Let's discuss and share anything re: Srivijaya here (and not at Majapahit's thread )

Let me start.

Well, I just found this out and I'm very sure not many people has heard about him, but I think one of the unsung hero from Srivijaya is a renown Buddhist scholar whose work has been published even until today. His name is Dharmarak$hita and his work is called 'Wheel of Sharp Weapons', a Mahayana doctrine about the law of karma. More about him: Dharmarak$hita in Wikipedia

More fascinating stuff (but from the Chinese sources) about the impact of this monk Dharmarak$hita (also know as Serlingpa in Tibetan) on tibetan buddhism, and his disciple Atisha, who brought the Javanese mind on boddhicitta to a greater understanding by the Mahayana school. How and why the Javanese never wrote down their understanding of the mind as the Buddhists did is fascinating... but I am not sure if the chinese sources got this point right??






It is a question only few people pose: how would Tibet look like today without Atisha?

Most likely Buddhism would have vanished from the hearts of the Tibetan people, monks would not have known what and how to teach, monasteries would have lost their purpose. There would have been no teaching of the Lam Rim, as the gradual path to enlightenment is called, there would be no understanding of Bodhichitta ( enlightened mind) as the gate to the truth, no preservation of so many holy scripts, which were lost in India, but saved in Tibet and later spread around the globe. Tsongkapa would have had no basis for his great reforms and the founding of the Gelug sect with a Dalai Lama as its head. There would be no driving force, who over the last decades has brought Atisha's message to the rest of the world.

From India Atisha had come to Tibet. One thousand years later, Atisha comes from Tibet to the world. Atisha meditation centers, many led by Tibetan monks are opening up all over the West and East and in memory of him, some groups even use the name of Serlingpa, whom Atisha called one of his greatest teachers.

Who was Atisha? Who was Serlingpa? Both were born towards the end of 10th century.

Serlingpa was an offspring of the Srivijaya Dynasty, which had its roots in the Island of Java, but moved its seat to the Island of Sumatra and influenced for centuries the culture and religion of large parts of Southeastasia. Serlingpa's Sanskrit name was Dharmakirtisri.

In his time, Serlingpa seems to have been the most revered scholar in the Buddhist world. Even Chinese and Indians respected his monastery near the city of Palembang as the leading center of Buddhist learing.

One of the reasons for Serlingpa's outstanding reputation was his clear and comprehensive knowledge of Buddha's teachings, especially of the path to Bodhichitta, the path to the enlightened mind. The concept and teachings of Bodhichitta was not Serlingpa's invention as nothing that was ever taught by the holy men was ever invented by them. What they taught was and is eternal. For Serlingpa the practise of Bodhichitta was natural. He did not have to learn it. Bodhichitta is the core of the Javanese soul and is there ever since the people of Java came to this earth. Buddha had talked about Bodhichitta and later the great Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna put it in writing. That was about 700 years before Serlingpa. What Serlingpa did was to cleanse the various teachings of Bodhichitta, which existed at that time, from confusing interpretations and made it easy for people to understand. Easy though it may have been in those days when people lived close with nature. Nowadays, when Materialism is over whelming the human mind, the path to Bodhichitta, the practise of loving kindness and compassion seems much more difficult.

Atisha was the second son of the Ruler in what today is the border area between India and Bangladesh. It is said, that during Atisha's birth in 982 many wondrous things happened such as a shower of blue Lotus-flowers descending on his mothers lap. His parents named him Chandragharba, the "Essence of the Moon". In the Buddhist tradition, the sun stands for wisdom and the moon for the means to achieve this wisdom. In all his later teachings Atisha reminded his followers again and again to never separate the two, since every human being is given the means to achieve wisdom. But if people use the means in order to fulfil the desires of their senses, wisdom is unattainable. People will not be able to follow the path to inner liberation. They will remain in the endless cycle of rebirth.

Already as a small child, Atisha started to preach. Monks from the famous Vikramasila Monastery, which was close to his parents palace, guided his spiritual development. At the age of 20, Atisha was ordained and given the name Dipamkara Srijnana. He hardly could have gotten a more challenging name, since this was the name of the first Buddha, who was long before Siddharta Gautama. Buddha Dipamkara, so it is said, was the invisible spiritual guide for Siddharta to achieve enlightenment and become the historical Buddha, known as Buddha Sakyamuni. Much later, during his time in Tibet, Dipamkara Srijnana was being called Atisha.

Atisha was an eager student. He studied the scripts of all the Buddhist schools, not taking side with any one. After all, there had been only one Buddha Sakyamuni and if one wanted to follow him one would have to walk his path. Only then could one hope to enter the gate to Nirvana and unite with the Creator of All, the Only and Almighty One. As Atisha discovered, reaching Nirvana was not to separate oneself from the world, but to use the Enlightenment to work with loving kindness and compassion for the benefit of all. For Atisha there was no separation of Buddha's teachings into Hinayana (the small wagon of the younger Buddha ) and Mahayana ( the big wagon of the older Buddha ).

After Atisha had studied with all the famous teachers of India, he was told, that there is only one left, who could still teach him more. This was Serlingpa, who himself had been in India before. Together with 125 disciples and traders Atisha set out for Sumatra. 13 months later he arrived. Atisha was about 30 years old.

There was so much to learn and see that Atisha stayed with Serlingpa for 12 years. According to research in Indonesia, Atisha seems to have also visited the Island of Java, where Serlingpa's ancestors had built many holy places such as the world famous Stupa Borobudur, the temple complex Prambanan, the Tara Temple Kalasan und Boko Palace, which Javanese people consider the cradle of their philosophy.

Boko, a hill top temple and palace complex goes back to the 5th or 6th century. It was the seat of Panangkaran, the Great Wise Man of Java. The kings of the Sailendra-Dynasty are known to have built Borobodur, but Panangkaran was its conceptor. Panangkaran first gave the design for the Tara Temple in Kalasan and then for Borobodur.

For Atisha, the visits to Boko and Borobodur must have felt like homecoming. Each of those holy places has its own explanation and messages, set in their architectural layout and structures and reliefs of stone. Each of those places contains the knowledge, that Atisha had learned from scripts. While circumambulating and walking up to the top of the Stupa of Borobudur, Atisha found all there is in the Universe, all knowledge about heaven and earth and the path to the ultimate truth, to the Oneness of All. Also, there was the Tara Temple. Tara had been to Panangkaran, what Tara had been to Atisha. The Buddhist deity had been Atishas guardian and guide ever since he was a child. It was her, who advised him not to get married, to become a monk and practise the Dharma. And it was her, who guided him in his decision to go to Tibet.

Atisha came to understand, that Serlinpas version of Buddhism seemed nearly identical with the Javanese philosophy striving to control desires in order to achieve an enlightened mind. But while Buddha `s teachings were eventually written down, Javas philosophic path remains unwritten up to today. People must feel their Inner when they discover themselves. They can not it by using word. Words are the product of the mind – and here lies the root of all problems mankind has ever had and is having today. The intellectual mind wants to reason, to interpret and to know better than the hidden "mind" of the soul.

