The History of the Pajajaran Kingdom, the Last Hindu Kingdom in Java

The Pajajaran Kingdom is the beginning of the existence of the Sundanese people on the island of Java. The steadfastness in preserving customs and culture that were reluctant to submit to the Majapahit Kingdom has caused Sundanese culture to still exist to this day. So, what is the history of the Pajajaran Kingdom? Check out the following review.

Unraveling the History of the Pajajaran Kingdom

The Pajajaran Kingdom, also known as the Sunda Kingdom, was a Hindu kingdom established since 669 AD by Maharaja Tarusbawa. This kingdom is located in Parahyangan Sunda, Pakuan. 

This kingdom was a subordinate of the Tarumanegara Kingdom, which is one of the oldest kingdoms in the archipelago and adheres to the Vishnu sect of Hinduism. The name Pajajaran or Pakuan does not explicitly refer to the name of the kingdom.

The Pajajaran Kingdom is even believed to be the Sundanese kingdom that has the capital city named Pajajaran. This kingdom is even less known in depth by the historical discourse of the archipelago.

The origin of this kingdom essentially comes from the condition of the last king of Tarumanegara, namely Sri Maharaja Liggawarman, who married Dewi Ganggasari and Indraprahasta. Subsequently, the king had a daughter named Dewi Manasih who married Tarusbawa, and Sobakancana married Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa.

The history of the Pajajaran Kingdom began when Sri Maharaja Liggawarman handed over the power of Tarumanegara to his son-in-law named Tarusbawa. This condition even caused the ruler of Galuh, Wretikandayun, to become angry and rebel. Thus, Wretikandayun established the Galuh kingdom independently in 612 AD.

Furthermore, Tarusbawa, as the successor of the Tarumanegara Kingdom, moved his power to Sunda. The kingdom was relocated to the upstream of the Cipakancilan River, which is close to the Ciliwung and Cisadane Rivers. The condition of the rivers being lined up and close together even led Tarusbawa to name the kingdom the Pajajaran Kingdom.

The coronation of Tarusbawa as king and founder of the Pajajaran Kingdom took place in the year 519 Saka or around May 18, 669 AD. This even made the Sunda Kingdom, or known as the Pajajaran Kingdom, officially separate from the Galuh Kingdom. The two royal territories were even separated by the Citarum River.

The golden age recorded in the history of the Pajajaran Kingdom occurred during the reign of Sri Baduga Maharaja. This king brought about physical development to facilitate the lives of the people and the state. Sri Baduga Maharaja even built roads leading to the capital Pakuan and Wanagiri, large lakes, entertainment places, and kapuntren.

Sri Baduga Maharaja even strengthened his reign by establishing a formidable military force. Sri Baduga also imposed tribute collection to prevent tyranny. There was a Perdikan Village that could be used for priests to conduct religious activities as a guide for a better life for the people.

Unfortunately, the golden age of the Pajajaran Kingdom could not last until the end. The strong influence of Islamic teachings caused the Pajajaran Kingdom to choose to ally with the Portuguese. 

However, the combined forces of Demak and Cirebon were able to incapacitate this kingdom in 1524 AD. The Islamic teachings brought even managed to attract attention as far as Wahanten Girang.

Legacy of the Pajajaran Kingdom

The history of the Pajajaran Kingdom, which has experienced decline due to the influence of Islamic teachings, only leaves a few remnants that can still be seen today. There are the Cikapundung inscription, Huludayeuh inscription, Pasir Datar inscription, the Sunda-Portuguese treaty inscription, Ulubelu inscription, and Batutulis inscription.

These inscriptions can be found in several Sundanese regions and are understood to have connections with the Pajajaran Kingdom. For example, the Cikapundung inscription. 

The discovery of the inscription located around the Cikapundung River has ancient Sundanese writing with images such as faces, footprints, hands, and 2 lines of Sundanese letters with the text unggal jagat jalmah hendap.

The Huludayeuh inscription was also found with ancient Sundanese writing. Unfortunately, the inscription stone has started to deteriorate and wear out, making it difficult to read.

 Similarly, the Pasir Datar inscription was also found in Cisande. This inscription was even presented using natural stone material with writing that has not been interpreted until now.

The Sunda-Portuguese treaty inscription even shows the history of the Pajajaran Kingdom as a sign of the treaty between the Sunda Kingdom and the Portuguese. This inscription was even built above the ground as a fort and warehouse for the Portuguese. 

You can also observe the remnants of the Ulubelu inscription, which contains a plea for help to the Main God and the Earth God.

In addition, the Batutulis inscription is also believed to be a legacy of the Pajajaran Kingdom. This inscription indicates the place of Puti of the Pajajaran Kingdom. This inscription even shows the location of the royal palace that can be measured from the floor to the old pasean that has 7 banyan trees. Nevertheless, this location remains a mystery until now.

The story of the Pajajaran Kingdom is not widely known. However, it is certain that this kingdom is a descendant of the Tarumanegara Kingdom that was relocated to the Banten area. This kingdom even experienced decline due to the entry of Islamic teachings, making it the last Hindu kingdom in Java.

cc image: museumnusantara.com