Pagaruyung II inscription

Pagaruyung II inscription
Bukit Gombak II inscription
Pagaruyung II inscription, split in two, overhead view
TypeStone inscription
MaterialYellowish-brown sandstone
SizeRectangular shape, measuring height = 250 cm, width = 116 cm, thickness = 18 cm
WritingPost-Pallava script
Created1295 Śaka (1373 CE)
PlaceBukit Gombak, Lima Kaum District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra
Present locationAdityawarman Inscription Complex
Coordinates0°27′35″S 100°36′28″E / 0.4597310°S 100.60784°E / -0.4597310; 100.60784[1]
LanguageSanskrit and Old Malay
Location
Pagaruyung II inscription is located in Sumatra
Pagaruyung II
Pagaruyung II
Pagaruyung II inscription (Sumatra)
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Pagaruyung II
Pagaruyung II
Location of inscription

Pagaruyung II inscription is a stone inscription attributed to King Adityawarman, dated 1295 Śaka or 1373 CE.[2] It is also known as the Bukit Gombak II inscription.[3] The text is written in both Sanskrit and Old Malay, using the Pallava script. The carving is fine and neatly executed, with strokes cut deeply into the stone.[4] The inscription has suffered damage over time, leaving much of the text difficult to read.[2]

This inscription was first recorded in the Bukit Gombak area.[5] It has since been relocated to the Adityawarman Inscription Complex, in Gudam, Pagaruyung Village, Tanjung Emas District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The complex lies along the highway connecting Pagaruyung and Batusangkar. In addition to this inscription, the site also contains several others, numbered Pagaruyung I through Pagaruyung VIII.[6]

The contents of this inscription are expressions of respect and worship for Adityawarman as a respected ruler. This inscription was officially designated as a National Cultural Heritage Object through Decree (SK) Number PM.05/PW.007/MKP/2010, issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia on January 8, 2010.[7]

Background

This inscription has been mentioned in the official report of the Dutch colonial government, Inventaris der Oudheden in de Padangsche Bovenlanden (1912), compiled by N.J. Krom based on field data from the Assistant Resident Louis Constant Westenenk in Fort de Kock (now Bukittinggi City).[8] In his report, Krom grouped the stone inscriptions in the Minangkabau highlands area into two categories: Adityawarman-inscripties, namely inscriptions that directly mention the name of King Adityawarman, and inscriptions that use a similar script form but do not mention the name of the king, which he called Adityawarman-schrift. This inscription belongs to the first group and is listed in inventory number 24, page 42, with the description: "A large, flat, cracked stone, on top of which is the beginning of + ten lines; at the end of which is the name Adityawarman. This stone is now in Pagaruyung (= Pagaruyung stone No. 2)".[8]

Krom noted that this inscription was found in the Bukit Gombak area, which during the colonial period was part of the Onderafdeeling Fort van der Capellen.[9] The original location of the discovery was in Bukit Gombak, Baringin Village, Lima Kaum District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra.[10] In the following period, this inscription was moved from its original location and is now stored in the Adityawarman Inscription Complex.[11]

In general, the inscriptions praise King Adityawarman. He is thought to have produced at least twenty inscriptions, eighteen of which are located in Tanah Datar Regency. According to some historians, Adityawarman maintained ties with kingdoms on Java; thus, many of the carvings on his inscriptions are thought to have been inspired by the traditions of Javanese kings.[12]

Physical description

The Pagaruyung II inscription measures 250 centimeters high, 116 centimeters wide, and 18 centimeters thick, and is written on yellowish-brown sandstone quartz.[3][13] This inscription has been broken into two parts, and it is placed lying next to the Pagaruyung I inscription.[14] Due to this condition, this inscription does not produce complete sentences and translations. The physical condition of this inscription is not good so it is difficult to read, but it is estimated that there are 14 lines of writing on the stone. On the upper stone, there are 9 lines of writing where many words are missing. However, the condition of the lower stone is relatively better so that it can still be read with more complete sentences. This inscription has deep scratches and the writing can be said to be beautiful and neat.[15][16]

On the upper stone, damage or wear was found to the inscription on the left side, although only a few letters. The damage on the right side and the middle end of the inscription was more severe. The damage on the right side was due to stone wear, while in the middle end of the inscription, it was due to artificial holes, which disrupted and removed some of the inscription. Furthermore, several lines of writing were missing, particularly on the lower left side, due to loose or missing pieces of stone. This is evident from the downward-sloping shape of the fragment on the right side, resulting in several letters appearing on this side, as a continuation of the missing letters on the left side.[13]