When Atisha left to return to India, Serlingpa gave him six of his scripts. These scripts contain the essence of Buddha's teachings. Laymen would not have to study all the Sutras and Tantras, in which Buddha explained the human nature and how to free themselves from rebirth. Since Atisha was well versed in the Sutras and Tantras, he understood, that Serlingpas scripts were like a key for all, who wanted to open their inner doors. Wherever Atisha went, those 6 scripts were always with him.
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Back in India, Atisha was made the head of his former school, the monastery of Vikramasila. One day, a group of Tibetan monks came to see him. They had been sent by Jangchub ?, the King of western Tibet, to plead with Atisha to come to Tibet and save Buddhism from extinction.

Atisha hesitated. There was so much to do in India, where Buddha's message needed to be revived as well. But after Atisha was told, that Jangchub ?`s oncle, King Yeshe ?, had sacrificed his life to make Atisha come, Atisha felt, Tibet was his destiny. He went, spent one year in Nepal and arrived at the country of the Snow Lion at the age of about sixty.

Murals in many Tibetan monasteries recall, how Atisha was received by Jangchub ?, all the monks and people with greatest honours and open hearts. Jangchub ? wanted nothing more than to bring his people back to the spiritual path. So he asked Atisha to compose a short, precise and practical guide on how to practice the Dharma. Everyone should be able to understand. Only then, so said the King, could Buddhism be revived. That was, what Atisha had been prepared for by Serlingpa. Atisha compressed Serlingpa`s Scripts into what is read by people all over the world up to today: The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (Bodhipathapradipa), a guiding text of 68 verses only. Once again Atisha lived up his name of Dipamkara, which means: the Lighter of the Lamp.

For Atisha it may not have been easy to cope with the high altitude of an average of 4000 Meters, the cold winters and the travelling over far distances, mainly by horse, boat and foot. But he braved the harshness of nature with his inner powers and his love for the people, he visited many holy places on the mountains and in the valleys, he wrote essays and taught, prayed in caves, had Stupas built, blessed existing monasteries and encouraged the establishment of new ones. Most of all, he cleared up the religious confusion and united the schools of Buddhism as well the teachings of Sutra and Tantra into one and the same. There was no more Hinayana or Mahayana. There was the teaching of loving kindness and compassion, which leads to Wisdom, to Bodhichitta, the enlightened mind. Atisha became the beloved "Dorje Pandit Atisha", "the Precious Lord" , the savior of the Dharma in the hearts of the people.

After many years of travelling, Atisha spent a longer time in the caves of Drak Yerpa, a mountainous area in the eastern surroundings of Lhasa and finally settled at a small monastery called Njetang, half an hour drive west from Lhasa. Here his throne can still be seen as well as his selfmade statue and a small stupa, containing his personal belongings next to another Stupa of his favorite disciple Dromt? Atisha died in Njetang in 1054 at the age of 72.

Almost one thousand years have passed. Many Tibetan monasteries honor Atisha with statues, murals or Tankas, often together with Dromt?npa and Serlingpa. But what do the monks know of Atisha or Serlingpa? Yes, they say, Atisha was a great Lama and Serlingpa was his teacher. Atisha was the one, who preached the need to tame the mind , practise Compassion, treat all people as parents and always be grateful to them. Older monks still tell the story, how Yeshe ? and Janchub ? did everything to make Atisha come to Tibet and that Atisha is seen as the father of all, who adhere to Tibetan Buddhism. Older monks also know, that there seems to be a spiritual and geographic North-South Line between the Indonesian Stupa of Borobudur and the Tibetan Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse. Both are built on a very similar Mandala, both are manifestations of the universal compassion and truth, though the Kumbum Stupa was built about 900 years after Borobodur and 400 years after Atisha. Younger monks, however, know hardly more than Atisha's name though they all speak of compassion as the leading theme in their life. But spiritual and intellectual depths is missing. And as in the days before Atisha, there are various sects and only a few monks, who can read the original holy scripts in Sanskrit language. At least there is the Gelug sect, which was founded in the 15th century by Tsongkapa, after he had a vision of Atisha.

Is another Atisha needed to once again cleanse and unite the teachings and the believers as well? As an old men said, everything has its time and if the right time has come, a wise man will appear and open scripts, which have not been destroyed, but hidden for future use. Is this time coming? Some of those scripts are the ones of Serlingpa. Two of them seem to have been found and are kept in safekeeping in Lhasa's holy mountain place, the Potala Palace. Another sign of changing times is the rehabilitation of the Lama-Temple Yonghegong in Beijing. There a whole Pavillion is being dedicated to the fathers of the Gelug sect, showing among others the statues of Serlingpa, Atisha, Dromt?npa and Tsongkapa.


http://tibet.cn/en/religion/tib/t20050926_58586.htm
China Tibet Information Center

Our islands were never fully Hindu or Buddhist at one time, maybe that's why? Even back in Srivijaya's time, there were rival dynasties.

@ Tanga

Fascinating to learn the link between Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhism tradition in ancient Java and Sumatra.
Thank for sharing....
I've heard about this ancient wise buddhist scholar from Srivijaya Empire named Dharmakirti, he was mentioned in Indonesian history book back in junior high history textbook.

Soo this Serlingpa is also Dharmakirti, he is famous scholar then....

What a beautiful name Dharmakirti is
Dharma signifies the underlying order in nature and life, or simply natural or divine "law"
Kirti means understanding

In bahasa Indonesia we borrowed many sanskirt words; dharma means dedication in goodwill, derma means alms giving, and kirti turns to kerti, understand. arti means meanings. Budi (word taken from Boddhi) means noble and righteous characteristics, soo Budi pekerti means understanding noble righteous way.
Daym..., in our language we borrowed and adapt soo much buddhism spiritual concept.

It would've been inevitable, Maj, cos we spent so long under the dominance/hegemony of Indian culture, under the sway of both faiths.

It seems that the political philosophy for Sri Vijaya's maritime states stemmed largely from the Indian concept of "Mandala". Have you guys heard of this?

Let me try to explain mandala in my next post, it has alot of metaphysical implications...

It's good that someone's started this Srivijaya thread. Cos I got some burning questions about a certain period of it, i.e, 11th century. Specifically 1017, 1025 n 1068, i.e. those flippin Chola invasions.

I find it strange actually, that mighty Srivijaya, with all its naval n mercantile power, couldn't have given the Chola invaders a much better fight.

It seems Srivijaya just took those many Cholan attacks on various parts of its realm ... like ... just lying down, basically.

So what went wrong?

Srivijaya consisted of tributary kingdoms, and not all of them were happy to be under the empire, what do you expect? Anyway, Srivijaya was more concerned with trading, and their navy was the only force they could count on. The Cholas attacked heavily on peninsular Malaya, far away from the capital. Certainly they didn't want to exhaust their resources. To be able to withstand the attacks alone was an amazing feat of its own, so give them more credits will ya

btw what is modern chola? and what is the first religion that came into Indonesia, Buddhism or Hinduism ?

^hahahaha thats what i asked as well on another thread.
The Cholas are Indians who attacked the Srivijaya empire during it's last years. Thats what Bhas told me....

