Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 233

DECEMBER, 1919)
A BRIEF SKETCH OP MALAYAN HISTORY
229
There are traces of ancient Hinduism in Borneo up to the fifth century, which should perhaps be connected with Châmpa (Cochin-China) or Kambâja (Cambodia).
Chronicles in Java exhibit for what they may be worth a continuous series of dates, which still require collating to settle their real value, onwards from their year one (A.D. 74), when there arrived their first hero, Aji Saka from India. They then record the gradual spread of Hinduism over the whole country till 269, and the building of the first temple (Chándi Máling) in 285. The process of settlement continued till 417, by which time, in 384, a dynasty had been established at Astina, which in its alternative form of Astina Pára is closely reminiscent of Hastinapura, the Delhi of legend. This line of Astina lasted till 662. During this time Hinduism had given place to Buddhism, and the splendid monument of Boro Búdúr was raised before 656 by the Maharajadhiraja Adityavarma, probably Parikisit (617-649) or Udiána (649-662) of Astina. It entirely covers a hillock one furlong square and 100 ft. high, and is an object lesson by means of sculpture in MahAyani Buddhism.
The Astina Dynasty was succeeded by the Malawa Pati (662-872) after which came that of Mendang Kamúlan or Brambanan (Parambanan, 732-892), the builders of the wonderful groups of temples of a greatly Hinduised Mahâyäni type (Parambanan and Chándi Séwu). This Dynasty, a member of which was Aji Jaya Baya (774-830), who wrote a Chronicle and attacked Cochin-China (Champå) in 774 and 787, was followed by the better remembered lines of Jangala (892–1158), which produced Panji (c. 1130-1158), the great hero of Javan story, and Pajajaran (with Koripan, 1158–1295). The country now tended to revert to Saiva Hinduism of a distinctly South Indian (Dravidian) type : so that in speaking of a "Hindu " dynasty in Java at this period a highly Hinduised form of Buddhism is indicated. Of the line of Pajajáran, Munding Sári (1184–1195) is, as Hail Purwa, said to have been the first royal convert to Islam in 1193. In 1295, two years after Kublai Khan's invasion (1293), the Pajajáran Kings were followed by the great line of Majapahit (1295-1477), grown out of a local dynasty at Tumapel (1232-1275). They were Hindus and extended the power of the Javanese Malays, grown by dogress more and more powerful since the time of Háji Purwa, who set up a kingdom at Demak and Pajang (1477-1806), which ruled all Java.
In their time two notable events happened. Firstly, in 1508 the Portuguese appoared in Sumatra, and in 1511 took Malacca, starting at once explorations into the Archipelago generally. Secondly, in 1661 the Matárem family came to the front and afterwards produced Panambahan Sénapáti (1614-1624), the last independent native ruler in Java. He set up his throne at Matárom and was succeeded by Sultan Sóda Krápiab (1624-1036), in whose days the Dutch and English appeared as conquerors. Hinduism did not of course die easily and the Portuguese found Hindu communities in Bantam on their arrival there in 1611.
While the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms had been developing in Java, & similar process had been going on in Sumatra at Menangkabau in the hills of the modern Padang, of which unfortunately hardly any record had survived, though it attained such fame among the Malays as to make many of them consider it to be the cradle of the race. Hindu' and Buddhist temples are numerous, and there is notable inpoription of A.D. 806; but it is said that it was not till 1160 that the kingdom was suficiently consotidated to be able to create colonies and spread abroad boyond tho Island. Like the Javan