Sanjaya Dynasty - The Ruler of Central Java

The Ruler of Central Java

Rakai Pikatan, who was the crown prince of the Sañjaya Dynasty, wedded Pramodhawardhani (833–856), a daughter of Samaratungga, king of Sailendra. From that time onwards, the influence of Sañjaya, who was a Hindu adherer, began to emerge in Mataram, replacing the Buddhist Sailendra. Rakai Pikatan toppled king Balaputra, son of Samaratungga, also the brother of Pramodhawardhani. As a result in 850, the Sañjaya Dynasty was the sole ruler in Mataram. This ended the Sailendra presence in Central Java and Balaputra retreated to Srivijaya in Sumatra, where he became the paramount ruler.

The information about Sañjaya Dynasty is also found in the Balitung inscription dated 907. According to the Balitung inscription – when a ruler died, they transformed into a divine form. From this inscriptions, the scholars estimated the possible sequence of the ruling kings of Sañjaya dynasty:

• Sanjaya (732—760)
• Panangkaran (760—780)
• Rakai Warak (800—819)
• Rakai Garung (819—838)
• Rakai Pikatan (838—850)
• Rakai Kayuwangi (850—898), also known as Lokapala
• Balitung (898—910)

It was also during the reign of the Sañjaya dynasty, the classic Javanese literature blossomed. The translations and adaptation of classic Hindu literatures into Old Javanese was conducted, such as the Kakawin Ramayana. Around 850s, Pikatan initiated the construction of the Prambanan temple in Central Java, later completed and expanded extensively by king Balitung. Prambanan temple complex is one of the largest Hindu temple in Southeast-Asia and its greatness rivalled Borobudur, which happened to be the biggest Buddhist temple in the world.

The successions of Sañjaya kings after Balitung are:

• Daksa (910—919)
• Tulodong (919—924)
• Wawa (924—929)
• Mpu Sindok (929—947)