It doesn't help that in our language we would just write it as "Cola" Coca Cola
The Cholas were a dynasty of the Tamil people of southern India. The earliest Hindu kingdom in our islands was Kutai Kingdom in East Kalimantan, but we've yet to established which one came first between Buddhism and Hindu

So, the empire of Sri Vijaya were a collection of maritime states who were governed by a datuk (chief) who pledge themselves as vassal states to the Maharaja based in Palembang (then later on Jambi). Sri Vijaya never really evolved past the chiefdom to a proper statehood with administrative apparatus like say in India or China. But the Buddhist teachings and the political influence of Brahmin priests who came to live amongst the southeast asian datuks taught the idea of the 'mandala' to the Maharaja and datuks.

A mandala if you recall how it looks like when the Tibetan buddhist monks create them on sand looks like a concentric sphere of influence. Or look at the Borobodur which is a mandala. Well, the Maharaja exercises his sphere of influence over the datuks through this spiritual mandala which is backed up by a curse that is often inscribed on stones which is given to the datuks and warns of grave calamity should the datuks rebel and turn against their Maharaja. The ceremony and ritual surrounding the creation of the mandala and these curses are done in such spiritual way en masse that most of the datuks and their followers are superstitious enough to stick to their oath of allegiance.

However, if there is rebellion and the Maharaja is usurped or if an external force comes to destroy the Maharaja, the mandala sphere is flexible enough to withstand a rapid change in leadership. In contrast to the way traditional Hindu empire existed, the temple or palace was symbolic of hte raja's power and if these was burnt, the loyal subjects would surrender and give up the fight. In the Sri Vijayan mandala, there was no such symbolism of power that can be destroyed. If one Maharaja was destroyed, another one arises from the ranks of datuks, and all the others will rally to the new datuk/raja and regroup to fight against the enemy. If u can recall the Tibetan buddhist monks' teachings on the sand mandalas, if one is destroyed by wind or man, they can always start again on another mandala. Its the most flexible spiritually motivated political structure man can build to withstand the onslaught of time and disaster.

Of course by the time the Cholas came to wreak havoc on the Sri Vijayan states, the mandala structure was weakening... why? Maybe one can blame it on the advent of Islamic influence that came to supplant the superstitious powers of the mandala's karmic curses against the datuks and their descendents should they turn against their Maharaja. Some of them datuks began selling out to the Cholas for the sake of trade benefits. There was no longer any spiritual ties that held the mandalas together. The wave of islamization surely had an impact on old Sri Vijaya's buddhist hindu mindset.

I sometimes wonder to this day, if such a Mandala can truly exist in Indonesia? I think it's something that still exists in Malaysia albeit with an islamic twist .. with the way the sultanates revolve their executive powers.

I know Srivijaya was a sort of loose federation. But then when you're a small kingdom paying tribute to a bigger more powerful 'taiko' kingdom, like what Kedah, Gangga Negara, Pattani, Gelanggi, n Pahang did to Palembang, then you expect some significant support when somebody else attacks you.

That's not what we got when Chola attacked us. On the contrary, in 1068, it was Palembang which was said to have 'invited' Chola to attack Kedah to put it to heel after a rebellion/power struggle. I mean, what sort of leadership is that? It was something that should have been resolved internally within the Srivijayan realm itself.

By the way, Kedah put up a heroic fight. Even the Chola's Tamil records acknowledge that.

Don't get me wrong. I love Srivijaya, n so do many other peninsular Malays. We consider SV as the classical Malay empire that we're all proud off. Even if itwas based in Sumatra.

But then the Chola episodes of 1017, 1025 n 1068 just rankle with me.

About Islam being a possible factor, sorry but I can't agree. Islam was not yet a factor in our archipelago in 11th century. It only became one much later than that.

My take is that 11th century was the first round of decline for SV. The first leadership crisis, if you like.

Before our good friend king Dharmasraya of Malayu, our great hero, stepped in to save the day for SJ by invading n conquering Palembang in 1088. N then Dharmasraya's Malayu descendants continued to hold the reins of SJ until 1288.

But Awang, don't you think Kedah would have had a hard time keeping the mighty Cholas off their territory if they didn't have any help at all, even though they were great warriors? I think the federation served it purpose.

Yes, Islam wasn't that important in the time of Srivijaya to cause anything major.

IMO, Chola was not that strong to invade Srivijaya by themselves. They got help by their allies in Javanese island and yes they're related.

Who benefit the most with weakened Srivijaya (read Malay) kingdom ?....

Oh please, what is it with you Malay Malaysians and your hatred toward the Javanese (thank God I'm not one)? You have no prove on that theory, that's absolutely absurd, there's no record on that account at all in our records. Battle with Genghis Khan's envoy, yes, but there's nothing about alliance with Chola.

At the time of Srivijaya, Javanese kingdoms were busy with their own rivalry, and some of these kingdoms (like Wurawari who attacked Daha) were actually allies to Srivijaya.

The history of this archipelago seems to uncover quite fast these days. It is very interesting. The finding of Wangsakerta scripts (which much debated but contains hints during 1st to 5th century AD period in Java), Batujaya sites which is being excavated, and new sites in southern Bandung will provide many new information during that era. This will help indirectly about the beginning of Srivijaya.

The mentioning of Salakanagara kingdom which predated Taruma, may we speculate that this was Srivijaya or pre-Srivijaya power? Wangsakerta scripts mentioned also about how the west and central java nobility are related, whereas we know that the house of Cailendra ruled Srivijaya. Also, some indochina historians believe that the rulers of Mataram (old) had Khmer blood. Isn't this interesting, that people of southeast asia have a polito-historical bond, not just racial and cultural? ASEAN is just a reawakening of this historical sharing then.

Why, oh why, our ancestor didn't write about themselves, like the chinese of arabs? (OK, this question I can answer myself, btw)

Huh? What do you mean, house of Syailendra ruled Srivijaya? Srivijaya and the Syailendra dynasty had a really close relationship, yes, including marriages between the two courts, but I don't recall any member of Syailendra ruled over Srivijaya. Care to explain?

BTW, I'm curious about your theory on why they didn't write much about themselves? From what I know, there are a lot of ancient Javanese poems stored by the Balinese up until this day, but I don't think they contain very useful information

The biggest regional power in SEA up to 530 AD was Funan.

Sailendra n Srivijaya were like allied brother kingdoms. Sort of like the Javanese n Malay branches of a greater archipelagic realm.

It was Sailendra that had Funanese ancestry, not Sanjaya/Mataram, as far as I know. Whether Funan itself was Khmer or Malay depends on whether you hold on to a pro-Khmer or pro-Malay view.

But since princess Pramowardani of Sailendra married Rakai Pikatan (alias Jatiningrat) of Sanjaya/Mataram, then that makes later Sanjaya/Mataram also descendants of Funan.

N since Pramo's younger brother Balaputra went on to become king of Srivijaya, then that makes later Srivijaya, as well as Melaka, also descendants of Funan.

Their ancestry is not clear, but we can't deny the fact that they could be related to each other and were of the same ancestry.

Intermarried of royal family within the region was common at that time.

I've read the book "Indochine, Carrefour des Arts" by Bernard Phillippe Groslier.
There was section dedicated to Srivijaya and Sailendra and their relations to Khmer Empire of Angkor.


