Karang Brahi Inscription

Traces of the Sriwijaya Kingdom in Jambi Land: Exploring the Karang Brahi Inscription

Prasasti Karang Brahi is not merely an ancient andesite boulder; it is a silent witness to the expansion of the Sriwijaya Kingdom's power into the interior of Sumatra Island. Located in Karang Brahi Village, Pamenang District, Merangin Regency, Jambi Province, this inscription is one of the most important archaeological pieces connecting the Batanghari River basin with the largest maritime empire in the Nusantara during its time.

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Historical Context and Periodization

The Karang Brahi Inscription is estimated to originate from the 7th century AD, specifically around 686 AD. This dating is based on paleographic comparisons and the text's content, which bears a very strong resemblance to the Kota Kapur Inscription on Bangka Island. During this period, Sriwijaya, under the leadership of Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, was actively engaged in military and political expansion to control strategic trade routes in Sumatra and the Strait of Malacca.

The discovery of this inscription in the Merangin region indicates that Sriwijaya's influence had penetrated far upstream, beyond the administrative centers located on the coast. This signifies the strategic importance of the Jambi region for Sriwijaya, both as a supplier of forest commodities and as a buffer zone for the kingdom's security.

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Physical Characteristics and Textual Architecture

Physically, the Karang Brahi Inscription is carved on a large andesite natural stone boulder with an uneven surface. Unlike inscriptions from Java, which are often carved on neatly shaped stones (stelae), the Karang Brahi Inscription retains the original form of the stone (monolith).

The writing on this inscription uses Pallava script in Old Malay language. The carving technique demonstrates high skill, with the letters still identifiable despite over a thousand years of natural weathering. The script's characteristics tend to be round and thick, typical of early Sriwijaya inscriptions influenced by South Indian writing styles.

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Text Content and Historical Significance

The content of the Karang Brahi Inscription is highly specific and crucial for the legal and political history of the Nusantara. In broad terms, the text contains curses (sapatha) directed at anyone who dares to rebel or be disloyal to the Sriwijaya Kingdom.

Some important points within these curses include:

1. Oath of Loyalty: A warning to the local populace to submit to the king's commands.

2. Mystical Threats: Those who betray, practice sorcery, or incite the people to oppose the kingdom will be struck by disaster and curses from the gods.

3. Promise of Prosperity: Conversely, those who are loyal and obedient will be granted blessings, safety, and prosperity for their descendants.

The presence of curse texts in Karang Brahi suggests that the Pamenang region and its surroundings may have been newly conquered territories or areas with a high potential for rebellion at that time. By placing curse inscriptions in strategic locations (riverbanks), Sriwijaya utilized psychological and religious power to maintain political stability in the interior regions.

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Associated Figures and Power

The central figure behind the existence of this inscription is Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa. He was the first ruler of Sriwijaya whose name is recorded in history through the Kedukan Bukit Inscription. Through the policy of "Siddhayatra" or sacred journeys to seek glory, Dapunta Hyang succeeded in uniting various mandalas (small territories of power) in Sumatra under the banner of Sriwijaya.

The Karang Brahi Inscription is tangible proof of Jambi's integration into the Sriwijaya mandala. Before becoming part of Sriwijaya, the Jambi region was known as the Melayu Kingdom (Malayupura). The placement of this inscription marks the end of local political independence and the beginning of Sriwijaya's era of hegemony in Jambi.

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Cultural and Religious Functions

In addition to its political function, the Karang Brahi Inscription has strong religious dimensions. The use of the word "Curse" in the inscription's text involves supernatural entities. This indicates that the society at that time had a deep belief in the power of words and oaths.

Although Sriwijaya is known as a center of Vajrayana Buddhism in Southeast Asia, elements of local beliefs and Hindu influences often appear in the curse formulas of their inscriptions. This inscription served as an instrument of "sacred law" that united the king's authority with the will of the gods/supernatural forces.

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Preservation Status and Conservation Efforts

Currently, the Karang Brahi Inscription is under the protection of the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region V. To protect its physical integrity from damage due to weather and vandalism, the authorities have built a shelter or protective structure at its original location (in situ).

The uniqueness of this inscription is its location, which has not been moved to a central museum in Jakarta or Jambi, but remains in Karang Brahi Village. This aims to preserve the historical value and the local community's emotional connection to their ancestral heritage. The local community considers this stone a sacred object called "Batu Bersurat" (Inscribed Stone), and they actively participate in maintaining the security of the site.

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Unique Facts and Significance for Merangin

One of the unique facts about the Karang Brahi Inscription is that its text is almost identical to the Kota Kapur Inscription in Bangka. This indicates the existence of a standardized "template" for laws or royal proclamations disseminated by the Sriwijaya bureaucracy to its various conquered territories.

For Merangin Regency, this inscription is a historical identity that places the region on the map of world civilization since the 7th century. Karang Brahi is proof that the interior of Jambi was not an isolated area, but an integral part of the international trade and political network during the classical period.

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Conclusion

Prasasti Karang Brahi is a monument of sovereignty that records the ambitions and political strategies of the Sriwijaya Kingdom. Through the carvings on this andesite stone, we can understand how a maritime empire managed its interior regions through a combination of military might, supernatural threats, and legal legitimacy. Preserving this inscription means preserving the nation's collective memory of past glories that once flourished on the banks of Jambi's great rivers. As a premier historical site in Merangin, the Karang Brahi Inscription continues to invite researchers, historians, and tourists to delve back into the era when Sumatra was the center of global attention.