Sojomerto inscription

Sojomerto inscription

The Sojomerto inscription is an inscription estimated dated circa late 7th century to early 8th century, discovered in Sojomerto village, Reban, Batang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The inscription was written in old Malay with Kawi script.
The inscription is Shivaist in nature, mentioning about a head of a noble family named Dapunta Selendra, the son of Santanu and Bhadrawati, the husband of Sampula. Prof. Drs. Boechari speculated that Dapunta Selendra was the progenitor of Sailendra dynasty, an influential ruling family which later would ruled Medang Kingdom and Srivijaya.
The inscription was carved on an andesite stone with 43 cm width, 7 cm thick, and 78 cm tall. The script consists of 11 lines, most of them are unclear and eroded.
This inscription concluded that the family of Dapunta Selendra are settled in Central Java north coast, speaking old Malay language and they are Shivaist Hindus.
The discovery of this inscription has led to the development of theories that proposed Sailendra's Sumatran origin, also with the possibility of their initial establishment in Central Java north coast before moving inland to Kedu Plain. Just like Sojomerto inscription, some of Sailendra's inscriptions of later periodâ€"although discovered in Central Javaâ€"were also written in old Malay instead of old Javanese, which suggested Sumatran connections. The name 'Selendra' mentioned in this inscription as "Dapunta Selendra" is suggested as the ancestor of Sailendras. The title 'Dapunta' is similar to those of Srivijayan King Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, which suggested the Srivijayan connection to Sailendra family. The family was 1st settled in Central Java northern coast around Batang and Pekalongan regency, they were initially Hindu Shivaist. At a certain point of time they moved southward and established themself in Kedu Plain and later probably converted to Mahayana Buddhism.
Another interpretation suggests that the family was probably a native Javanese family, but having Srivijayan connection. This ruling family was probably a local ruler but somehow subjugated by Srivijayan through invasion and served as Srivijayan vassal. The early Sailendras were probably belongs within Srivijaya's mandala sphere of influence. Previously known through Kota Kapur inscription that Srivijaya launched series of military campaign against Bhumi Java, which also corresponds to the fall of Tarumanagara kingdom in West Java.

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