The Dharmavansha Project

The famous king of Ishanavansha, Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva (991 – 1007 ce) was the next king who further patronized the translation of Hindu-Vedic literatures, Puranas and Itihasas, to Kawi language. His sister was married to Udayana (Sri Dharmodayana Varmadeva), the Varmadeva king of neighbouring island of Bali. Her maiden name was Mahendradatta, but after her marriage she was designated as Sri Maharani Gunapriya Dharmapatni, whose memorial shrine was still maintained nicely in Burwan hill, Bali. She was unified with her Istadevi in the form of Mahisamardhini Durga. This historical marriage brought deep influence in the continuity of Javanese Hindu civilization and also supposed to legitimize the ruling Varmadeva dynasty’s authority and rights to rules Bali in the future.

Mahisamardhinidurga of Kutri Burwan. The Deity of Sri Mahendradatta

One inscription told us, “.... sira ta Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva ngaranira, umilwa manggalaning mangjawakna Byasamata... mwang parampara karengo tekeng anagatakala..., His Majesty named Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva, gave the order to bring auspiciousness by translating the sacred works of Vyasadeva to Javanese (mangjawaken Byasamata), ... so the valuable wealth of the divine disciplic succession (parampara) will continued to unlimited time in the future (anagatakala)”

Among 18 parvas of original Mahabharata, today we found Javanese (Kawi) translations of Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhisma Parva, Ashramavasa Parva, Mausala Parva, Prasthanika Parva, Svargarohana Parva and some said the Vana Parva also available in Kawi. Other literary works also happened to be translated and compiled under patronage of Sri Dharmavansha, such as Uttara Kanda (from Valmiki Ramayana), Arjuna Vijaya, Astika-asraya (the story of how Astika Rishi saved the serpentine race from total annihilation by Maharaja Janamejaya’s sacrificial rites), Parthayana or Subhadra Vivaha (the marriage of Subhadra and Arjuna), Rama Kanda (summary of Ramayana), Hari-asraya, and Hari Vijaya (both about pastimes of Lord Krishna such as Kamsavadha, etc.).

The Indian Manuscript of Mahabharata in Sanskrit and Nagari script

We find no deviation or any significant difference between the stories of original Mahabharata with their Javanese translation of these several Parvas. This could be a little surprising if we read the older Yogisvara Ramayana. There are some differences with the original Valmiki Ramayana, though they are not so important. But when we read Javanese Ramayana, there is a strange feeling that The Lord’s pastimes were happened in Java itself rather than in India. We find the same case with Ramakien (Ramakhyan) of Siam or Thai Ramayana which said by some scholars was based on Javanese Yogisvara Ramayana. Both the Siamese and Javanese feel Ramayana was a part of their own mythological history. We don’t find such idea in the original translations of Mahabharata’s Parvas of Sri Dharmavansha’s reign. The deviations we find in today’s presentation of shadow puppet show (the Wayang) or its life drama was came from more recent interpolation and differentiated from the original translation of the Parvas by name Wayang Purwa.

Balinese shadow puppet show (wayang). The scene of Gita, when Lord Krishna taught Arjuna the Dharma

Here we present some passages from Javanese Parvas (or let we called it Dharmavansha’s project) which glorified The Lord.

In Udyoga Parva, Duryodhana asked Sanjaya to reveal the true identities of Lord Krishna and Arjuna. Lord Vedavyasa appeared and told Sanjaya to say the truth, “aywa gigu mujarakena satuhunya (don’t hesitate, tell the truth)” Sanjaya then said, “Sajna haji, kadi ling patik haji nguni, tar keneng upalaksana kamahatmyan i sang Pandava, apan hana Maharaja Krishna ri sira. Maharaja Krishna ngaranira saksat Hari-murti, wenang sakala jagat wyapaka, siddha gawe wigraha. Icca nira ngkana ktang Triloka Mandala, mwang manahanakna. Sira humyang ing Bhur Bhuwah Swah. Sira suming ing catur yuga. Paramarthanya, sira wasitwa pramana ring sarwajanma, ndya ta marga sang Pandava tan lewiha? ~ Alright my lord, as my master said previously, actually I couldn’t describe properly the greatness (kamahatmyan) of the sons of Pandu. Since The King of all kings Lord Krishna was in their side. Verily, Lord Krishna was the Form of Godhead Himself (saksat hari-murti), He is omnipresent (wyapaka), and everything happened only out of His sanction. By His mere will, He created the whole three worlds and also destroys them. The Supreme Lord, worshiped by the inhabitants of Bhur, Bhuvah, and Suvah (upper, middle, and lower planetary system). He was the only Person glorified in four Yugas. He is the highest goal (parama-artha), by Whose will (wasitwa) all beings were born. So who could be better then the Pandavas?”

