Majapahit

Majapahit Golden Age History Hayam Wuruk, also known as Rajasanagara, ruled Majapahit in AD 1350–1389. During this period, Majapahit attained its peak with the help of prime minister, Gajah Mada. Under Gajah Mada's command (AD 1313–1364), Majapahit conquered more territories and become the regional power. According to the book of Nagarakertagama pupuh (canto) XIII and XIV mentioned several states in Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara islands, Maluku, New Guinea, and some parts of Philippines islands as under Majapahit realm of power. This source mentioned of Majapahit expansions has marked the greatest extent of Majapahit empire. Next to launching naval and military expeditions, the expansion of Majapahit Empire also involved diplomacy and alliance. Hayam Wuruk decided, probably for political reasons, to take princess Citra Rashmi (Pitaloka) of neighboring Sunda Kingdom as his consort. The Sundanese took this proposal as an alliance agreement. In 1357 the Sunda king and his royal family came to Majapahit, to accompany and marry his daughter with Hayam Wuruk. However Gajah Mada saw this event as an opportunity to demand Sunda's submission to Majapahit overlordship. The skirmish between the Sunda royal family and the Majapahit troops on Bubat square were unevitable. Despite the courageous resistance, the royal family were overwhelmed and decimated. Almost whole of the Sundanese royal party were viciously massacred. Tradition mentioned that the heartbroken Princess committed suicide to defend the honour of her country.  The Pasunda Bubat tragedy become the main theme of Kidung Sunda, also mentioned in Pararaton, however it was never mentioned in Nagarakretagama. The Nagarakertagama, written in 1365 depict a sophisticated court with refined taste in art and literature, and a complex system of religious rituals. The poet describes Majapahit as the centre of a huge mandala extending from New Guinea and Maluku to Sumatra and Malay Peninsula. Local traditions in many parts of Indonesia retain accounts in more or less legendary form from 14th century Majapahit's power. Majapahit's direct administration did not extend beyond east Java and Bali, but challenges to Majapahit's claim to overlordship in outer islands drew forceful responses. In 1377, a few years after Gajah Mada's death, Majapahit sent a punitive naval attack against a rebellion in Palembang, contributing to the end of the Srivijayan kingdom. Gajah Mada's other renowned general was Adityawarman, known for his conquest in Minangkabau. The nature of the Majapahit empire and its extent is subject to debate. It may have had limited or entirely notional influence over some of the tributary states in included Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan and eastern Indonesia over which of authority was claimed in the Nagarakertagama. Geographical and economic constraints suggest that rather than a regular centralised authority, the outer states were most likely to have been connected mainly by trade connections, which was probably a royal monopoly. It also claimed relationships with Champa, Cambodia, Siam, southern Burma, and Vietnam, and even sent missions to China. [Majapahit Wikipedia Articles]

Candi Pari (Pari Temple), is located in Porong district. This temple is the most majestic temple than any other temples in the district of Sidoarjo. The temple was built around 1371 in the era of King Hayam Wuruk, which was of Majapahit Kingdom. Looking from the detail architectural, this temple is able to give a picture of how the complexity of the economic issues, political, cultural, and social aspects at the ancient time. Candi Pari (Pari Temple) was made by carved Andesite stone in about Caka year 1293 or 1371 AD. On the outside of the building the height is about 13.80 meters, not including the peak of damaged buildings. 13.55 meters long, 13.4 meters wide. The buildings was made by brick, not stone mountain, it was estimated because the location of the temple was in Brantas River Delta, or between the river and the river Porong Mas. Both of the rivers have sediment type of geological soil which is rich of clay sediments.Majapahit History