FUNAN and CHENLA
In this book he mentioned that there was two kingdom in Indochina (modern Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand), A coastal kingdom of Funan (Phnom) means mountains on southern part of Cambodia and Vietnam, and Chenla (upper mountainous valley in Laos and northern Cambodia).

Funan rely on rice farming and trade near the estuary of Mekong delta, while Chenla was an agrarian state inland at northside of Funan.

Fall of FUNAN and the rise of SAILENDRA
Funan being attacked by Chenla and Funan royal family was fleeing elsewhere.
Then in central Java the new dynasty arose. The French scholar George Coedès once proposed that the Sailendras may have been related to the rulers of the ancient Cambodian kingdom of Funan, because the title "Lord of Mountain" used by the Sailendras may have resembled titles used by the Funanese rulers. In support of his hypothesis, Coedès pointed out that the name "Funan" as used by the Chinese is related to the Cambodian term "phnom" which means "mountain."Other specialists on Cambodian history have discounted Coedès' hypothesis. They argue that that no historical evidence exists to show that the Funanese ever ascribed the title "mountain king" to their rulers.

TARUMANAGARA
On other part of archipelago, kingdoms arose. In West Java, Salakanagara (partly legendary kingdom) arose in 200 AD, succeded by Tarumanagara (recorded in stone inscription).

SRIVIJAYA
On Musi river valley the new kingdom arose, Srivijaya. According to the Kedukan Bukit Inscription, the empire of Srivijaya was founded by Dapunta Hyang Çri Yacanaca (Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa). He led 20,000 troops (mainly land troopers and a few hundred ships) from Minanga Tamwan (sugested to be either Minangkabau highland or Jambi mountainous region) to Palembang, Jambi, and Bengkulu. Remember, early stage of Srivijaya royal family was they have no connection to Sailendras.

SUNDA and GALUH
Tarumanagara being invaded by Srivijaya and weakening Tarumanagara, internal power struggle caused Sunda, the remnant of Tarumanagara to split into Sunda kingdom and Galuh kingdom.


SANJAYA
The Canggal inscription tells that Yawadwipa was reigned by king Sanna, which his long period of reign was marked with wisdom and virtue. After king Sanna died the kingdom fell into disunity. Confused because lost of ruler and patron, Sanjaya ascend to throne, he was the son of Sannaha (sister of Sanna). He was king that mastered holy scriptures, martial art, and also military prowess. He conquered neighboring area around his kingdom, his wise reign blessed his land with peace and prosperity for all his subjects.

King Sanna and Sanjaya also known in Carita Parahyangan, a book from later period which mainly tell the history of Pasundan (Sunda Kingdom). This book mentioned that Sanna was defeated by Purbasora, king of Galuh, then he retreated to mount Merapi. Later Sanna's successor Sanjaya reclaim Sanna's kingdom and ruled West Java, East Java, and Bali. He also involved in battle with Malayu and Keling (against their king Sang Srivijaya). In main theme of Carita Parahyangan is corresponds to Canggal inscription.
Sanjaya later started the Sanjaya Dynasty and established Mataram kingdom.

Decline of SAILENDRA
Sailendra of Java maintain a close relationship with Srivijayan of Sumatra through royal marriage.
According to the traditional account, the Sailendra kingdom came to an abrupt end when a prince from the rival Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty, Rakai Pikatan, displaced them in 832. Rakai Pikatan, who was the crown prince of the Sanjaya Dynasty, married Pramodhawardhani, a daughter of Samaratunga, king of Sailendra.

Some historians describe the Sailendra collapse as a retreat to Sumatra, implying that the dynasty also ruled Srivijaya. It is possible that Balaputra was a Srivijayan prince with a maternal link to the Sailendra and that his attack on Java was a Srivijayan attempt to annex the former Sailendra domain in Java. The hostile relations between Srivijaya and Mataram tend to confirm the thesis.

MATARAM, KEDIRI, SINGHASARI, MAJAPAHIT
At certain point of the time, the centre of Mataram kingdom was shifted from Central Java to East Java by Mpu Sindok, who established the new Isyana Dynasty. The exact cause of move of location still uncertain. However probably have been caused by an eruption of the volcano Gunung Merapi or a power struggle.

Later the series of succession of the kingdom in central and east Java, we witness the rise and fall of Mataram, Kediri, Singhasari, and later Majapahit.

Nope. Not just then. Sorry dude. Palembang was acting weird that time. In 1068 it was Palembang which 'invited' Chola to attack Kedah on Palembang's behalf. That was really bizarre behaviour by an overlord kingdom towards a vassal kingdom.

It was really good that Malayu's Dharmasraya invaded n conquered Palembang in 1088, cos Palembang had lost its sense of focus, direction n leadership by then. Palembang had sort of really deserved it then.

I've never heard the theory that it was Palembang who invited Chola to attack, care to share the story with us?

Well, Bhas, like i said before, the Sri Vijayan mandala structure is one of the main factors behind Sri Vijaya's resilence to attacks by the Cholas and later the Javanese (Singosari) for many centuries. When the Cholas began marauding the coast of Sumatra against all Sri Vijaya's capital (Palembang 1025) and its vassal states, the Sri vijayan center of power slowly began to move to Jambi.

However, while Palembang still remained as the capital, it had Cholas administrators in its court, and the Tamil guilds were dotted along the northern Sumatra cities. It wasn't like the Cholas came and destroyed the Sri Vijayan capital and vassal states and overnight the Srivijayan mandala disappeared. The Mahayana Buddhist influence of the mandala system was fluid, flexible and spiritual enough for the Cholas to be absorbed into the Palembang court.

The Chola king Rajaraja was a good administrator, his sons too were pretty good. They had no problems in maintaining cordial relations with Srivijaya and the other kingdoms of SE Asia. There's even a buddhist temple built in the chola kingdom in Southern India by the Srivijayan King Culamanivarmadeva which relates the reign of King Rajaraja. However, this benevolent attitude should not be taken for granted because it seems that in 1007AD, Chola vessels made an initial expedition against Kedah, the true factual nature of this expedition is still debated by historians.

A second expedition to Kedah took place in 1068AD by Chola King Virarajendra because the Maharaja of Palembang requested Chola assistance to subdue the revolt by Kedah against the mandala system. The Chola armies were supported by Srivijayan troops and following the fall of its defences, Kedah was returned graciously to Srivijaya. Kedah never recovered its prestige it held before its revolt. On the other side of the peninsula, Langkasuka remained an important ally of Srivijaya, whereas Kedah was no longer a center of power, the port remained active, but without prestigious religious foundaitons.

heheh... i just read that chapter in my book - Early Kingdoms of the Indo Archi and Malay Peninsula

The demise of Srivijayan seems to be attributed to their leaders inability to adjust to a change in international maritime trade brought about by the Ming Dynasty maritime trade expansion from the Persian Gulf all the way to the spice islands of Moluccas. The trade decline compounded their revenues and wealth and eroded the loyalty of the Orang Laut. Also the empire began to disintegrate when Javanese (Singosari) and Tai forces began attacking their territories, the mandala system no longer worked to gather the disparate armies and Orang Laut forces to counter attack. That's another story..

