"The Pinnacle of the Main Stūpa"

Krom and Van Erp conclude that Borobudur’s main stūpa originally had a complex pinnacle composed of a square base, an octagonal pillar with ribbed divisions, and a crowning system of likely three parasols separated by octagonal knobs and topped with a jewel finial. This reconstruction is based mainly on excavated fragments rather than earlier unreliable drawings, though uncertainties remain about proportions and details above the base. Comparisons with reliefs at Borobudur and stūpa traditions in India, Nepal, and Tibet support the symbolic and structural role of parasols. Due to these uncertainties, the full reconstruction was later partially dismantled, retaining only the lower portion.