Sanjaya of Mataram

Who is Sanjaya of Mataram?

King Sanjaya of Mataram or in complete stylized name known as Rakai Mataram Sang Ratu Sanjaya was the founder of Mataram Kingdom during the eighth century. His name was revealed in the AD 732 Sanskrit Canggal inscription carved in stone found at the foot of Ukir hill on the southern Kedu Plain in Central Java.

Another recorded source of Sanjaya's history and his successors was found in the Balitung charter. Balitung mentioned what it is called 'the builders of keraton', starting from Rakai Mataram followed by the Maharaja Rakai Panangkaran, Panunggalan, Warak, Garung, Rakai Pikatan, Kayuwangi, Watuhumalang and Watukura.

Sanjaya was also known as Rakai Mataram with the additional title of 'Sang Ratu Sanjaya'. The title rakai indicates any members of nobility from a king to a simple squire. The name of King Sanjaya Saga was also mentioned in the old romanticized and mythicized Sundanese manuscript of Carita Parahyangan dated from later period, in which Sanjaya was portrayed as the Sundanese king hero of Galuh.