Sanjaya of Mataram facts for kids
Sanjaya (Sanskrit: सञ्जय, romanized: sañjaya, meaning conquest, victory, triumphant) was an important ruler in ancient Java. He founded the Mataram Kingdom around the 8th century (from 716 AD to 746 AD). We know about him from old stone carvings, like the Canggal inscription. This carving was found near the Gunung Wukir temple on a hill in Central Java.
Other old records, like the Balitung charter and the Wanua Tengah III inscription, also tell us about Sanjaya and the kings who came after him. One king, Balitung, even listed Sanjaya as the first of the 'builders of the keraton' (royal palace). Sanjaya is known as the first king of the Mataram Kingdom. An old Sundanese story, Carita Parahyangan, also mentions King Sanjaya. In this story, he is shown as a hero king from the Sunda Kingdom.
Sanjaya and the Shailendra Dynasty
Some historians believe that Sanjaya started his own family line, called the Sanjaya dynasty. They think that two different royal families ruled Central Java at the same time: the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty and the Shivaist Sanjaya dynasty. The Canggal inscription shows that Sanjaya was a strong follower of Shaivism, a branch of Hinduism.
However, other historians have a different idea. They suggest there was only one main royal family, the Sailendra dynasty, that ruled Central Java. They believe that Sanjaya and his family were part of the Sailendra family, and they were originally Shivaists. According to this idea, the Sailendra family only became connected with Mahayana Buddhism later on, after one of their kings changed his religion.
The Canggal Inscription: A Clue to History
The Canggal inscription is a very important stone carving that tells us a lot about Sanjaya. It says that Sanjaya ordered a lingam (a symbol of the god Shiva) to be placed on a hill. This hill was on the island of Yawadwipa, which is what Java was called back then. The inscription describes Java as a rich island with lots of rice and gold.
The inscription also explains that Yawadwipa used to be ruled by a wise king named Sanna. But after King Sanna died, the kingdom became disorganized. During this confusing time, Sanjaya, who was King Sanna's nephew (the son of Sanna's sister, Princess Sannaha), became king. Sanjaya was very skilled. He knew a lot about holy writings, was good at fighting, and was a strong leader. After he took control of nearby areas, his rule was peaceful and the kingdom became wealthy.
This inscription shows that Sanjaya was seen as the rightful ruler after King Sanna. When the kingdom was in trouble, Sanjaya brought it back together and became king. By setting up the Shivaic lingam, he showed that he was establishing a new center of power. The Ukir inscription, found on Ukir Hill, announced Sanjaya's new rule. This hill might have been the first capital of the Mataram Kingdom. Later, Sanjaya or his successor might have moved the royal palace to a new location.
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