On the lower stone, which is a fragment of the upper stone, the joints were not completely connected. This indicates that some parts of the writing were missing. As a result, the writing on the last line of the upper stone does not continue with the initial writing on the lower stone. However, the lower stone has intact and relatively good inscriptions, except for the broken initial section.[13]

Ornaments

Intricate ornamentation found at the top of the Pagaruyung II inscription

The ornamentation on the Pagaruyung II inscription appears richer than that of the Pagaruyung I inscription. The ornamentation depicts a shape resembling a stylized head of a bhoota kala (ghost), with a frame decorated with tendril motifs and intricate geometric patterns.[17]

The kala head at the top of this inscription has thick lips or a mustache with a long, protruding tongue. From the right and left sides of the head tendrils or horns emerge that resemble a forked snake's tongue, and there are also other ornaments that form a dense frame with decorations inside.[10] The upper part of the kala head is pointed, so that when combined with its frame it forms a stela.[18]

The use of pictorial ornaments on Adityawarman's inscriptions in West Sumatra is something new, because Malay kings had never previously carved on their inscriptions.[12][19]

Contents

Basically, the Pagaruyung II inscription expresses respect and adoration for the greatness and majesty of Adityawarman as a powerful and respected king.[20]

On the second line of the inscription, the words nrpati and maharaja appear, typically used to denote a person's name and title. However, many of the letters before and after these words have worn away and are now illegible.[21] On the seventh line, the word "Śaka" is found, indicating the date. On the eighth line, the year is numbered using a chronogram. According to Istiawan (2006), yakse ("giant") means 5 and dwara ("gate") means 9, resulting in the year --95 Śaka. Assuming this inscription is contemporary with Adityawarman's other inscriptions, a possible date is 1295 Śaka or 1373 CE.[10] Thus, this inscription is estimated to have been issued two or three years before Adityawarman's abdication, as suggested by the Saruaso I inscription—the latest dated inscription—which is dated 1375 CE.[22]

A fragment at the end of the inscription, reading sadaganyjanam, means 'man from the mountain'. However, because the physical form of the stone is no longer intact, the full contents of the inscription remain incompletely understood, as the surviving text yields a fragmented translation.[23][24]

Transliteration and translation

This inscription was written using the Post-Palawa script using Sanskrit and Old Malay.[10][20]

Transliteration

The following are the transliterations of the Pagaruyung II inscription, according to Utomo (2007) and Kusumadewi (2012):[10][25][26]

Translation

The following are the translations of the Pagaruyung II inscription, according to according to Istiawan (2006) and Arlo Griffiths, as quoted in Kusumadewi (2012):[10][4]

Significance and preservation

Positioned horizontally in the center, the Pagaruyung II inscription is situated between Pagaruyung I (far left) and Pagaruyung III (far right) within the complex fence.

The Pagaruyung II inscription still functions today as a medium of education and historical introduction for both the local community and the wider public.[20] Although parts of the inscription have been damaged, its presence—together with other inscriptions in the Adityawarman Inscription Complex—remains an important source for tracing the legacy of Old Malay civilization and the golden age of the Adityawarman Kingdom.[27] The writings carved into these stones serve not only as governmental records, but also as historical witnesses that reflect the cultural, religious, and linguistic achievements of the period.[15]

The management and maintenance of this inscription fall under the supervision of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Office Region III (formerly the Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of West Sumatra). As a protected archaeological site, the inscription complex continues to attract researchers, historians, and serves as an educational tourism destination for understanding the cultural history of West Sumatra.[27] Technical conservation efforts carried out by the office include the construction of a shelter roof to protect against weather, as well as the installation of an iron fence around the complex to prevent damage, including from wild animals. In 2022, improvements were made to several Adityawarman inscription sites around Batusangkar City, focusing on infrastructure upgrades to enhance accessibility for researchers and visitors.[27][28]

