Dharmasetu

Who is Dharmasetu?

Dharmasetu was an 8th-century maharaja of Srivijaya. Under his reign, he successfully incorporated Pan Pan, a kingdom located in the north of the Malay Peninsula into Srivijayan sphere of influence before 775 AD.

At an old monastery of Nakhon Si Thammarat in modern day Thailand, there is a stele indicating that Dharmasetu order the construction of three sanctuaries dedicated to Bodhisattvas Padmapani, Vajrapani and Buddha in Ligor.

The inscription further stated that the Dharmasetu was the head of the Sailendra of Java. This is the first instance of relationship known existed between Srivijaya and the Sailendra. Yet, he was the son of Jayanasa of Srivijaya and a princess from Tarumanagara. Dewi Tara, the daughter of Dharmasetu later married a member of the Sailendra family by the name of Samaratunga whom later would assumed throne of Srivijaya around 792. The relationship between Srivijaya and the Sailendra became intimately close afterwards.

He was succeeded by his son in law Sangramadhananjaya, known also as Vishnu around 782.