Early History of Java Island
In Indian Sanskrit literature, this island is mentioned as Yavadweepa where rice and gold were available in abundance. According to Chinese references, Indian people had reached Java in about 2nd century AD. These people came from the Kalinga state of India. According to a Dutch archaeologist named Dr. Chrome, the people of Java used to cultivate rice even before the Hindus reached Java. They knew the arts of fishing, weaving cloth, playing musical instruments, knowing astrology, etc. When Indian Hindus arrived here, the people here adopted Hindu beliefs and culture and the old culture of Java also got mixed in it. In the beginning of the 2nd century AD, the Hindu king Devvarman established a dominant Hindu kingdom on the island of Java, which continued to flourish till the 4th-5th centuries AD. The Chinese traveler Fahien came to India in the 400th century AD. When he was returning to China by sea via Sri Lanka in AD 412, his ship got lost in the seas and hit the sea waves for about 100 days and reached the island of Java. On this island he found people following Vedic and Shaiva religions residing.
Indians on Java and other East-Indies islands during Gupta period
Spread of Kings
India was ruled by the kings of the Gupta dynasty from AD 320 to 495, which is called the golden period of Indian history. Vaishnavism was promoted in place of Buddhism during that period. During that period, Indian language, literature and education were widely promoted in islands like Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, Champa, Cambodia, Malaya and Malacca. Hindu kingdoms were established anew in these islands. According to a legend from Java, during this period a prince of Gujarat crossed the sea with several thousand humans and established a colony in Java.
Tamralipti was a famous port of Bengal during the Gupta period. All the trade of northern India was done through this port with China, Burma and the eastern-island. There was trade with these countries also with the states of South India. This trade was carried out through the ports located at the mouths of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Thus India's close political, cultural and trade relations with the eastern islands were established during the Gupta period. Indian social customs, religion, art and system of governance began to be followed in these islands. Dr. Altekar has written- 'If there exists any cultural unity between India on the one hand and China on the other, and if the valuable monuments, which are silent witnesses of the pride of India's culture, all Indochina (Vietnam), Java, Sumatra and Bornia If it is reflected in the radiated, then the credit goes to the Gupta period itself, which provided the inspiration to expand Indian culture outside.'
Rise of Shailendra Dynasty in Java (Medang State)
In the fourth century AD, when the kingdom of the Gupta kings was expanding in India, the Shailendra dynasty was established on the island of Java. This kingdom was extended over the islands of Malaya (Malaysia), Sumatra, Java, Bali and Borneo. There were Hindu settlements in Malaya even before that but their political nature is not known. The Shailendra Empire continued till the 11th century AD. Raja Rajendra Chola of the Chola Empire of South India put an end to the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia in the 11th century AD. The Chola kings could not firmly establish control over the area thousands of kilometers away from South India. Therefore, once again in the 12th century, the Shailendra dynasty expanded its power. The kings of the Shailendra dynasty had become followers of Buddhism. That's why he built many Buddhist temples and viharas in Java. The most important Buddhist monastery built by him was called Nalanda and the most important Vihara was called Nagapattanam. Both these places were in the island of Java. The Shailendra dynasty also built Chandi Kalasan (Kalasana Temple) and Borobudur Buddhist Vihara.
Some inscriptions have proved that the Shailendra royal family of Java used the ancient Malaya language. This language is proof that the Shailendra royal family ruled the island of Sumatra before coming to Java and it was related to the Srivijaya dynasty. He conquered the island of Java by defeating the local rulers of Central Java. He made the Sanjay dynasty of Mataram kingdom his vassal. The center of power of the Sailendras was Dakshin Kedu which was located near Magelang. It is currently located north of Yogyakarta.
The Shailendra dynasty was a follower of Shaivism in the beginning but later became Buddhist after the adoption of Mahayana Buddhism by King Sankhara (Rakai Panarban or Panangkaran). According to the inscriptions of King Sankhara, the Sojomerto inscription and the Charit Parhyangan text, the descendants of the later Shailendra king Panangkaran continued to be followers of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism. He continued to give royal patronage to Buddhism till the end of Samratunga's rule. The Sjomerto inscription is no longer available.
Sunda State (West Java)
Sunda State was a Hindu state located in West Java, established in AD 669. The present-day Jakarta, West Java, the western part of Central Java and Banten were located in this Sunda state. According to the "Bujangga Makin" manuscript, the eastern border of the Sunda kingdom was formed by a river called the Palmali River, which is now called the Brabes River. A river called Sarayu used to flow in its border in Central Java. In AD 1579 this state was destroyed by the Muslim rulers of Central Java.
