Canggal inscription
Encyclopedia
The Canggal inscription is a Java
nese inscription dated to 732
, discovered in the Gunung Wukir temple complex in Kadiluwih village, Salam, Magelang Regency
, Central Java
. The inscription is written in the Pallawa script in the Sanskrit
language. The inscription documents an edict of Sanjaya
, in which he declared himself the universal ruler of Medang.
(the symbol of Shiva
) on the hill of Kunjarakunja, by Sanjaya's order. The lingam is sited on the noble island of Yawadwipa (Java
), which the inscription describes as blessed with an abundance of rice and gold. Yawadwipa, the inscription says, had long been under the rule of the wise and virtuous king Sanna, but fell after his death into disunity. Amid a period of confusion Sanjaya
, son of Sannaha (the sister of Sanna) ascended to the throne. Sanjaya mastered holy scriptures, martial arts, and displayed military prowess. After the conquest of neighboring areas his reign was peaceful and prosperous.
The inscription makes reference 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
.
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese inscription dated to 732
732
Year 732 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 732 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* October 10 – Battle of Tours: Near...
, discovered in the Gunung Wukir temple complex in Kadiluwih village, Salam, Magelang Regency
Magelang Regency
Magelang is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Mungkid. Its motto is Magelang Gemilang ....
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
. The inscription is written in the Pallawa script in the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
language. The inscription documents an edict of Sanjaya
Sri Sanjaya
King Sri Sanjaya 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 hill on the southern Kedu Plain in Central Java...
, in which he declared himself the universal ruler of Medang.
Content
The inscription describes the erection of a lingamLingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
(the symbol of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
) on the hill of Kunjarakunja, by Sanjaya's order. The lingam is sited on the noble island of Yawadwipa (Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
), which the inscription describes as blessed with an abundance of rice and gold. Yawadwipa, the inscription says, had long been under the rule of the wise and virtuous king Sanna, but fell after his death into disunity. Amid a period of confusion Sanjaya
Sri Sanjaya
King Sri Sanjaya 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 hill on the southern Kedu Plain in Central Java...
, son of Sannaha (the sister of Sanna) ascended to the throne. Sanjaya mastered holy scriptures, martial arts, and displayed military prowess. After the conquest of neighboring areas his reign was peaceful and prosperous.
The inscription makes reference to Kunjarakunja-desa, perhaps meaning "the hermitage land of Kunjara", which has been identified as the hermitage of Rishi Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
, a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Maharishi revered in Southern India. The Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
contains a reference to a visit to Agastya hermitage on Kunjara by Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
, Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
, and Lakshmana
Lakshmana
Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana...
.
Reference
- 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. KernJohan Hendrik Caspar KernJohan Hendrik Caspar Kern was a Dutch linguist and Orientalist. In the literature, he is usually referred to as H...
, 1917, Verspreide Geschriften, deel VII. 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff. - J.J. RasHans RasJohannes Jacobus Ras was emeritus professor of Javanese language and literature at Leiden University, the Netherlands...
, 1994, ‘Geschiedschrijving en de Legitimiteit van het Koningschap op Java' BKI 150-3 (1994): 518-38.