This inscription has also been officially recognized as a National Cultural Heritage Object through Decree (SK) Number PM.05/PW.007/MKP/2010, issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia on January 8, 2010.[7]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Utomo & Sudarman 2018, p. 86.
  2. 1 2 Kozok 2015, p. 37.
  3. 1 2 Witasari 2011, p. 46.
  4. 1 2 Istiawan 2006, p. 10.
  5. ↑ Krom, N.J. 1912, p. 42.
  6. ↑ Istiawan, Budi 2006, pp. 1–3.
  7. 1 2 "Regulation of the Minister of Culture and Tourism Number PM.05/PW.007/MKP/2010" (in Indonesian). 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  8. 1 2 Krom 1912, p. 33.
  9. ↑ Krom 1912, pp. 41–42.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kusumadewi 2012, pp. 19–20.
  11. ↑ Istiawan, Budi 2006, p. 3.
  12. 1 2 Chandra 2019, p. 8.
  13. 1 2 3 Istiawan 2006, p. 9.
  14. ↑ Suhadi 1990, p. 127.
  15. 1 2 Rahmawati, Nadia; Susanti, Lr. Retno; Hudaidah (30 November 2024). "Warisan Kerajaan Pagaruyuang:Studi Historis-Antropologis" [Pagaruyung Kingdom Heritage: Historical-Anthropological Study]. Banda Historia:Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah dan Studi Budaya (in Indonesian). 2 (2): 45.
  16. ↑ Istiawan 2006, pp. 9–10.
  17. ↑ Chandra 2019, p. 3.
  18. ↑ Kusumadewi 2012, p. 46.
  19. ↑ Witasari 2011, p. 125.
  20. 1 2 3 Adryamarthanino, Verelladevanka; Indriawati, Tri (2022-12-20). "Batu Prasasti Pagaruyung II" [Pagaruyung II Inscription Stone]. Kompas.com (in Indonesian). Kompas Cyber Media. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  21. ↑ Istiawan 2006, pp. 19–11.
  22. ↑ Istiawan 2006, p. 11.
  23. ↑ Istiawan 2006, pp. 10–11.
  24. ↑ BPCB West Sumatra Collection Room (2021-05-19). "Replica of the Pagaruyung II Inscription". kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  25. ↑ Witasari 2011, p. 124.
  26. ↑ Utomo 2007, p. 66.
  27. 1 2 3 Roza, Darwyta (2024-11-29). "Kompleks Prasasti Pagaruyung, Jejak Sejarah Adityawarman melalui 9 Prasasti Kuno" [Pagaruyung Inscription Complex, Traces of Adityawarman's History through 9 Ancient Inscriptions] (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  28. ↑ el Fitra, Iggoy. "Penataan Kawasan Prasasti Adityawarman" [Adityawarman Inscription Area Arrangement]. antarafoto.com (in Indonesian). Antara Foto. Retrieved 2025-10-18.

Further reading

  • Chandra, Dodi (2019-02-22). "Lambang Raja Adityawarman (1347-1374 M): Sebuah Deskripsi Awal" [Sign of King Adityawarman (1347-1374 AD): A Preliminary Description]. Scribd (in Indonesian). Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya Sumatera Barat. Retrieved 2025-10-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Istiawan, Budi (2006). Selintas Prasasti dari Melayu Kuno [A Glimpse of Ancient Malay Inscriptions] (in Indonesian). Batusangkar: Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala Batusangkar [Wilayah Kerja Provinsi Sumatera Barat dan Riau].{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  • Kozok, Uli (2015). A 14th Century Malay Code of Laws: The Nitisarasamuccaya. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789814459747.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Krom, Nicolaas Johannes (1912). "Inventaris de Oudheden in de Padangsche Bovenlanden" [Inventory of the antiquities in the Padang Highlands]. Oudheidkundig verslag (in Dutch). 49. Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen. Weltevreden: Albrecht & Co.
  • Kusumadewi, Sri Ambarwati (2012). Adityawarman (1347-1374 Masehi): Kajian Epigrafi [Adityawarman (1347-1374 AD): Epigraphic Study] (in Indonesian). Depok: Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Budaya, Program Studi Arkeologi, Universitas Indonesia.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  • Suhadi, Machi (1990). "Silsilah Adityawarman" [Adityawarman's Genealogy] (PDF). Kalpataru, Majalah Arkeologi (in Indonesian). No. 9 ("Saraswati Esai-esai Arkeologi" ed.). Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Utomo, Bambang Budi (2007). Prasasti-Prasasti Sumatra [Sumatran Inscriptions] (in Indonesian). Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Nasional, Badang Pengembangan Sumberdaya Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, Departemen Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Utomo, Bambang Budi; Sudarman (2018). "Budaya India di Minangkabau: Studi Analisis Terhadap Artefak di Tanah Datar dan Wilayah Sekitarnya" [Indian Culture in Minangkabau: An Analytical Study of Artifacts in Tanah Datar and the Surrounding Areas]. Khazanah: Jurnal Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Islam (in Indonesian). VIII (16). UIN Imam Bonjol Padang. ISSN 2339-207X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Witasari, Vernika Hapri (2011). Lambang Raja pada Kerajaan Kuna di Kawasan Indonesia Abad XI- XV Masehi: Suatu Rekonstruksi Makna [Royal Symbols of Ancient Kingdoms in the Indonesian Region in the 11th-15th Centuries AD: A Reconstruction of Meaning] (PDF) (in Indonesian). Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Budaya Universitas Indonesia.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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