YOGYAKARTA – Various history books, especially those used in schools, often state that the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia was Kutai. Historical sources for the Kutai Kingdom are based on information written on the Yupa inscription. However, some research suggests that the Yupa inscription does not mention Kutai. So what is the explanation?
The Oldest Hindu Kingdom in Indonesia
The Yupa inscription consists of seven stone pillars found in Muara Kaman, East Kalimantan. The inscription is written in Sanskrit using the Pallava script.
The Yupa inscription provides information about King Mulawarman, a Hindu devotee of the god Shiva who was very generous. The inscription tells the story of King Mulawarman and his reign in the 5th century AD. It also details the genealogy of King Mulawarman, from his grandfather, Kudungga, to his father, Aswawarman.
In the study "Etymological Study of the Martapura Kingdom (Kutai) in Muara Kaman, East Kalimantan," published in the Historical Studies Journal: Yupa, it is explained that the Yupa Inscription is often used to legitimize the name of the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia, Kutai. However, this information cannot be verified in the Yupa Inscription. Many experts believe that the name Kutai is not connected to King Mulawarman.
C.A. Mees, a researcher on Kutai history and an expert in Malay literature and history, even asserted that Kutai was not part of the Mulawarman Dynasty. In his dissertation, he stated that the Hindu colony in Muara Kaman was never named Kutai.
In fact, the name "Kutai" was only known with the establishment of the Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti kingdom at the mouth of the Mahakam River. This kingdom was established in the late 13th century.
Various analyses by historians and researchers have proven that the name Kutai is not the original name of the Mulawarman Dynasty. Kutai was the name of a kingdom located at Jaitan Layar, downstream from the Mahakam River, now known as Kutai Lama Village.
According to research, the oldest kingdom in the Indonesian archipelago was not Kutai, but Martapura. The Martapura Kingdom was located in the upper reaches of the Mahakam River, specifically in Muara Kaman. Martapura was founded by Aswawarman, the son of Kundungga.
The Martapura Dynasty existed in 400 AD and collapsed in 1635 due to the forces of Kutai Kertanegara. Under the command of Prince Sinum Panji Mendapa, Kutai Kertanegara successfully defeated the Martapura kingdom.
From then on, the Kutai kingdom added "Kertanegara" to its name, becoming Kutai Kertanegara ing Martapura. The addition of "Ing Martapura" was added as a complement to the name of the Kutai Kertanegara king, who at that time successfully defeated the last kingdom in Muara Kaman.
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