We also find the crying of Draupadi, “trahi mam pundarikaksah, tatan hana sarana-asrayaning hulun waneh, tabeda sangke Parameswara ~ Protect me o My Lotus Eyed Lord, since I have no other place to surrender (sarana) and shelter (asraya), indeed You are The Supreme Godhead Himself.” In other place we have Kunti’s prayer, “Aum kaki Maharaja Krishna, kadina waneh mahanubhawaka, bheda saka ri tanayanku laki. Tvam dharma tvam tapo mahat. Kita marika dharma kita marika tapa. Tvam trata tvat parabrahma. Kita rakwasih satata. Kita nitya pinakatma mantra. Kalingannya tulusaken ta asih ta laki ri sanghulun kabeh. ~ Aum Maharaja Krishna my Son, there is no one more benevolent than You. (actually) You are different with my other sons (bheda saka ri tanayanku). You are dharma and the greatest tapa (the Cosmic Law and Penance). You are the maintainer of the whole creation and The Ultimate Truth. You always love us. Though You are the Eternal One (nitya) and the soul of all mantras. Please never cease to bestowing your love and affection toward all of us.”

The Blessed Lord as Arjuna's charioter

In Bhisma Parva we have the teachings of Dronacharya, when Yudhistira approached him at the beginning of the Great War. Drona said, “apa yan wibhrama dateng kari bapa? Tan enget karika kita? Yato dharmas tatha krishnas, yatah krishnas tatho jayah. Gengning punyantamarika an hana Maharaja Krishna iri kita. Hana ta Maharaja Krishna byakta hana ring kawijayan ri kita ~ What confusion (wibhrama) take you to approached me my son? Did you forget this? How great your virtue (punya) by having Lord Krishna in your side. Wherever the Truth (dharma) prevailed, then The Lord would be there. Wherever The Lord would be, then the supreme victory was assured.” At other place when Bhismadeva forced The Lord to take weapon and broke His vow to not involve at all in this war, except for gave advices and became Arjuna’s chariot-driver. For protection of His dear Arjuna, The Lord rushed to Bhismadeva and going to attacked him with a broken wheel of a chariot. In blissful mood Bhismadeva accepted his fatal fate by offering glorification unto The Lord, “tan wyabhicara keta sembahku ri kita, apan kita dewaning dewa, kita parameya… ~ I told You without any hesitation, please accept my obeisance Dear Lord, You O God of all gods, The Supreme…”

Bhisma blissfully accept his fate, to be killed by the angry Lord

Under patronage of Sri Dharmavansha the Srimad Ramayana part of Uttara Kanda also translated once again to Javanese Kawi and highly elaborated the path of surrender (Saranagati), the core of Vaishnavite teachings. It was said as, “umilwa manggalya sarana-asrayaning ma sangkatha Sri Ramayana carita.”

Sri Sri Sita Rama Laksmana Hanuman.
Bharata, Satrughna and Their Vanara devotees

Prayers to Lord Ramacandra in The Javanese Yogisvara Ramayana

Lord Rama killed Vali and Dasamukha or Ravana
Relief panel of Prambanan

Devas (gods of celestial realm), siddhas (accomplished mystic beings with supernatural power), and rishis (revered sages) were offered their prayer to Lord Ramacandra in Yogisvara Ramayana or Javanese Ramayana. The language used here was archaic Javanese called Kawi, the language of the poets (Kavi). Yogisvara Ramayana might be the oldest of all Itihasa ever translated to Javanese Kawi language. You can see many Sanskrit words still used in these Ramayana’s slokas. This translation of Srimad Ramayana was considered by many scholars as the most beautiful among all Javanese ancient Hindu literary works. As I said in previous posts, these Ramayana truly presenting Vaishnavite tenets by establishing the supremacy of Lord Vishnu in His Form as Lord Ramacandra.

