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Hayam Wuruk

Javanese Hindu emperor (1334–1389)

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Most of the accounts of his life were taken from the Nagarakretagama, a eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, and the Pararaton ("Book of Kings"), a Javanese historical chronicle.

Early life

According to the Nagarakretagama, Canto 1, Stanzas 4 and 5, he was born in 1256 Saka year, corresponding to 1334 CE, the same year that Mount Kelud erupted. Mpu Prapanca, author of the Nagarakretagama, argued that this was the divine sign that Batara Girinata (the Javanese name for Shiva Mahadewa) had manifested himself on earth, reincarnated as the Javanese king.

His birth name was Hayam Wuruk, preceded by the title dyah, indicating noble status. Hayam Wuruk's name can be translated as "scholar rooster". He was the only son of Queen regnant Tribhuwanotunggadewi and Prince Kertawardhana (or Cakradhara). His mother was the daughter of King Kertarajasa Jayawardhana, founder of Majapahit, while his father was the Prince of Tumapel "Bhre Tumapel", a lesser king of Singhasari. During Queen Tribhuwana's reign, he was also called Kumararaja Jiwana, which means Viceroy of Jiwana or Kahuripan. He had a younger sister named Dyah Nertaja, styled as the Princess of Pajang. The Princess of Pajang was mentioned as a daughter of (Kerta)wardhana in Nagarakretagama, thus making it obvious that she was Hayam Wuruk's biological sister, whose royal name was Wardhanaduhiteswari, in which Krom interpreted as "The illustrious Wardhana's daughter, Iswari". However, Nagarakretagama also mentioned another name as the younger sister of Hayam Wuruk, even earlier than Iswari, she was Rajasaduhitendudewi "The ilustrious Rajasa's daughter, Indudewi", daughter of (Wijaya)rajasa as well as the Princess of Lasem. From this evidence, we can guess that Nagarakretagama's writer means that Indudewi was Hayam Wuruk's younger cousin. In contrast, Pararaton said that Hayam Wuruk's aunt Rajadewi and Wijayarajasa's marriage didn't produce any children.

Both the Pararaton and the Nagarakretagama praised Hayam Wuruk as a handsome, bright, talented, and exceptional student in the courtly martial arts of archery and fencing, who also mastered politics, scriptures, arts, and music. He was known as an accomplished ceremonial dancer in the court, and some accounts tell of his performances in the traditional ceremonial Javanese mask dance. His mother, Queen Tribhuwana, educated and groomed him to become the next monarch of Majapahit.

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