Btw, i am looking for that thread where Purnomor pasted lots of photos of the Srivijayan(?) ruins in Palembang and Jambi.... does anybody know which thread that was???

edit: found a link on Msia Chat on Srivijaya with some photos of Palembang and Jambi ruins...
http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...mp;hl=srivijaya

Wow.... thank you, Tangy. I never knew Palembang ever did such thing!

Sorry to correct your WESTERN author, Tangy, but there was no Chola expedition on Kedah in 1007. The expedition was actually in 1017.

1068 was actually the 3rd invasion. The 2nd one was in 1025.

The author also doesn't seem to understand Langkasuka v well.

Langakasuka was the FEDERATION that encompassed Kedah, Pattani, Kelantan, Terengganu n some parts of Pahang. It was the peninsular/isthmusian mini version of Srivijaya.

With its centre of power alternately shifting between Kedah n Pattani, just like the centre of Srivijaya alternately shifted between Palemnbang n Jambi/Malayu.

You just don't talk of Kedah like it was separate from Langkasuka. When Kedah was strongest, Kedah WAS the centre of Langkasuka. The same with Pattani.

I think Tangy has just answered you on that.

That just shows, even when you're paying tribute to someone, ya gotta keep monitoring, verifying n sometimes cautioning against their thoughts n designs on ya.

In the olden days, just as like today, when kingdoms go to war against each other, the vanquished one then acknowledges the superiority of the victor, pays some sort of one-time penalty (called 'reparations' in modern times), then follows that up with a yearly tribute. The vanquished is then 'relabelled' as an 'ally', but actually it's now a vassal kingdom, with the victor being the overlord kingdom.

Just like, after WWII, Germany n Japan became 'allies' of America, when they actually were 'vassal kingdoms'.

Sometimes the peace treaty is also sealed with an 'epigamia', i.e. a political marriage, like Seleucus (Alexanders's Indus Region Commander) giving his daughter's hand in marriage to old Chandragupta Maurya after Seleucus was defeated in the Indusian Greco-Magadhan war.

Vassal/overlord arrangements also often occur without the need for war, like when you readily submit to someone who's obviously overwhelmingly stronger n more powerful than you. Like what many small kingdoms in SEA did with Srivijaya that time.

Hehehe... it's telling why you use the word Federation to describe the political system in place at the time of the Srivijayan empire, when in fact that concept is more appropriately described as the Mandala : a geopolitical expression to describe the conduct of relationships of power amongst ancient kingdoms in India and later the Hinduised-buddhist kingdoms of Southeast Asia.

This political system came from the Buddhist example of the mandala model, called the Wheel of Original Dependent Origination, but in the 3rd century BC, Kautilya composed the political treatise Arthashastra for Mauryan King Chandragupta, concerned with the enhancement of economic and political power. In this text, Kautilya proposes a raj mandala, a monarchical schema for the balance of power for the exploitation of regional power within and between states.

Why use modern phrases of terminology like Federation to explain the political relationship when the Buddhist-hindu terminology exists perfectly to describe the relationship of the maritime states of Srivijaya? Do u have an interest to suppress certain ideas or historical legacy??

Watch out that your caution against thoughts and designs by others don't bite u in the backside?? hee....

Well, one can call it what one wishes, Tangy.

Call it mandala, valhalla, amygdala, whatever.

But essentially it was still a federation, i.e. a form of union where individual kingdoms have much autonomy regarding many internal affairs, but important ones like foreign policy, defence is referred to the central authority.

But I know that you're trying v hard to hard-sell the 'mandala' concept though.

It's good, I agree.

As for Kautilya's Arthashastra, I have the English translation with me.

That's the first time I've ever heard that caution could hurt anyone. Maybe I should be more reckless the next time I see that fierce looking German Shepherd around the corner glaring at me.

BTW, the concept of concentric circles has also been applied well before the earliest Hindic kingdoms in other places.

The Persians had it too, where the Kshayarsha (the first Kshayarsha was called Xerxes by the Greeks who thought it was his actual name, but I think it was actually his title, meaning Hero of Kings, later called Shah-en-Shah i.e. King of Kings, in modern Persia/Iran) n his immediate kingdom was the innermost circle.

The next outer circle then was his closest vassal kingdoms, which oversaw further, smaller kingdoms further away forimig further outer circles, n so on n so forth.

Can't say if the same concept was used in ancient Chinese kingdoms. Maybe you know better about that.

The remnant of Malayupura kingdom, the Makara portal guardian in front of Candi Gumpung, A red brick buddhist temple at Muaro Jambi archaeological site, Jambi, Indonesia.

Avalokitecvara Malayu-Srivijaya

Behold the graceful Buddhist art of Srivijayan empire. The graceful gold coated bronze statue of four handed Avalokiteçvara in Malayu-Srivijayan style, discovered at Rataukapastuo, Muarabulian, Jambi, Indonesia. The golden statue probably taken from elsewhere and not originated from Rataukapastuo, since there is no sign of archaeological remnant surround it.

Which bring me to sensitive issue.....
Does being Malay someone has to be a muslim....? since even Malay ancestors are Buddhist....?

Wow, Majjy, thank you so much for uploading those photos to the article!
At the moment, we know so little about Kedatuan Sriwijaya, I wish we could decipher more....

Which brings others to similar sensitive issues:

Does being Arab mean being Muslim ...? since Arabs' ancestors are kafirin Jahiliyah ...?

Does being European mean being Christian ...? since Europeans' ancestors are heathen pagans ...?

Does being Iranian mean being Muslim ...? since Iranians' ancestors are kafirin Zarathushtrawis (Zoroastrians) ...?

Does being Thai mean being Hindu ...? since Thais' ancestors are non-Buddhist Hindus ...?

n so on.

He he he

Sources : http://artmelayu.blogspot.com/

http://berpetualangkeaceh.blogspot.com/

http://naim-firdausi.blogspot.com/

http://burungapa.blogspot.com/

http://sejarahnagarakedah.blogspot.com/

http://sejarahrealitinagarakedah.blogspot.com/

The makara find rewrites the history of the Malay Archipelago



An Archaeological and Excavation team from University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has made a groundbreaking discovery in determining the early religion of the early settlers of the Malay Archipelago.

The team, led by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abd. Rahman was supported by archaeologists from the Department of Heritage Malaysia, and financed by the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Malaysia.

The excavation site, located at Sungai Mas, Kedah, is an ancient settlement area which dates to the 7th century. Found at the site are a number of ancient relics such as beads, pottery jars and parts of ceramics, a granite vat carved from a huge granite, stone tablets with Kadaha inscriptions, ruins of Buddhist Stupas and also the most profound finding among all, the Buddhist makara.

The finding of the makara has ruled out the initial theory of Indianisation of the Malay Archipelago as the makara found at the excavation site is said to date to the 7th century, before the introduction of Hinduism by early Indian merchants and travellers. The makara carries Buddhism properties, therefore, ruling out the fact that Hinduism was the initial religion of our ancestors.

The makara found is a stone carved to resemble a creature, the combination of a fish and an elephant, the two icons of power in land and water, a deity to protect its believers from harm. According to Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi, a makara usually has its counterpart, another makara. In the future, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi hopes to find the missing pair of the makara to complete the collection.

