Srivijaya's Sailendra Dynasty: Buddhist Kings of Java and Sumatra

The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History · Jun 6, 2026 · 7m · transcript

This episode explores the Sailendra dynasty, the Buddhist kings who ruled both Java and Srivijaya's Sumatra, building monuments like Borobudur. We trace their origins from Javanese inscriptions to their takeover of Srivijaya around 775 CE, blending Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism with maritime trade. Learn about King Dharmasetu's expansion, the construction of Borobudur under King Samaratungga, and the fall of the Sailendra line on Java after the Sanjaya dynasty's rise. We then follow Balaputradewa's flight to Sumatra, where he became Srivijaya's ruler and secured the…