Canggal inscription

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 Medang.

Canggal inscription
Canggal inscription, displayed at National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta
MaterialAndesite stone
WritingPallava script in Sanskrit
Created732 CE
DiscoveredGunung Wukir temple complex in Kadiluwih village, Salam, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
Present locationNational Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta

Content

The inscription describes the erection of a lingam (the symbol of Shiva) on 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"), 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.[2]

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.

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

See also

Notes
  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. 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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