Sri Sanjaya

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For other uses, see Sanjaya (disambiguation).

King Sri Sanjaya (AD 732 — 760) was the founder of Mataram Kingdom and also the Sanjaya Dynasty during the eighth century. His name was revealed in the AD 732 Sanskrit inscription carved in stone found at the foot of Ukir (or Wukir) hill (about 340 m (1,115 ft) high) on the southern Kedu Plain in Central Java.[1] The inscription also states that Sanjaya was an ardent follower of Shaivism, in contrast with his Buddhist rival of the Sailendras. The latter was forced to move eastward by Sanjaya as written in an old Chinese report, whom named Sanjaya as Chi-Yen.[2]

Sanjaya was also known as Rakai Mataram with the additional title of 'Sang Ratu Sanjaya'.[2] The title rakai (from raka or rake meaning 'lord of') indicates any members of nobility from a king to a simple squire. The name of King Sanjaya Saga was also mentioned in the old romanticized and mythicized Sundanese manuscript of Carita Parahyangan (or Parahyangan Story) in which Sanjaya was portrayed as the Sundanese king hero of Galuh.[3]

Sanjaya accession to his throne was proclaimed in the Ukir inscription and it was accomplished by force because he was the son of Sannaha (the previous ruler) to save the country from destruction. An analysis to the inscription, which marked as a warning to vassal states and defeated kings, suggests that the Ukir hill was the first center of Mataram Kingdom. Sanjaya later moved his kraton between AD 742—755, as written in a Chinese annal.[2]

Another recorded source of Sanjaya's history and his successors was found in the Balitung charter. Balitung mentioned what it is called 'the builders of kraton', starting from Rakai Mataram (Sanjaya) followed by the Maharaja Rakai Panangkaran, Panunggalan, Warak, Garung, Pikatan, Kayuwangi, Watuhumalang and Watukura (which is Balitung himself).[2]

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ W. J. van der Meulen (1977). "In Search of "Ho-Ling"". Indonesia 23: 87–112. 
  2. ^ a b c d W. J. van der Meulen (1979). "King Sañjaya and His Successors". Indonesia 28: 17–54. doi:10.2307/3350894. 
  3. ^ R. Ng. Poerbatjaraka (1919). "De Batoe-toelis bij Buitenzorg". Tijdschrift voor Indische taal-, land-, en volkenkunde 59: 380–417. 
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