Airlangga
Airlangga (also spelt Erlangga) (991 in Bali, Indonesia – 1049[citation needed] 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. Airlangga means "he who crossed the water", the name described his life story; born in the court of Bali and during his youth crossed the Bali Strait to stay in Java and later ruled the kingdom in East Java.
Early life
Airlangga was the son of queen Mahendradatta (a princess of the Isyana Dynasty, Medang, the sister of Dharmawangsa) and Udayana Warmadewa (a king of the Warmadewa Dynasty, Bali). Airlangga was born and grew up in Bali, he spend his youth in Watugaluh Palace, Medang, under the patronage 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 ascend Medang as regional power by challenging Srivijaya Empire domination. He launched naval invasion against Srivijaya and unsuccessfully tried to capture Palembang. Srivijaya resiliently succeed on repelling Medang invaders.
Sriwijaya Invasion
The Calcutta Stone inscription (dated from 1041 CE), describes a terrible calamity which befell the East Javanese kingdom of Isyana dynasty in the early years of the 11th century. In 1006, a rebellion incited by a vassal king Wurawari from Lwaram resulted in the destruction of the capital of Watugaluh. The reigning king, Dharmawangsa, successor to Sri Makutawangsawardhana, was murdered along with his entire family and many of his subjects. Only the young Airlangga, who was aged about 16 at the time, managed to escape unharmed.[1] Today historians strongly suggested that the invasion was actually a Srivijayan retaliation against Medang for the attacks upon the empire. Wurawari was probably an ally of Srivijaya in Java that managed to sacked and burned Watugaluh Palace. 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 Medang, 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. In 1035 Airlangga constructed a Buddhist monastery named Srivijayasrama dedicated for his queen consort Dharmaprasadottungadevi. The monastery bearing the name of Srivijaya suggests that his queen consort was probably a Srivijayan princess, a close relative of the Srivijayan king Sangramavijayattungavarman. She had taken refuge in East Java after her father was taken prisoner and her kingdom was raided through series of Chola raids. The decline of Srivijaya due to the Chola invasion gave Airlangga opportunity to consolidate his kingdom without foreign interference. 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.
Although there are few surviving archaeological remains dating from his time, Airlangga is known to have been a keen patron of the arts, notably literature. In 1035, the court poet 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, where he was portrayed in stone as Vishnu on Garuda.[1]
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.
Notes
- ^ a b East Java.com