Śri Ajñadewi facts for kids

Śri Ajñadewi was an important queen who ruled the island of Bali a long time ago, around the year 1016 CE. She was a powerful leader during a time of big changes in the kingdom.

Who Was Queen Śri Ajñadewi?

Queen Śri Ajñadewi was a ruler of Bali. We don't know much about her family or how she was related to the previous king, Udayana Warmadewa, and queen, Mahendradatta. Her time as queen was a period when the region faced some challenges.

How Did She Become Queen?

The exact story of how Śri Ajñadewi became queen is not fully known. However, historical records give us some clues.

A Time of Change in Bali

One important record, called the Pucangan inscription, tells us about a major event. Around the time Śri Ajñadewi became queen, a kingdom in East Java (which is near Bali) was attacked. This attack happened during a wedding between Prince Airlangga of Bali and a princess from East Java. Prince Airlangga was the son of King Udayana Warmadewa.

The attack caused a lot of trouble and chaos. Prince Airlangga had to escape to safety. It's also possible that King Udayana Warmadewa died during this time. It was after these events that Śri Ajñadewi took over as ruler of Bali.

Why Did She Rule?

Historians have a theory about why Śri Ajñadewi became queen. They believe she might have been chosen to rule temporarily.

The Young Prince Marakata Pangkaja

The theory suggests that Śri Ajñadewi, who was likely from either the East Java or Bali royal family, was appointed to look after the throne. This was probably because the next in line to be king, Prince Marakata Pangkaja, was still too young to rule on his own. She would have ruled until he was old enough to take over.

We know that Marakata Pangkaja was an adult by the year 1022. An inscription from that time confirms that he was ruling Bali, and Śri Ajñadewi was no longer the queen.