Sanjay Dynasty (Mataram Rajya)
The Sanjaya dynasty was an ancient Javanese dynasty. The kingdom established by the kings of this dynasty was called Mataram Rajya. This state was called Mataram probably because of the matriarchal social system of the island of Java. Mataram kingdom was established in the valley of Brantaz river. The land here was fertile and agriculture was plentiful. According to the Kangal inscription, this dynasty was founded in AD 732 by a king named Sanjaya. This inscription has been found in the south-west of the city named Magelang. Its script is the script used by the then Pallava rulers of South India and its language is Sanskrit. In this inscription, information has been given about the installation of Shivling on the hill of Kunjarkunja area. It is said in this inscription that King Sann recaptured this island and he ruled wisely and skillfully for a long time. After the death of King Sann, the unity of the dynasty was dissolved, due to which the kingdom started to fragment, but Sanjaya, the son of late King Sanna's sister Sannah, took over the power. He propagated religion, literature and various arts in the state and increased military power. He annexed the surrounding areas to his kingdom and tried to make the people happy and prosperous. Raja Sanna and Sanjaya are also called "Charit Parahyangan".
According to a later book, King Sunna was defeated by King Purbasora of Galuh. So he had to take refuge in the mountain of Merapi. Sanjaya reconquered his lost kingdom and extended his kingdom to West Java, Central Java, East Java and Bali. Sanjay also fought with Malayu and Kelinga, the king of Parahyangan, Sang Srivijaya. In the period that followed, the Sanjaya kingdom was pushed into North Java by the Shailendra kingdom. According to the Kalasan inscription, the rise of the kingdom of Shailendra took place around AD 778. During this period, the kingdom of Sanjaya and the kingdom of Shailendra were located in each other's neighborhood and this period was full of peace, cooperation and coexistence. Some historians believe that there was no dynasty called the Sanjaya dynasty, only the Shailendra dynasty that ruled in Central Java. This state was called Medang. Its capital was in the Mataram region and its rulers belonged to the Shailendra dynasty. The kings of the Sanjaya dynasty also descended from this Shailendra dynasty.
Raja Rakai Pictan of the Sanjaya dynasty was married to Pramodvardhini (AD 833-56), the daughter of King Samratung of the Shailendra dynasty. With time, the influence of the Sanjaya dynasty increased in the state of Mataram and they continued to replace the Sailendra kingdom, which followed Buddhism. Rakai Pictan expelled from his kingdom Balaputra, the son of King Samratung of the Shailendra dynasty, who was the brother of Pramodvardhini, the queen of Rakai Pictan. When the kingdom of King Balaputra of the Shailendra dynasty from Central Java ended, he fled to Sumatra. The kings of Sri Vijaya dynasty ruled in Sumatra. Balaputra defeated the then king of Sri Vijaya Empire and subjugated himself and himself became the supreme ruler of Sumatra. Shaivism again received state patronage in Java during the reign of King Pictan and this patronage continued till the end of the Medang kingdom. The Hindu kings of the Sanjaya dynasty built the world famous Shiva temple in Central Java and spread Hindu culture on the island of Java. Queen Pramodvardhini of Rakai Pictan built the world famous Borobudur Buddhist monastery in the 9th century AD. Yogyakarta, Surakarta and Central Java were the main centers of Mataram state. It was situated in a very fertile area, so it was possible to build huge temples like Parambanan and Borobudur in this state. By AD 850, the Sanjaya dynasty became the ruler of the entire Mataram kingdom.
The Balitung inscription of AD 907 also gives information about the Sanjaya dynasty. According to this, when a king of the Sanjaya dynasty died, he assumed a divine form. On the basis of this inscription, a list of the kings of the Sanjaya dynasty has been prepared. In AD 929, King Mapu Sindok of the Sanjaya dynasty moved the capital of the Mataram kingdom from Central Java to East Java. The reason for this is not clearly known, but it is speculated that this may have been done due to the eruption of Merapi volcano. It is also speculated that the invasion of Central Java by the Sri Vijaya kingdom of Sumatra would have forced the capital to be moved from Central Java to East Java. With this, the rule of the Sanjaya dynasty came to an end in Central Java and a new dynasty named Isyana emerged in East Java.
