Airlangga

The deified statue of King Airlangga depicted as Vishnu mounting Garuda, found in Belahan, collection of Trowulan Museum, East Java.

Airlangga (also spelt Erlangga) (991 in Bali, Indonesia – 1049 in Java) was the only raja of the Kingdom of Kahuripan, which was built out of the rubble of the Kingdom of Medang after the Srivijaya invasion.

Early life

Airlangga was the son of Mahendradatta (a princess of the Isyana Dynasty, Medang) and Udayana Warmadewa (a king of the Warmadewa Dynasty, Bali). Airlangga was born and grew up in Bali, he spend his youth in the Watugaluh Palace, under the government of his uncle, king Dharmawangsa. At that time, Medang had become a powerful kingdom, allied or probably subjugated Bali, and had established a colony in West Kalimantan. Dharmawangsa aspired to asends Medang as regional power by challanging Srivijaya Empire domination. He launched naval invasion against Srivijaya and unsuccessfuly tried to capture Palembang. Srivijaya resiliently succeed on repelling Medang invaders.

Sriwijaya Invasion

In 1006, when Airlangga was sixteen, Srivijaya retaliated against Medang for the attacks upon the Empire. Wurawari (an ally of Srivijaya) burned Watugaluh Palace, and Dharmawangsa was killed in the battle, along with many of his subjects. Airlangga, accompanied by his guard Narotama, escaped into the jungle and retreated as a hermit in Vanagiri (today Wonogiri, Central Java).

Establishment of the Kahuripan Kingdom

In 1019, after several years in the hermitage, Airlangga began to unite the areas that had formerly been ruled by the Kingdom of Medan, which had disintegrated after Dharmawangsa's death. He established a new kingdom and made peace with Srivijaya. The new kingdom was called the Kingdom of Kahuripan, and stretched from Pasuran in the east to Madiun in the west. Airlangga was known for his religious tolerance, and was a patron of both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Later, he extended his kingdom to Central Java and Bali. In 1025, Airlangga increased the power and influence of Kahuripan as the Srivijaya Empire began to decline. The north coast of Java, particularly Surabaya and Tuban, for the first time became important centres of trade.

The arts and literature also flowered under Airlangga. In 1035, Mpu Kanwa composed the Arjuna Wiwaha text, which was adapted from the Mahabharata epic. This text told the story of Arjuna, an incarnation of Indra, but was also an allegory for Airlangga's own life. The tale of Airlangga's life was illustrated in the Belahan Temple on the flanks of Mount Penanggungan.

Disintegration of Kahuripan

Towards the end of his life, Airlangga was faced with the problem of succession. His heir, Sanggramawijaya, chose to become a hermit rather than succeed Airlangga, seduced by the legend of Dewi Kilisuci and the Selomangleng Cave beneath Mount Klothok, 5 km to the west of the city of Kediri. In 1045, Airlangga divided Kahuripan into two kingdoms which were inherited by his two sons; Janggala and Kediri. Airlangga himself returned to the hermit life and died in 1049.