Sri Kertajaya: Inscription of Kamulan (AD 1194)

An Introduction to Indonesian Historiography by Soedjatmoko

Nugroho, A.P. (2016): Hasil Terjemahan Prasasti Kamulan Tahun 1116 Saka atau 1194 Masehi. Kediri.

 

The Kamulan Inscription was issued by Raja Sarmeswara Trikramawataranindita Srngga Lancana Dikwijayotunggadewa or better known as Raja Kertajaya in 1116 Saka or 1194 AD. This Kamulan inscription contains the name Kediri, which was attacked by the king in the eastern kingdom. The date mentioned in the inscription is the 31st of August in 1194.

 

Inscription in stone: Found at: Desa  Kemoelan afd. Trenggalek,  Res. Kediri. This contains the decree of King Crnga (or Crngga or Srngga) to reissue the written edict of the: sang lumah ring Jawa. This king is also known as King Kertajaya.

It commemorates the grant of the King to: samya haji katandan sakapat; who succeeded in expelling the enemy which had launched an attack from the east. The inscription states, among other things, that initially the king was forced to leave the palace at Katang-katang but that because of the devotion of the samya haji (servants of the King) he was able to regain his throne and rule as king of Kedire. The action of this raid occurred about five months before the Kamulan Inscription was made.

 

 

Front line 13

...when a large number of enemies came from the eastern region that caused Ṣri Maharaja's indebtedness to the giver of real servants, namely Samya Haji Kataṇḍan Sakapat (four subordinate kings who had officials with the title taṇḍa; those are officials in charge of guarding the territory in the four directions with their soldiers. )... (Nugroho, 2016:3)

 

At the time of the attack the Kertajaya palace was in Katang-Katang, this is mentioned in the Front 14th line Kamulan inscription: "...kaḍatwan ring katang-katang..." (Brandes, 1913:173), which means: "... .Kaḍatwan in Katang-Katang...” (Nugroho, 2016:3).

The location of Katang-Katang is now in Katang Hamlet, Sukorejo Village, Gampengrejo District, around the current location of the Kediri Regency Office (Munib, 2011:77). It is very possible that the enemy who attacked from the east came from the Malang region. This is because east of Kediri is an area bounded by Mount Kawi which is none other than the 'Malang' region.

So, it can be said that the attack came from Malang and at the same time it can be assumed that the enemy was a descendant of the king Sri Maharaja Sri Jayamṛta from Janggala whose administrative area was centered in Malang. This indicated that the war between Panjalu and Janggala had not ended and further weakened Kadiri's condition.

 

Furthermore, Kertajaya also stipulates the Kamulan area and its surroundings as a fief or special area which is exempt from all tax levies.

 

Rear line 1-2 (badly damaged text)

- - - - pangkur tawan tirip - - - - - mangilala drwya haji wuluwulu ring dangu makadi micra pangurang kring manimpiki peranakan limus galuh ……….

 

As this text resembles the normal version of each inscription I give the general translation that mostly fits each inscription:

……. it must not be entered by the servants of the three Rakryan Mantri Katrini (the three main human incarnations of gods and the main ministers in goverment): Pangkur, Tawan and Tirip and also different officials and notaries. So also (the sima) may not be trod upon by the future kings and all collectors of taxes, all sorts of artisans of the king and also for a long time officers who collect taxes on handicraft businesses, mendicant friar, cabinet workers, those who belongs to a mixed cast, gold craftsman ……..

 

Rear line 7-8
…tulung (help) hutang (debt) pobhaya paprayaccitta kdi (unfertile) walyan (doctor) widumangidung (song-singers) sambal sumbul (police officers) hulun haji (kings slaves) jenggi (black slave) timur singga (slave walking in front of his owner) wulungwulung (wulung = dark, black) watek I jro (court attendants) ityaiwamadi (and so forth) kabeh (all) tan (also) kumne parabyapara (not intruded upon) irking (here or there) samya (servant) haji (of the king) tke sima (freehold) (is responsible for) good and bad events as ……. the pumpkin that creeps along the ground, death, ………

In 1222, Krtajaya is defeated and his reign end.

See note on: The Crisis of Civil War at the End of King Airlangga's Reign.
See note on Inscriptions in Java