Sojomerto inscription (; ; ; ) is an

inscription Epigraphy () is the study of inscriptions, or epigraphs, as writing; it is the science of identifying graphemes, clarifying their meanings, classifying their uses according to dates and cultural contexts, and drawing conclusions about the wr ...

discovered at the Sojomerto village of Reban in the Batang Regency of

Central Java Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. Written in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

using the Brahmic writing system (most probably

Old Javanese Old Javanese or Kawi is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language and the oldest attested phase of the Javanese language. It was natively spoken in the central and eastern part of Java Island, what is now Central Java, Special Region o ...

), it was initially dated to 7th century, but later redated, on palaeographic grounds, to the early 9th century. The inscription is currently '' in situ'' or on location, and Shivaist in nature. The inscription was carved on an

andesite Andesite () is a volcanic rock of intermediate composition. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between silica-poor basalt and silica-rich rhyolite. It is fine-grained (aphanitic) to porphyritic in texture, and is composed predomina ...

stone 43 cm wide, 7 cm thick, and 78 cm tall.Situs Kabupaten Batang, diakses 7 Juni 2007
The text consists of 11 lines, most of them being unclear and eroded.

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Interpretation

The inscription is largely in Sanskrit (with some mantras), and it's a dedication text likely glorifying a royal figure associated with the Śailendra dynasty. Here's a line-by-line interpretation: #… …
“... noble one, Śrī Sāta ...”
→ Possibly referring to a respected or exalted figure (perhaps the main subject of the inscription) using honorific titles. #… _
“... the supreme one,”
→ Indicates exaltation—possibly a divine or royal title like “parama kotī” (the highest tier). #
“Salutations to Lord Śiva.”
→ A classic invocation used in Shaivism, showing religious devotion. #
“ othe revered one, the Supreme Lord...”
→ Suggesting Śiva as Parameśvara, or could be a deified ruler. #
“...Lord Śarva (another name of Śiva), all-divine, brave and fortunate...”
→ Continues the invocation, highlighting divine qualities and possibly linking them to a royal figure. #
“...who bestows strength/power/dominion to the...”
→ A divine figure (likely Śiva) empowering the ruling class. #
“... Śailendra (dynasty), obeisance of Shāntanu.”
→ A link between Shāntanu (a person or ancestor) and the Śailendra lineage, possibly invoking reverence or continuity. #
“ tsalutes the father, Bhadravati,”
→ Showing respect to a paternal figure—likely a noble or revered ancestor. #
“Salutes the ancestor/grandfather Sampūla”
→ Emphasizing lineage and ancestral reverence. #
“Salutes the lady/woman of the Śailendra ynasty obeisance”
→ Acknowledging a royal woman—could be a queen or matriarchal figure. #
“May it avoid the snare of failure (Amoghapāśa), may it last long.”
→ A wish or blessing for enduring success and prosperity, avoiding downfall. Overall, the Sojomerto inscription is a devotional and royal eulogy that: *Opens with an invocation to Śiva, praising Him as Parameśvara and Śarva. *Ties divine blessing to the Śailendra dynasty, suggesting divine legitimacy or favor. *Shows reverence to several ancestors (Bhadravati, Sampūla) and a noblewoman, indicating a strong emphasis on lineage. *Ends with a prayer for continued fortune, invoking Amoghapāśa (symbolizing escape from failure). This inscription thus serves both a religious and political function: sanctifying the royal house and affirming its divine support and enduring legacy.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Inscriptions in Indonesia Sanskrit inscriptions in Indonesia 8th-century inscriptions Shailendra dynasty 725

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Interpretation

See also

References