Many theories attempt to explain the name of this temple. One of them states that the name is probably derived from the word Sambharabhudhara, which means "mountain" (bhudara) where the slopes situated terraces. In addition there are some other folk etymology. Suppose that the word comes from the greeting Borobudur "the Buddha" who due to sound shifts to Borobudur. Another explanation is that the name derives from two words "coal" and "beduhur". The word supposedly comes from the embers of the monastery, while there is also another explanation where the coal comes from Sanskrit which means temple or monastery complex and beduhur meaning is "high", or to remind the Balinese language means "above". So the point is a monastery or hostel located on high ground.
Historian J.G. de Casparis in his dissertation to obtain his doctorate in 1950 argued that Borobudur is a place of worship. Based on the inscriptions and Kahulunan Karangtengah, Casparis estimate the founder of Borobudur was named king of Mataram dynasty Syailendra Samaratungga, which they will build around the year 824 AD The giant new buildings can be completed at the time of her daughter, Queen Pramudawardhani. Borobudur Development estimated a half-century time-consuming. In the inscription Karangtengah also mentioned about the bestowal of land sima (tax-free land) by the CRI Kahulunan (Pramudawardhani) to maintain Kamūlān called Bhūmisambhāra. Kamūlān term itself comes from the first word that means place of origin, the sacred buildings to glorify the ancestors, the ancestors of the dynasty Sailendra possibility. Bhumi Sambhāra Casparis Bhudhāra estimates that in the Sanskrit language which means "Hill of the set of ten levels boddhisattwa virtue," was the original name of Borobudur.
Borobudur is a ten-story clearly illustrates the Mahayana school of philosophy. like a book, Borobudur described ten levels of Bodhisattva which must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha. Kamadhatu symbolizes the foot of Borobudur, the world is still dominated by kama, or "low desire". This part is mostly covered by a pile of stone that allegedly made to strengthen the construction of temples. At the closed part of this additional structure there are 120 panels Kammawibhangga story. A small additional structure was set aside so people can still see the relief in this section.
Four floors with wall berelief on it by experts named Rupadhatu. The floor is rectangular. Rupadhatu is a world that has been able to free himself from passion, but still bound by the appearance and shape. This level represents the nature of that is, between the bottom and the nature of nature. In part this Rupadhatu Buddha statues there in the recesses of the wall above ballustrade or breezeway.
Starting the fifth to the seventh floor walls are not berelief. This level is called Arupadhatu (which means do not form or intangible). Circular floor plan. It represents a level of natural top, where the man was free from all desires and commitments shape and appearance, but have not reached nirvana. Buddha statues are placed in the stupa covered with holes as in a cage. From outside the statues were still dim.
The highest level that describes the lack of existence is symbolized in the form of the Stupa, the largest and highest. Stupa depicted plain without the holes. Within the biggest stupa of Buddha statue was ever found of an imperfect or unfinished also called Buddha, which disalahsangkakan as Adibuddha statue, but through further research, there never was a statue at the main stupa, statues were not completed was a mistake creators in the past. according to the belief that one statue in the drafting process was not allowed to be destroyed. Archaeological excavations carried out in the yard to find many statues of this temple like this.