Sungai Mas is also believed to be a full-fledged kingdom in the ancient past and the chronological sequence of the Sungai Mas kingdom site has been established from prehistory to the kingdom status, proving another fact; there was another flourishing civilization prior to the Malacca Sultanate.

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi further added that the Hindu and Buddhist makaras found in the Malay Archipelago are very distinct as no other parts of this globe produce the makaras.

The makaras are the symbols of manifestation of the locals to the deities and the surrounding environment. Local cultures, the animals and natural elements were embedded into the new religion in order to adapt it to the new believers.

The findings by the team are not only profound but they might change the history of this land. The excavation team is now waiting for a clearance and more funding to continue this archaeological and excavation research in order to establish more facts and stories of our forefathers.


http://www.ukm.my/english/News/berita_makara.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQfQ6jm3Dqs

Lembah Bujang (Kedah)











Candi Batu Pahat Hill











Candi Bendang Dalam






Bukit Batu Pahat (Batu Pahat Hill)

Pendapat Abu Zaid 916 TM dan Mas'udi 943 TM.




Abu Zaid, seorang penduduk Siraf menulis dalam tahun 916 bahawa :

"Kalah menjadi wilayah Maharaja al-Zabaj (Sri Wijaya) terletak di antara China dan Tanah Arab… Pelabuhan Kalah menjadi tumpuan kapal-kapal dari Uman dan dari sini kapal-kapal bertolak ke Tanah Arab… Kalah ialah pusat perdagangan kayu gaharu, kapur barus, kayu cendana, gading gajah, bijih timah, kayu arang, kayu sepang, pelbagai jenis rempah ratus dan lain-lain barangan yang amat banyak hendak dihitungkan…"(Paul Wheatley, 1961:218)

Mas'udi yang menulis dalam tahun 943 Masihi mengenai penghijrahan saudagar-saudagar Arab dan Iran dari Kanton pada 877 Masihi ke negeri Kedah adalah seorang pengembara Islam yang banyak menulis. Dalam kitabnya bernama "Muruj al-Dhahab wa Ma'adin al-Jawhar" tertulis pada 943, beliau berkata :

"…di sekitar Kalah (Kedah) dan Sribuza (Sri wijaya) terdapat lombong-lombong emas dan perak, ikut jalan laut, Kalah terletak lebih sedikit dari setengah perjalanan antara Negara Arab dan Negara China. Hari ini Kalah menjadi tempat tumpuan saudagar-saudagar Islam dari Siraf dan Uman. Dari sini mereka menaiki kapal China untuk pergi ke Negeri China. Laut Kalah cetek dan sukar dipelayari serta banyak pula pulau-pulau kecil dan selat-selatnya."(Paul Wheatley, 1961:218-219)

Tidak dapat dinafikan lagi bahawa Kedah ialah sebuah pelabuhan besar yang disinggahi oleh saudagar-saudagar Islam Arab dan Iran dalam KM 9 dan awal KM 10 Masihi. Apabila memasuki pelabuhannya kapal-kapal hendaklah menggunakan jurumudi tempatan yang arif dengan laut Kedah.

Sejak 877 Masihi Kedah menjadi sebuah dari pelabuhan Sri Wijaya yang amat sibuk. Saudagar-saudagar Islam dan bukan Islam berkumpul di Kedah sebelum meneruskan pelayaran ke Negara China atau Palembang. Bagaimanapun, Raja Kedah tetap mengekalkan hubungan baik - politik dan ekonomi dengan Negara China.

Selepas penghijrahan 877 Masihi itu, orang-orang China bertindak melayari sendiri kapal-kapal mereka membawa dagangan keluar negeri. Dalam KM 8 dan KM 9 ini, ahli-ahli pelayaran China tidak belayar lebih jauh dari Kedah. Dibawah Dinasti Song dan Ming yang muncul kemudian barulah kapal-kapal China belayar ke tempat yang lebih jauh dari Kedah.


Sources : http://burungapa.blogspot.com

Kedah Sudah Islam Sejak 877 Masihi.



Orang-orang Arab dan Iran membuka tempat kediaman di tempat mereka berurusan. Begitulah yang terjadi di Kanton, Champa, India, Afrika dan lain-lain tempat. Mereka menjadi orang-orang yang dihormati dan berpengaruh dengan semua lapisan masyarakat.
Tidak dapat diragukan bahawa Islam telah sampai di Kedah dalam KM 9 dan mempunyai penganutnya dikalangan orang-orang Kedah. Dr. Syed Naguib al-Attas membuat andaian bahawa:

"Setelah orang-orang Islam membentuk kawasan kediaman yang agak besar di Kanton (sejak kurun Hijrah pertama atau KM 7 lagi) dan mereka menikmati kebebasan yang luas mengendalikan hal ehwal agama dan undang-undang awam sesama mereka, tentulah senang mereka mengekalkan urusan-urusan penempatan atau perkampungan mereka dan membentuk pula masyarakat Islam di Kedah dan juga di Palembang tempat mereka juga telah berhijrah dari Kanton itu. Penghijrahan ini wajar dikata sebagai satu petanda kedatangan Islam yang paling awal di Nusantara".(Syed Naguib al-Attas, 1969:11)

Pengembara China pernah menulis bahawa di Kedah didapati ramainya orang yang mempunyai nama berpangkalkan "Pu". Ahli kaji bahasa China bersetuju "Pu" itu ialah "Abu". Ini membuktikan bahawa Kedah mempunyai ramai orang Islam.


Kesan-kesan Awal Islam Wujud Di Kedah.


Sebatang nisan di perkuburan Kampung Tanjung Inggeris di Mukim Langgar berhampiran Alor Star terpahat nama "Syeikh Abdul Qadir ibni Hussain Shah Alirah" bertarikh 903 Masihi telah ditemui. Langgar ialah perkataan Iran Tua yang bererti sekolah atau surau tempat belajar agama. Syeikh Abdul Qadir ialah orang Iran. Perkataan "Alirah" itu tidak jelas jawinya mungkin "Shah Alam", atau mungkin "Syah Al-Yara" dan mungkin "Syah Kalahar". Jelas sudah ada perkampungan orang Islam dengan langgarnya di Langgar ini pada masa itu. Dan jika seorang Syeikh meninggal di sini tentulah ada pesantrennya.

Patut benar kita menemui kampung orang-orang Islam di Langgar ini kerana letaknya berhampiran dengan Sungai Kedah yang menjadi jalan rentas dari Kuala Kedah ke Patani dan terus ke China.

Di Lembah Bujang khususnya di Tapak 14, telah ditemui dirham perak zaman Khalifah al-Mutawakkil. Dirham yang ditemui tidak lengkap sekeping dirham, satunya tinggal separuh dan satu lagi cuma sesuku. Di atas sekeping separuh itu tertera tarikhnya 234 Hijrah, yang dikira sebagai 848 Masihi, zaman al-Mutawakkil di Baghdad.

Di Lembah Bujang juga, iaitu di Tapak 18 ditemui serpihan kaca yang apabila dicantum-cantum menyerupai setolop, lampu orang Arab KM 10. Banyak kaca yang ditemui dan mungkin banyak setolop dan corong-corong yang dibawa oleh orang Arab ke situ.