Na ta prakara ni awakta bhineda-bheda,
kintu pwa tan hana palenan ika awakta.
Tunggal kitekana penuh rikanang triloka,
atma nikang dadi cara-acara ucca-nicca.
“Lord, You have assumed these various forms, but actually They were non-different from Your very Self. You are the sole shelter of the three worlds; You are the life and soul of everything, moving and non moving, the highest and the lowest.”

Tatan dadi ng dadi kabeh yadiyat tayatah,
apan kitekana ta jiwa kiteka sangkan.
Brahmadi ning sakalabhuta trenanta towi,
tuntuni jiwita nika cetanannya.
“There is no creation without You. Since You are the very cause and life of everything. You are the origin of the highest Brahma and all other beings, even the tip of a blade of grass. That is You, the supreme consciousness of all living beings.”

Anghing samangkana hidep mami he mahatma,
gambhira-bhara ta awakta atita-suksma.
De sang maharishi maha simpen ika awakta,
sang sipta matra pangujar mami mantra-matra.
“Our mind only could grasp You that far O Great Self. Your divine qualities are very deep and fathomless. You are subtler than the subtlest. Even for the great rishis, You are remain a deep secret. Whatever we could say were just a few words full of limitation and nothing more than a little bit mantras to glorify Your Self.”

Sangke iweh nika awakta acintyagamya,
sangksepa sang rishi n usi tang ujar masimpen.
Yawat mahardhika mahabala maprabhawa
tawat bhatara purusottama ling maharishi.
“Since Your Divine Form is inconceivable, all rishis cannot speak anything more about You. As the limit of the unlimited independence, unlimited power, and unlimited prowess, such the limitless nature of Your Self, The Supreme Person. Thus speak all rishis in one voice.”

Ndan don ikojara ni tattwa bhatara tan len,
swasta nikang bhuwana durjana ya dahanya.
Sang sadhu mangguhakena ng suka tar pakala,
anghing basantatilakadi sekar makala.
“Thus we pour our heart only to reveal Your Truth. So the whole world may gain all goodness and the wicked will vanish. Let all holy personages become ever blissful as fully blossoming flowers, as the rain of jewel in the autumn.”

Na ta ujar rishi kabeh mangastuti humung mwang
sura siddha carana mangunyaken jaya jaya.
Utkata puspawarsa sumawur lawan jenu marum
ring gaganantarala i ruhur nirang Raghusuta.
“Thus all rishis glorify and worship The Lord. All devas, siddhas, caranas, etc. in thunderous voices proclaim all victory (jaya jaya) to the Son of Raghu Dynasty (Lord Ramacandra). The rain of flowers and fragrant powder were showering from the sky and outer space.”


This Ramayana was the masterpiece of literary work of Central Java Mataram civilization and the Trinatha temple of Prambanan (Parambrahman) was the masterpiece of sacred architectural work. Both were constructed under the patronage of pious Javanese Hindu King, probably Raka i Pikatan and continued by his descendant, Raka i Kayuwangi (Sri Maharaja Sajjanotsavottungadeva or Dyah Lokapala (856 – 886 ce). The acts of Ramayana were sculpted on Prambanan temple's wall.

After the reign of Raka i Wawa – Sri Vijayalokanathottunga (924 – 929 ce), the capital of Javanese Hindu Kingdom and the centre of civilization was removed to East Java from Central Java. This was the beginning of the reign of Ishanavansa established by mPu Sindok or Sri Maharaja Ishanottungadeva, the heir of Central Java’s Sanjayavansha. The growing power of Srivijaya in Sumatra and natural disasters supposed to be the cause of this resettlement of Javanese Hindu Kingdom. Srivijaya was the greatest kingdom at that time, with powerful maritime domination in South East Asia region. Even the name Suvarnabhumi, the greater India, land of golden lustre became the sole name of Sumatra under Srivijaya.