~Advertorial -- Sept 19

~Advertorial -- Sept 19

The glory of Kutai dates back to 4th century

Kutai is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited areas of Indonesia. History reveals that a Hindu Kutai kingdom existed in the fourth century, more than 500 years before the magnificent Borobudur Temple in Central Java was built.

In the fourth century, historical records in India referred to Kutai as Quetaire, meaning forest. While in the ninth century, China reported a trade mission to Kho They, which means Big Kingdom or Big City. It is believed that Kho They was a reference to Kutai.

The close ties between Kutai and India were confirmed with the discovery of archeological artifacts in Kutai in the form of Yupa, or Hindu-Indian stone monuments, with inscriptions written in Sanskrit. Later, ceramics from the Tang, Ming and Ching dynasties of China were also discovered.

The Kutai Kingdom was located in Muara Kaman, Martapura, at the upper end of the Mahakam River, and was also called the Kingdom of Kutai Mulawarman, or Kutai Martapura, or Kutai Martadipura.

Another Kutai Kingdom was believed to have been established in the 13th century in a village called Old Kutai at the lower course of the river, and was called Kutai Kartanegara. Old Kutai used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Kutai Kartanegara, but in the later development it was moved to Tenggarong, which is now the capital of Kutai Kartanegara Regency.

The record of this Kutai Kingdom was first mentioned in the book Negara Kertagama, written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 for King Hayam Wuruk of the Majapahit Kingdom. Kutai was referred to as Tunjung Kute. It is not clear whether Kutai was an independent kingdom or under the power of the Majapahit, which at that time ruled various parts of the archipelago.

There are several theories about the establishment of Kutai Kartanegara. One says that it was set up by a local tribal chief, while another says it was established by a Hindu-Javanese official from South Kalimantan.

A legend told among the Kutai people says that the kingdom was established by Aji Bhatara Agung Dewa Sakti. It was the gods themselves who brought him to earth when he was still a baby boy. The baby was put in a golden ball and handed over to a village head. Meanwhile, another village head found a baby girl floating among the foam of the Mahakam River. The girl, Putri Karang Melenu, later became Aji Bhatara's wife. One day, when he was traveling, Putri Karang felt so lonely she jumped into the river. The king was so sad that he also threw himself into the water.

Their child, Aji Bhatara Agung Paduka Nira, became the second king and was married to Putri Paduka Suri. According to legend, when she was still a baby, she was found among the bamboo by a local public figure, who adopted her as his own child.

Islam began to enter the kingdom when it was ruled by the sixth king, Pangeran Aji Mahkota Mulia (1525-1600). The religion spread quickly and brought a change in the administration. In the 18th century, the kingdom became a sultanate and was ruled by a sultan, who no longer held absolute power.

After the Dutch colonial government left and Indonesia gained its independence, the power of the sultan began to fade.

In the 1960s, Sultan Aji Muhammad Parikesit, the 19th king of Kutai, who was the recipient of a prestigious award from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, was detained by the authorities during the Sukarno era.

The sultanate was abolished and the splendid keraton, built by Parikesit in 1936, was turned into a museum, now called Museum Mulawarman. The West European-style keraton was designed by Dutch architects and resembles Bogor Palace in Bogor, West Java.

Years went by. In 1999 Kutai regency obtained autonomy from the central government and later its regent, Syaukani HR, allocated Rp 11.7 billion to restore the sultanate. A new keraton was built and last year Adji Mohamad Salehoeddin II, now 84 years old, was inaugurated as the sultan.

Last year, during the Erau Festival and Keraton Festival, the sultan officially named his son, Adji Muhamad Arifin, 52, as the crown prince and gave him the title of Adji Pangeran Dipati Soerja Diningrat.

Syaukani, who is also the rector of Kutai Kartanegara University, wrote in his book, Kerajaan Kutai Kartanegara (Kingdom of Kutai Kartanegara), that the idea to rebuild the keraton had nothing to do with feudalism.

"We want to restore the pride of Kutai as the cultural center of the oldest administration in the country. It is also to fix the broken chain of the history of Kutai Kartanegara, so that our children will be able to follow the history from one generation to another generation," he said.

He also said the sultanate should be restored to conserve the keraton culture, which is on the brink of extinction. And, of course, to attract tourists.