Relationship with Champa
The state of Java was closely related to the state of Champa, which was located on the mainland of South-East Asia. This relationship continued till the rise of the Sanjaya dynasty. The people of Champa were called Cham and are considered to be Indianized Austronesians. Many architectural features of temples built during the period of the Sanjaya dynasty can be seen in the Cham temples on the island of Central Java.
Isyana Dynasty
The new ruling dynasty of the Mataram Hindu kingdom of Java Island is called the Isyana dynasty, which succeeded the Sanjaya dynasty. It was founded by Mapu Sindok who moved the capital of Mataram State from Central Java to East Java. A writer named Choides has written that Sindok founded a new dynasty in East Java by the name of Sri Isyana (Vikramadharmottungadeva). His daughter Isyana Tungvijay succeeded Mapu Sindok. After Isyana Tungvijay, Isyana Tungvijay's son Makutavanshvardhan became the king of East Java. After that Dharmavangassa succeeded him. The Indo-war saga was translated into Javanese in AD 996 during the period of the Isyana dynasty. In AD 1016-17, the king of Sri Vijaya Kingdom of Sumatra island invaded Java island and destroyed the capital of Raja Dharmavangas. The Isyana dynasty ended in this war.
Kediri Dynasty (Kahuripan State)
In AD 1019, Erlangga reunited the Medang kingdom and a new kingdom called Kahuripan came into existence. Erlangga continued to rule till AD 1042. The descendants of Erlingga were called Kediri. The kingdom called Kahuripan is believed to have been a continuation of the Isyana kingdom. The Kediri dynasty ruled till AD 1222.
Singhsari Dynasty
In AD 1222, the Kediri kings of Java were destroyed and the Singhasari dynasty came into existence. He continued to rule till AD 1292. This area is currently called Malang.
Majapahit Empire
In AD 1294, a king named Vijay established the Majapahit kingdom in Java. It was the most powerful state in Indonesia. Its capital was Trovulan which was located near Surabaya. In AD 1350, there was a king named Hayam Vuruk in this dynasty, who was the most powerful king of this dynasty. His minister 'Gajah Mad' was a brave and intelligent person. He took an oath that he would not use palapa (spices) in his food until he brought the entire Indonesian Islands under the Majapahit Empire. Certainly he fulfilled his oath, due to which the Majapahit kingdom included the entire area which is currently included in the Republic of Indonesia. However, his direct control was only over Java, Bali and Madura. Hayam Vuruk continued to rule till AD 1389. When Indonesia sent its first satellite into space in the twentieth century, it was named Palapa in honor of Gajah item. This dynasty continued to rule as a Hindu dynasty till AD 1478.
Demak State (Central Java)