Beribu-ribu butir manik dalam pelbagai rupa dan bentuk dipungut oleh pengkaji purba di Lembah Bujang dan di Sungai Emas. Diantaranya terdapat juga manik-manik dari Timur Tengah. Selain dari merupakan perhiasan manik ialah juga alat penghebahan atau pertukaran barangan masa itu.

Diantara barangan yang dibawa oleh saudagar Arab dan Iran selalunya ialah kain tenunan atau sulaman, barang-barang kemas dari emas dan permata, cermin muka dari logam yang berkilat, rempah perubatan dan bau-bauan seperti narwastu dan ambar kasturi.
Seketul batu pejal berukuran 19 sm x 37 sm ditemui diantara longgokan batu-batu candi yang tersimpan di Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang, di Merbok Kedah. Di atas batu tertulis dengan huruf Jawi "ibnu Sardan 213".

Adakah batu ini serpihan dari batu nisan atau petanda sempadan tanah tidak dapat dipastikan. Tarikh 213 bersamaan 829 Masihi. Ibnu Sardan ialah nama satu keluarga Arab yang dikenali sebagai ahli ilmu, ahli pelayaran dan pendakwah Islam. Antara nisan-nisan lama yang menarik di Kedah ialah nisan Tok Jambi di Bukit Tinggi, Tok Lidah Hitam di Langgar, nisan Makam Purba di Langkawi, nisan Tok Pasai di Kuala Kedah, nisan yang dikatakan kepunyaan Sultan Muzaffar Syah, Sultan Kedah yang pertama di Pengkalan Bujang - tetapi di Bukit Hijau, Baling; dan nisan-nisan lain di Siputeh, di Langgar, di Tualang dan di Sik, di Anak Bukit dan di lain-lain lagi.

Yang paling menarik ialah makam lama di Kampung Seberang Toh Soh berhampiran Pinang Tunggal, 9 kilometer dari Sungai Petani. Makam itu juga tiada bertarikh dan tiada bernama tetapi bentuk nisannya seperti kebudayaan pembesar Acheh. nisan kepalanya berpahat dengan Kalimah Syahadah dan beberapa ayat Quran.

Orang Kampung Seberang Tok Soh memanggilnya Makam Raja Bersiung kerana letaknya di sisi tapak sebuah kota tanah yang lama. Kepada orang-orang Kedah, apa sahaja yang dikira lama dan misteri dilekatkan nama 'Raja Bersiung' di situ. Bentuk nisan tanpa tarikh dan tanpa nama begini tetap utuh sebagai nisan yang bersejarah.


Sources : http://burungapa.blogspot.com

Peperangan Seri Rama dan Andanum.



Ketika Islam menyerang India lebih kurang dalam tahun 1000 sebuah kerajaan Hindu di pantai Koromandel bernama Chola mempunyai angkatan laut yang kuat. Perhubungan antara Srivijaya dan Chola dikira boleh tahan tetapi Chola tidak senang dengan undang-undang dan peraturan yang dikenakan oleh Srivijaya ke atas kapal-kapal asing dan dengan monopoli-monopoli ekonomi yang dipegang oleh Srivijaya di Nusantara. Serangan-serangan orang Islam di Utara India dan rancaknya saudagar-saudagar Islam: Arab dan Iran serta Melayu di Lautan India merimaskan Rajendra Chola.Dengan itu pada 1025, Raja Rajendra Chola menyerang Srivijaya dan menyebut bahawa Kedah yang menjadi sebuah dari pusat-pusat penting empayar itu dimusnahkan dengan teruknya.

Dalam bahasa Tamil yang digunakan oleh Rajendra Chola, Kedah disebut sebagai "Kadaram". Sebuah inskripsi di dalam sebuah kuil di Tanjor berbunyi:

"Beta Rajendra menghantar beratus-ratus kapal ke lautan bergelora telah berjaya menawan Sang Rama Bijaya Tungga Warman iaitu Raja Negeri Kadaram sekali dengan gajah-gajah angkatan perangnya yang sangat hebat. Beta telah merampas harta-harta yang amat banyak kepunyaaan raja itu yang dikumpulnya dengan jujur sejak beberapa lama."(Paul Wheatley, 1961 : 199-200)

Seterusnya inskripsi Tanjor mendaftarkan nama negeri-negeri dalam Empayar Srivijaya yang dimusnahkan oleh Rajendra Chola…Diantara negeri-negeri yang dapat dikenali ialah Pannai (Pane di Sumatera), Malayur (Jambi), Legor, Phanrang di Champa; Trang, Chaiyya di Thailand, Lamuri (Acheh), Pulau Nikobar dan Kadaram (Kedah).

Kedah telah disebut-sebut oleh Rajendra sebagai negeri yang paling hebat membuat tindak balas dan kita sedari ini terjadi kerana Kedah mempunyai paling ramai penduduk Islam. Dari serangan Chola, Kedah menjadi padang jarak, padang tekukur.

"Sebermula maka tersebutlah perkataan Pulau Langkapuri itu selama peninggal Perang Seri Rama dan Andanum jadi sunyilah pulau itu, tiada siapa-siapa duduk".
Beginilah gambaran peperangan antara Raja Chola dan Kedah yang terdaya dicatatkan oleh Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa.


Raja Kedah yang pertama sebelum Islam menjadi agama rasmi.


Lebih kurang dalam tahun 1000 Masihi Syi'ah di Iran memulakan gerakan memburu orang-orang Ahli's Sunnah Wal Jamaah dari bumi Iran. Kedudukan orang-orang Ahli's Sunnah amat pincang dan terdesak sekali. Mereka terpaksa berhijrah besar-besaran ke tempat-tempat yang tidak diganggu gugat oleh Syi'ah.

Sebahagian dari orang-orang Ahli's Sunnah Iran sampai di Nusantara dan pada masa inilah Merong Mahawangsa atau Maha Raja Durbar Raja sampai di Kedah. Bumi Kedah dibakar oleh Chola masih berasap.

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa menyebut bahawa Raja Kedah yang pertama ialah Merong Mahawangsa. Baginda menjadi duta Maharaja Rom untuk membawa Putera Raja Rom berkahwin dengan Puteri Maharaja China.

Dalam pelayaran, angkatan Merong Mahawangsa telah diserang oleh burung garuda di laut berhampiran Pulau Langkapuri. Angkatan Merong Mahawangsa yang "penuh laut" telah binasa melainkan kapal Merong Mahawangsa sendiri. Baginda terpaksa mendarat di pantai berhampiran kaki Gunung Jerai. Di situ baginda dirajakan oleh penduduk tempatan.

Negeri Rom yang dimaksudkan ialah wilayah Empayar Parsi atau Iran, satu masanya sebahagian dari wilayah Empayar Rom Timur. Kawasan ini sudah pun menerima Islam sejak zaman Khulafa-ur Rasyidin. Kepada orang-orang Arab bekas wilayah Empayar Rom di Utara Iran ini ialah "Rom". Di kawasan inilah orang-orang Iran dan orang-orang Turki silih berganti menegakkan beberapa buah kerajaan Islam yang kuat.

