Canggal_inscription

Canggal inscription

Canggal inscription

Sanskrit inscription from Java, Indonesia

The Canggal inscription is a Sanskrit inscription dated to 732, discovered in the Gunung Wukir temple complex in Kadiluwih village, Salam, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The inscription is written in the Pallava alphabet. The inscription documents an edict of Sanjaya, in which he declared himself the universal ruler of the Mataram Kingdom.

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The inscription describes the erection of a lingam (the symbol of Shiva) in the country of Kunjarakunja, by Sanjaya's order. The lingam is sited on the noble island of Yava (Java), which the inscription describes as "rich in grain and gold mines".[1]: 87–88  Yawadwipa ("Java island"), and had long been under the rule of the wise and virtuous king Sanna, but fell into disunity after his death. Amid a period of confusion Sanjaya, son of Sannaha (the sister of Sanna) ascended to the throne. Sanjaya mastered holy scriptures, and martial arts, and displayed military prowess. After the conquest of neighboring areas, his reign was peaceful and prosperous.[2]

The inscription refers to Kunjarakunja-desa, perhaps meaning "the hermitage land of Kunjara", which has been identified as the hermitage of Rishi Agastya, a Hindu Maharishi revered in Southern India. The Ramayana contains a reference to a visit to Agastya hermitage on Kunjara by Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana.

The name Sanjaya, Sanna and Sannaha curiously was also mentioned in Carita Parahyangan, a book from a later period composed around 16th century which suggested refer to the same historical person.

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  2. [2]
    Drs. R. Soekmono (1973). Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius. p. 40.

References

  • Damais, L.C., 1952, 'Etudes d'épigraphie indonésienne, III, Liste des principales inscriptions datées de 1'Indonésie', Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (Hanoi) XLVI: 1-103.
  • Dowson, J., 1957, A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology. London: Kegan Paul.
  • H. Kern, 1917, Verspreide Geschriften, deel VII. 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff.
  • J.J. Ras, 1994, ‘Geschiedschrijving en de Legitimateit van het Koningschap op Java' BKI 150-3 (1994): 518-38.
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