ई.1478 के पश्चात् जावा में इस्लाम की आंधी चलने लगी जिसके क्रूर झौंकों से मजापहित साम्राज्य के हिन्दू राजाओं ने इस्लाम स्वीकार कर लिया और सत्ता का केन्द्र मध्य जावा के सेमारांग से 30 किलोमीटर पूर्व में चला गया। यह जावा की हजारों साल पुरानी संस्कृति के लिए बहुत बड़ा आघात था। हजारों हिन्दू परिवार जावा द्वीप छोड़कर भाग गए और उन्होंने बाली द्वीप में ब्रोमो पर्वत (टेंगेर) के निकट जाकर शरण ली। पंद्रहवीं शताब्दी में जावा के लोगों ने जब इस्लाम स्वीकार किया तो एक बार पुनः जावा की संस्कृति में बदलाव आया और हिन्दू-जावाई संस्कृति में इस्लाम ने प्रवेश करके जावा की वर्तमान संस्कृति को जन्म दिया। देमक राज्य का पहला राजा रादेन पाताह था। उसका पिता मजापहित वंश का अंतिम राजा था तथा माता जेआम्पा, एक मुस्लिम स्त्री थी। दूसरा राजा पातिउनूस और तीसरा राजा ट्रेंग्गोनो हुआ।
हिन्दू राज्य केलापा का पतन
देमक राज्य में नौ ”वली सोंगो” नामक इस्लामिक नेता हुए जिन्होंने जावा द्वीप पर इस्लाम को फैलाया। ई.1527 में देमक सुल्तानों ने जावा द्वीप के अंतिम हिन्दू राज्य ”केलापा” को भी जीत लिया और उसका नाम ”जयकार्ता” रखा जो अब ”जकार्ता” कहलाता है। उन्हीं दिनों उत्तर भारत का सर्वाधिक प्रबल-प्रतापी हिन्दू शासक महाराणा सांगा, बर्बर मुस्लिम आक्रांता बाबर के हाथों पराजित हुआ।
पाजांग राज्य
ट्रेंग्गोनो का जामाता जोको टिंग्किर, देमक राज्य का अंतिम शासक सिद्ध हुआ। वह ई.1540 में देमक राज्य की राजधानी सोलो से 10 किलोमीटर पश्चिम में पाजांग में ले गया। वह टिंग्किर गांव का रहने वाला जोको (लड़का) था इसलिए उसे जोको टिंग्किर कहा जाता था।
मुस्लिम माताराम राज्य (द्वितीय)
माताराम राज्य (द्वितीय) में योग्यकार्ता तथा सुराकार्ता नामक क्षेत्र स्थित थे। पानेमबाहान सेनोपति माताराम (द्वितीय) राज्य का पहला राजा था। वह ई.1584 में राजा बना तथा ई.1601 तक राज्य करता रहा। उसका पिता पेमानाहान (की अगेंग माताराम) पाजांग राज्य का प्रमुख योद्धा था। उसका पड़दादा मजापहित राज्य का अंतिम राजा था। पानेमबाहान का अर्थ होता है दोनों हाथ जोड़कर नाक से स्पर्श करते हुए आदर पूर्वक प्रणाम करना। प्राचीन जावाई संस्कृति में बड़ों को प्रणाम करने का यही तरीका रहा है। सुल्तान पानेमबाहान का जावा में बहुत सम्मान था। उसके बचपन का नाम सुतोविजोयो था। उसकी जादुई शक्तियों और रहस्यमयी कारनामों की कहानियां कही जाती हैं। जिस महल में वह साधना करता था तथा अलौकिक शक्तियां प्राप्त करता था, वह योग्यकार्ता से 5 किलोमीटर दक्षिण-पूर्व में स्थित है। उसकी कब्र पर प्रतिवर्ष हजारों यात्री तीर्थयात्रा करते हैं तथा इसे माताराम साम्राज्य का पवित्र स्थल माना जाता है। ई.1613-45 तक इस वंश में आगुंग हान्योक्रोकुसुमो नामक शक्तिशाली राजा हुआ। उसकी मृत्यु के बाद माताराम राजवंश का ह्रास होने लगा।
जावा की प्राचीन संस्कृति पर भारतीय संस्कृति का प्रभाव
जावा के प्राचीन साहित्य, कला एवं संस्कृति पर भारतीय साहित्य, कला एवं संस्कृति का प्रभाव प्रभूत मात्रा में देखा जा सकता है। जावा द्वीप पर बहुत बड़ी संख्या में हिन्दू मंदिरों के खण्डहर बिखरे पड़े हैं। मध्य जावा में स्थित लारा जोंग्गरांग का मंदिर भारतीय शैली में बना है जिसमें राम कथा और कृष्णलीला के प्रसंग उत्कीर्ण हैं। जावा द्वीप की प्रतिमाओं में भारतीय आभूषणों की भरमार है जिनमें काल-मकर अधिक लोकप्रिय है। जावा का धार्मिक साहित्य रामायण एवं महाभारत की कथाओं पर आधारित है। भारतीय उपनिषदों का अध्यात्म एवं दर्शन तथा बाद के युगों में उत्पन्न होने वाले तांत्रिक विधानों का भी जावा की संस्कृति पर बहुतायत से प्रभाव है। शिव एवं विष्णु की संयुक्त प्रतिमाएं भी जावा द्वीप पर मिली हैं। जावा की कविताओं एवं गीतों पर भी भारतीय प्रभाव देखा जा सकता है। जावा के राजाओं के नाम भी भारतीय राजाओं से मिलते-जुलते हैं। उनके दरबारों में भी भारतीय राजपरम्पराएं प्रचलित थीं। वर्तमान में जावा द्वीप में 90 प्रतिशत मुस्लिम जनसंख्या रहने के कारण हिन्दू संस्कृति के चिह्न विलुप्त प्रायः हैं किंतु हिन्दी एवं संस्कृत भाषा के कुछ शब्द जावा द्वीप पर आज भी प्रचलित हैं जो भारत से जावा के प्राचीन सम्बन्धों के मुंह बोलते प्रमाण हैं।