Burung Garuda ialah kenderaan Dewa Wisnu dan menjadi satu dari lambang-lambang agama Hindu. Angkatan Merong Mahawangsa tidak dapat dielakkan dari diserang oleh angkatan perang Hindu. Dalam KM 11 dan 12, serangan-serangan angkatan Hindu ke atas angkatan Islam di Laut India adalah fenomena biasa.

Merong Mahawangsa dikatakan telah berkahwin dengan seorang gadis Orang Laut dari suku Gergasi dan menggalakkan rakyatnya bercampur darah diantara kaum. Amalan ini bukanlah amalan orang beragama Hindu.


Butiran dari "Al-Tarikh Salasilah"



Mengikut "Al-Tarikh Salasilah", Raja Kedah yang pertama ialah Maharaja Durbar raja yang berasal dari "Negeri Gumarun di dalam Tanah Parsi". Baginda ditewaskan oleh angkatan suku Iran lain yang lebih kuat. Gumarun ini ialah sebuah pelabuhan Gambroon di Laut Kaspian sekarang. Dan kawasan ini telah memeluk Islam sejak zaman Khulafa-ur Rasyidin lagi.
Raja Kedah yang pertama telah memperkenalkan "Nobat" di istananya. Orkestra ini berasal dari istana Khalifah Harun al-Rashid di Baghdad. Alat-alat muziknya yang dikumpul bercorak Hindu dan Peribumi. Bagaimanapun, nobat adalah pakaian khalifah-khalifah Islam di Baghdad. Jadi Raja Kedah yang pertama, mengikut dua-dua buku ini ialah orang yang sudah kenal dengan kebesaran agama Islam dan ajaran-ajaran Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. walaupun tidak tercatat mereka memeluk Islam.

Maharaja Durbar membina istananya "Kota Langkasuka" di Sok, enam puluh batu ke timur Gunung Jerai berhampiran persimpangan jalan perdagangan Kedah dan Langkasuka.
Merong Mahawangsa pula mendirikan istananya di timur Gunung Jerai di tempat yang tidak dapat dipastikan tetapi amat berhampiran dengan Kuala Merbok iaitu tapak permulaan jalan menuju ke Langkasuka di Pantai Timur.

Dari persamaan ini dan persamaan-persamaan lain lagi boleh dikatakan bahawa Merong Mahawangsa dan Maharaja Durbar Raja itu raja yang sama.
Merong Mahawangsa lebih popular disebut orang sebagai raja yang pertama kerana hikayatnya lebih awal dan lebih meluas dibaca anak negeri. "Al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah" ditulis oleh Muhammad Hassan hanya dalam tahun 1928.


Perasmian Agama Islam mengikut "Merong Mahawangsa"



Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa menceritakan bagaimana Islam diperkenalkan di Kedah. Kononnya seorang Wali Allah bernama Syeikh Abdullah di Baghdad mempunyai seorang murid yang bernama Syeikh Abdullah al -Yamani. Melalui pertolongan gurunya, Syeikh Abdullah al-Yamani dapat bersahabat dengan iblis.

Syeikh Abdullah diberi sebatang tongkat yang dapat menghilangkan dirinya dari penglihatan manusia apabila memegang tongkat itu. Iblis membawa Syeikh Abdullah terbang ke Kedah mengunjungi Raja Phra Ong Mahawangsa di istananya di Bukit Meriam. Di istana itu iblis mengharingkan minuman keras yang akan diminum oleh raja. Tuan Syeikh memarahi iblis kerana berkelakuan demikian dan timbullah satu pertengkaran kecil. Iblis bertindak merebut kembali tongkat saktinya dari Syeikh Abdullah dan Raja Kedah pun terlihatlah tubuh badan Syeikh Abdullah al-Yamani berdiri di hadapannya.

Syeikh Abdullah menerang satu persatu apa yang terjadi dan sejak itu Raja Phra Ong terus memeluk Islam, bertaubat tidak mahu minum arak lagi, dan mengubah nama baginda menjadi Sultan Muzaffal Syah.


Sources : http://burungapa.blogspot.com

The Persian Influence Over Ayuthiya (Ayutthaya)


http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...&hl=Persian

Except for the chinese? What were they before they were chinese??

Hey... you catch my drift.... Good....

Just wanna criticize any pro status-quo law that forcefully maintain an ethnics groups should hold on certain religion.
Since although often bears socio-cultural significance, religion still and always be a personal matter.
But then again, its quite often and natural tendency if majority try to assert and ensure their majority status in order to uphold their "survival" interest.

Dont forget, what happened in Central Java after abrupt move to East got no attention from writers, too. Maybe Srivijayans (with no internal records) preferred to write about their religion, instead of their own daily living. Like what happened to wangsakerta scripts (which documents a continuous history from pre-Taruma til Cirebon era: very unusual), I speculate, any written documents found later on Srivijaya by Srivijayans themselves would get big suspicion among scholars.

Still, I suspect that our ancestors did not like to pay much attention in writing things, like the Chinese did and does. We still somehow inherit this trait: prefer to talk and do, but are reluctant to read, write and document. (Notice also: the malay language used by the Srivijayans were heavily influenced by Sanskrit; we now love to use english words in our daily conversation). Is it genetic? ;-)

You're welcome....
How do you know it was me who upload it...?



Thanks for your contribution Hang

Btw the temple of Lembah Bujang are Hindu or Buddhist temple...?
Since if it houses Lingga-Yoni, it usually Hindu temple dedicated to Siva.

Are Lembah Bujang temple dated from Srivijayan era, younger era, or older....?
The style is similar to Sumatran Srivijayan temples which mainly made from red brick.


Another temple from Srivijayan Empire...

In Malaysia, it's done among the Malays mostly to preserve intra-Malay unity, I think. Something important n strategic for us in view of our not so strong demographic dominance, post independence.

Anyway, since historically 100% of Malaysian Malays have been Muslims of the Sunni division for a long, long time, that aint a big deal. It's just something we guys take for granted.

But among Chinese n Indians, there's no such practice.

Great pics Majapahit!

I have a favor to ask, since you're so good at scouring the virtual world. I am wondering if you have pictures of Candi Portibi in Padang Lawas, Tapanuli Selatan. It is also called Biaro Bahal. It is the remnant of the little-known Kingdom of Panai. From what I can remember reading an article in Suara Pembaruan millenia ago, it is a Buddhist temple complex, specifically of the Vajrayana sect. So it has statues/carving of Heruka in it. Isn't that intriguing? And architecturally it is somehow more elaborate than the 'plain' style of the other Sumatran candis. But I can't find a decent website about it. Help!

You're welcome....

Unfortunaltely the image of Biaro Bahal or Candi Portibi in net is rare. Me myself don't have opportunity to visit Tapanuli Selatan.
(I recently knew from my Batak friend that the word "Portibi" in Batak language means "World"... cool word.... )
Let see what can I do....

Your wish is my command, (I'm in my gennie mode... )

Here's the link:
Horas Madina

WUOOOOOOOOWWW!!!
Thank you, rasi, majjy, you guys are my heroes!!!
I've never known about a Buddhist kingdom in North Sumatra, I always thought Batak people have always been living in their tribal way, preventing any Hindu, Buddhist, and Islam influences which are prevalent in their neighbors' cultures.

More info, pls!