Indonesia History - Kalingga Kingdom - 650-850

Between 7th century and the beginning of 8th century AD, there was a Buddhist Kingdom in Central Java called Kalingga. Chinese records from around the year 600 mention kingdoms at Jambi and Palembang on Sumatra, and three kingdoms on Java, a western kingdom related to the Taruma of inscriptions, a central kingdom called "Kalinga", and an eastern kingdom with a capital perhaps near Surabaya or Malang. The Tarumanegara Kingdom in West Java was Hindu, Kalingga Kingdom in Central Java was Buddhist, and Sriwijaya Kingdom in Sumatra was Buddhist.

This Indonesian Kalingga Kingdom is not to be confused with Kalinga, an early state in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa / Utkal, as well as the Andhra region of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh.

By the 7th century, the Kalingga Kingdom, which had power over Java (Sansekerta Language: Pavaya Dwipa) and the Sriwijaya Kingdom, which had power over Sumatra (Sansekerta Language: Suvarana Dwipa) developed and became great kingdoms because they were located in the shore that was a trading and religion spreading zone. This zone connected China, India, and Arab (Silk Road) through the South Sea.

In the Kalingga Kingdom in the 8th century, there was a teacher who was the descendant of Shanyang Purwa Barata from Himalaya Mahameru Mountain, North India. This Dharma Vajra Carya teacher named Ban Hong (Bagong) was very expert in Arya Tara, Arya Chunda, and Cintamani Cakra spiritual siddhi. With the existence of the Silk Road, Ban Hong had a chance to go to China and India to learn to a teacher named Hui Go. He learned Madhyamika, Yogacara, Shusiddhi Karma, Vajra Sekhara Yoga, Mahavairocana Garbhasoka, Zhishey Chod, Phowa, etc. What he learned was the beginning of the teaching of South Sea (Laut Kidul) Tantric Buddhism (Borobudur).

The Chronology of the end of Kalingga is confused. By one account, at the end of the first half of 8th century, circa AD 732, King Sanjaya converted the Buddhist Kingdom of Kalingga into the Hindu Mataram Kingdom. By another account, Patapan, a Sanjaya prince, usurped the Sailendra throne in 832. Mataram emulated the Sailandra rulers except in religion. Around the year 850, the Sailendra rulers of Mataram had converted to Hinduism and built Hindu temples to match Borobudur. In the year 898, stone tablets of King Balitung are the first mention of "Mataram" in central Java. The capital was moved to Mataram in 929.