Kingdoms in Indonesia

What do you think makes a kingdom important?

What are some Hindu kingdoms in Indonesia?

The Kutai Kingdom was located near the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan and was one of the first Hindu kingdoms in Indonesia, around 400 AD. We know about this kingdom from seven stone inscriptions called Yupa, which were written in Sanskrit using the Pallava script from India. The first king of Kutai was Kudungga. His son, King Aswawarman, took over and was known to be a strong ruler. Later, King Mulawarman, Aswawarman’s son, became king. Under King Mulawarman rule, the Kutai Kingdom reached its greatest success. He was known for being generous, giving many gifts like thousands of cattle and gold to the Brahmins (priests).

The Tarumanagara Kingdom, also known as Taruma (Sundanese Kingdom), was an ancient kingdom in Western Java. It existed around the 5th century, and its most famous king was Purnawarman. He ruled around the year 450 CE and left behind some of the oldest writings, namely Prasasti Ciaruteun, Kebon Kopi, Jambu, Muara Cianten, Tugu, Pasir Awi, and Cidanghiang found in Java. These writings, carved on stone, were discovered in places near Bogor and Jakarta. According to Prasasti Ciaruteun, the Tarumanagara kingdom was led by Purnawarman as the 3rd and greatest king in history. Purnawarman is remembered as a great leader, and he built a 12-kilometer long water canal on the Gomati river in just 21 days to improve farming and trade in the kingdom.

The Kalingga Kingdom was one of the earliest Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms in Jepara, Central Java. It existed around 674 AD. The kingdom was split into two parts, called Keling and Medang. Kalingga kingdom experienced its glory when it was ruled by Queen Sima, and a well-known priest named Jhanabhadra served during this time. However, in 782 AD, the kingdom fell and was taken over by leaders from Medang, Rakai Mataram and Rakai Panangkaran. Some historical remains from the Kalingga Kingdom include the Tukmas and Sojomerto inscriptions (ancient texts that provide information about the kingdom's history, rulers, or religious practices), as well as Angin Temple and Bubrah Temple.

The ancient Mataram Kingdom was in Central Java during the 8th century AD. Its first king was King Sanjaya, who was called Rakai Mataram Sang Ratu Sanjaya. Evidence of historical heritage from the ancient Mataram kingdom are temples, including Dieng Temple, Prambanan Temple, Canggal Temple, and Gedong Sanga Temple. Other historical evidence is in the form of inscriptions, including Canggal Inscription, Kalasan, Dinoyo, and Kedu.

The Kediri Kingdom was established in 1042 AD near the Brantas River in East Java. It ended in 1222 AD when Ken Arok took control. The kings of Kediri included Kameswara, Jayabaya, Sarweswara, Aryaswara, Ganara, and Kertajaya. King Jayabaya is the most famous because he united the Kediri and Jenggala kingdoms. The last king, Kertajaya, died in 1222 when Ken Arok defeated Kediri in Ganter village, Malang. We learn about the Kediri Kingdom from news reports and Chinese writings, such as the Padlegan, Hantang, Jaring, and Kemulan inscriptions. Remains from the kingdom include the Panumbangan and Palah inscriptions, as well as books like the Smaradahana by Empu Dharmaja, the Hariwangsa by Empu Panuluh, and the Krinayana by Empu Triguna.

The Singasari Kingdom was started by Ken Arok in the year 1222. It was located in Singosari, Malang, East Java. Ken Arok was the king until 1227. After him, Anusapati ruled from 1227 to 1248, then Tohjaya for a short time in 1248, followed by Ranggawuni from 1248 to 1268, and finally Kertanegara from 1268 to 1292. The kingdom lasted a long time but was destroyed when the Mongol Empire and Jayakatwang's army attacked it. Some important sites from the Singasari period are: Jago Temple, which is the tomb of Wisnuwardhana; Singasari Temple and Jawi Temple, which are the tombs of Kertanegara; Kidal Temple, the tomb of Anusapati; and the Prajnaparamita Sculpture, which represents Ken Dedes.

The first king of the Majapahit Kingdom was Raden Wijaya, who started his rule in 1293 AD. In 1331, Gajah Mada stopped a rebellion and became

Who was the first king of the Majapahit Kingdom?

• Raden Wijaya

• Gajah Mada

• Hayam Wuruk

• Anak Wungsu