Minister Luhut Surprised There Is A Coal Industry In The Muarajambi Temple Area

Liputan6.com, Jambi – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan chaired the coordination meeting for the development of the Muarajambi National Cultural Conservation Area (KCBN). The meeting, which was held at the Jambi Governor’s Office House, Wednesday (19/1/2022), was held to accelerate the development of the Muarajambi KCBN in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province, as a quality tourism destination.

In the meeting attended by important officials, Coordinating Minister Luhut admitted that he was amazed by the traces of civilization at the Muarajambi temple site. KCBN Muarajambi in the VII-XIII centuries was once the largest center of Buddhist education in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The Muarajambi temple site is also considered to be the oldest educational center in the world.

However, apart from being amazed by the traces of civilization and remains at the Muarajambi temple site, Luhut was also shocked after being shown the problem of the stockpile industry (stockpile) coal, which until now still surrounds the historic site.

Regarding the existence of industry stockpile Coal in the cultural heritage area, said Luhut, can no longer be allowed to operate. He asked that the coal industry be moved.

“This (coal industry) cannot be in a historical area, so the permit can be revoked later. This should not be tolerated, ” Luhut said while leading the Coordination Meeting in front of the officials present.

Luhut said the coal stockpiling industry must be moved immediately. To make Muarajambi KCBN a quality destination, he said, it must be clean from industry because it could threaten the preservation of the temple. stockpile of coal. Two or three months this must be completed, “said Luhut.

Luhut has sent his deputy to chair a follow-up meeting to translate a program. There will be around 10 cross-sectoral ministries and agencies that will be involved in the development of the Muarajambi temple area, including overcoming industrial problems in the area.

“The first we will ask to move all stockpile coal in the area. Don’t exist anymore because the Muarajambi area used to be the oldest university,” said Luhut.

Muarajambi KCBN has been designated as an area core in one geographic space of 3,981 hectares. Of the total area of ​​this area that has been released, only 31 hectares or 0.78 percent is owned and the rest is still controlled by the community and entrepreneurs.

Currently, continued Luhut, Ministry of Finance ATR/BPN, Kemenkumham, and Kemensetneg are currently preparing a National Strategic Area Spatial Plan (RTR KSN) for the Muarajambi KCBN. The KSN Murajambi RTR is targeted for completion in September 2022.

The presence of the coal industry in the Muarajambi Cultural Heritage area on the south side does not only have an impact on the sustainability of the site. Coal dust particles from flying around can also threaten the health of residents in Muara Jambi Village.

Luhut said, there are companies whose permits are valid until 2038. There are 7 collection companies. coal, and a Curd Palm Oil/CPO factory located on the south side of KCBN Muarajambi. found, and this can thwart KCBN Muarajambi from becoming a world heritage,” said Luhut.

Located on the banks of the Batanghari River–the longest river in Sumatra that passes through Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province, many relics of old civilizations are still left. The temples in Muaro Jambi are spread from west to east along 7.5 kilometers following the Batanghari flow.

Ancient architecture in the form of hidden temples centuries ago . Some of the ruins of the building have been restored and opened to tourists. Meanwhile, there are still tens of mounds of earth that contain ancient building structures.

Muarajambi KCBN is located in Marosebo District, Muarojambi Regency or close to Batanghari, which is a river longest in Sumatra. The existence of this historical site is a series of the existence of Suarnadwipa or the island of gold.

Archeologists conclude the enshrinement Muarajambi is the largest Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Southeast Asia with an area of ​​eight times the size of the Borobudur temple. The Muarajambi Temple area has a total area of ​​3,981 hectares, spread over eight villages mostly inhabited by the Jambi Malay community.

Historical data from the Jambi Cultural Heritage Preservation Center (BPCB) , that the Muarajambi temple in the past became the center of Buddhist education. This is based on the findings of artifacts such as the ruins of the Stupa, the Prajaniparmita Statue, and other findings.

Long ago in 671 AD, a traveler from China I-Tsing, or Yi Jing, noted, thousands of monks from Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, came to Muarajambi to deepen their knowledge before going to Nalanda (currently Bihar region in India).

Still in the same historical literature mentions, Supreme Master Buddha Atisha Dipangkara had studied and lived permanently in the Muarajambi temple for 11 years or around 1011-1023 AD.

Atisha was a great teacher who had a role in establishing the second wave of Buddhism in Tibet. He was once a student of a great teacher of Buddhism, namely Serlingpa Dharmakirti.

In 2016, a group of monks from several countries had made a holy trip to the Muarajambi temple. The head of the group of Bhiksu Jangchup Choeden said that the teachings of

Boddhi Citta (inner enlightenment) of Buddhists in Tibet were adopted from the teachings of the great Buddha. guru Atisha from the Muarajambi temple.

“The boddhi mind teachings were brought to Tibet by the great teacher Atihsa, until now the boddhi mind teachings are still preserved by the international Buddhist community in the Tiber ,” said Bhiksu Jangchup Choeden several years ago while on a holy journey at the Muarajambi temple. Currently, several buildings have been restored, such as the Tinggi Temple, Gumpung Temple, Astana Temple, Kembar Batu Temple, Gedong Temple I, Gedong Temple II, Tinggi Temple I, Kedaton Temple, Koto Mahligai Temple, and Teluk I Temple.

In addition there are other remains, ranging from ancient canals and rivers that are interconnected with the temple building.

The existence of the site Muarajambi temple, besides being visited by many tourists, is also now being visited by many Buddhists from various countries to make holy trips.