Notes on Taruma Kingdom and King Purnawarman

Introduction

• 5th Century Context:
  • Collapse of the Western Roman Empire due to attacks from barbarian nations (Visigoths, Vandals, Huns).
  • Concurrently, a kingdom in West Java faced a flood that resulted in significant damage but also led to an important mega-project.

The Taruma Kingdom

• Significance:
  • Considered the oldest kingdom on the island of Java, known for its ecological achievements.
  • The king was Maharaja Taruma, noted for his wisdom.

Flood and Response

• The Flood:
  • The Candrabhaga River, identified as the Bekasi River, flooded the palace, causing severe consequences for the populace.
• Maharaja's Action:
  • Purnawarman initiated a river dredging project to prevent future floods, demonstrating advanced organizational skills without modern technology.

Historical Evidence

• Inscriptions:
  • Unique inscriptions from Taruma, including:
    • Ciareteun and Pasir Koleangkak (human foot stamps).
    • Kebon Kopi (stamped elephant palm).
    • Muara Cianten (odd strokes).
  • Most inscriptions written in Sanskrit and early Pallawa letters, indicating existence around the 5th century AD.
• Archaeological Sites:
  • Batujaya temple complex, Cibuaya site (statues of Vishnu), and Durga-Kali statue in Tanjung Priok linked to Taruma.

Foreign Records

• Chinese Records:
  • Liu-Song Dynasty (420-479 AD) mentions a kingdom in Java sending envoys to China in 435 AD.
  • New History of the Tang Dynasty references a kingdom called To-lo-mo, interpreted as Taruma.

King Purnawarman's Rule

• Military and Administration:
  • Purnawarman characterized as a noble, brave leader with a formidable military.
  • His intelligence and strategic skills recognized in inscriptions.
• Dominance:
  • Purnawarman's campaigns led to the defeat of neighboring kingdom Aruteun, establishing Taruma's supremacy in West Java.
  • His kingdom likely covered significant areas from Ujung Kulon to Citarum River.

Society and Governance

• Tribal to Kingdom Transition:
  • Pre-Indian influence society predominantly structured around democratically elected leaders based on merit in small communities.
• Mandalas Concept:
  • The concept of mandalas emerged with Indian influence, where a maharaja ruled over a collection of tribes or wanua.

Purnawarman as Dewaraja

• Dewaraja Concept:
  • The king as an incarnation of a god, legitimizing his rule.
  • Inscriptions equate Purnawarman to Lord Indra (god of rain) and Lord Vishnu (god of water).

Major Projects

• River Dredging:
  • The dredging of Bekasi River initiated by King Purnawarman as a significant engineering project.
  • A second project involved dredging the Gomati (Cakung Lama River) over 21 days.

Religious Tolerance

• Spiritual Practices:
  • Purnawarman's rule reflected early Vedic Hinduism, with tolerance towards Buddhism as seen in the Batu Jaya Temple.

Myths and Legends

• 12 Kings of Taruma:
  • The narrative of 12 kings from the Wangsakerta Manuscript is considered unreliable by historians.
  • Purnawarman is the only king consistently mentioned in inscriptions.

Decline of Taruma

• Historical Void:
  • The disappearance of the Taruma Kingdom post-Purnawarman remains unclear, with possible connections to Srivijaya's military actions.
• Legacy:
  • Purnawarman's contributions to welfare and infrastructure marked his reign positively despite the eventual decline of the kingdom.

Conclusion

• Leadership Lessons:
  • King Purnawarman's dedication to his people through substantial projects amidst challenges reflects a true leader's commitment.
  • Encouragement for contemporary leaders to take actionable steps for community welfare.