Majapahit's Kakawin Sutasoma: The Epic That Gave Indonesia Its Motto

Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History · Jul 7, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Kakawin Sutasoma, a 14th-century Javanese poem written by Mpu Tantular during the reign of Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada. They discuss how this epic Buddhist narrative, which tells the story of Prince Sutasoma's journey to enlightenment, contains the famous phrase 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' — 'Unity in Diversity' — which later became Indonesia's national motto. They delve into the poem's syncretic blending of Hinduism and Buddhism, its role in Majapahit's state ideology, and how it justified the empire's…