrings he wore as a prince, before he gave up his wealth; the gentle smile indicates serenity; the raised spot on the forehead represents a third eye—a sign of spiritual insight—and the raised dome on his head—like a bun—is a symbol of higher wisdom.

Although Buddhism originated in India, it spread to other parts of Asia, and reached Indonesia around 700 CE. This statue comes from the great Buddhist monument of Borobudur, built on the island of Java in Indonesia around a hundred years later. The design of Borobudur is based on a mandala—a Buddhist diagram of the universe. It is a huge stepped pyramid composed of a series of platforms, rising to a large bell-shaped mound, or stupa, in the centre—this represents the core of the universe. As pilgrims to Borobudur climb up the monument, they undertake a physical journey that symbolises their spiritual path towards enlightenment. The whole monument is covered in sculptures of the Buddha, as well as reliefs showing scenes from his life. The reliefs on the lower levels focus on the sufferings of humanity, highlighting why it is important to seek enlightenment.

The central mound of Borobudur is surrounded by seventy-two smaller bell-shaped stupas. A seated statue of the Buddha was placed inside each one: and this head comes from one of those statues. After Islam reached Java, Borobudur was abandoned, and it was not rediscovered until 1814.