Latest / The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History / Srivijaya's Golden Age Under Maharaja Dharmasetu
Transcript
- Lucas: So last time we talked about Balaputradewa and his Nalanda charter — that ninth-century king who really put Srivijaya on the map for Buddhist scholarship. But today I want to go back a bit earlier, to the reign that I think really built the foundations of the empire: Maharaja Dharmasetu, who ruled around the late 600s to early 700s. Luna: Dharmasetu — I don't think we've covered him in detail yet. What's his big claim to fame? Lucas: Well, he's the first Srivijayan ruler we have substantial evidence for, thanks to the Kedukan Bukit inscription. That's a stone slab found near Palembang, dated to 683 CE, that describes a 'siddhayatra' — a sacred journey — where Dharmasetu led an expedition with twenty thousand troops. The inscription says he 'set out from Minanga Tamvan' with two hundred soldiers on boats, and then later gathered more forces. It's basically the founding charter of Srivijaya as a maritime power. Luna: Twenty thousand troops — that's a massive force for the time. Was he conquering territory? Lucas: Almost certainly. The inscription doesn't name a specific enemy, but historians think he was consolidating control over the Strait of Malacca — the key choke point for trade between India and China. By the end of his reign, Srivijaya controlled both sides of the strait, including parts of the Malay Peninsula. Dharmasetu also seems to have been a major patron of Buddhism. Under him, the empire became a center for Buddhist learning, attracting pilgrims from China and India. Lucas: We know from Chinese records — specifically the writings of the pilgrim Yijing, who visited Srivijaya in 671 CE — that there were over a thousand monks studying there. Yijing even recommended that Chinese monks stop at Srivijaya on their way to India to study Sanskrit and Buddhist texts. That reputation didn't come out of nowhere; Dharmasetu and his successors built impressive monastic complexes. Luna: And one of those complexes was Muaro Jambi, right? Lucas: Exactly. Muaro Jambi, along the Batanghari River in eastern Sumatra, became a massive Buddhist learning center. The largest temple there is Candi Gumpung, which is thought to have been built during or shortly after Dharmasetu's reign. It's a brick and stone structure with intricate carvings, and it was part of a complex that housed hundreds of monks. The scale of the site — over twelve square kilometers — tells you how seriously the Srivijayan rulers took Buddhism. Luna: Twelve square kilometers — that's bigger than many modern cities. So Dharmasetu wasn't just a warlord; he was building institutions. Lucas: Absolutely. And he was also a savvy economic manager. Srivijaya's wealth came from controlling the trade in luxury goods — camphor, spices, gold, and exotic woods. The camphor monopoly alone, centered on Barus in northern Sumatra, was incredibly lucrative. Under Dharmasetu, the port of Palembang became a bustling entrepot where ships from India, China, and the Middle East exchanged goods. The Orang Laut, the sea people, served as the empire's navy and patrol forces, guarding these trade routes. Luna: Speaking of the Orang Laut — we've talked about them before, but how did they fit into Dharmasetu's system? Lucas: The Orang Laut were essential. They controlled the creeks, the straits, and the islands. They knew the winds and currents better than anyone else. Dharmasetu likely formalized their role: they became the eyes and ears of the empire, reporting ship movements and even collecting tolls from passing vessels. In return, they got a share of the profits and protection from pirates. It was a symbiotic relationship that lasted for centuries. Lucas: There's also evidence from the Telaga Batu inscription, which dates from slightly later but reflects the same system. That inscription is a curse against those who betray the maharaja — it lists several types of officials, including shahbandars, who were port masters, and various functionaries. It shows that Srivijaya under Dharmasetu had a sophisticated bureaucracy, not just a loose alliance of ports. Luna: A curse inscription — that's a bit unusual. What does it say exactly? Lucas: It invokes all sorts of supernatural punishments — being devoured by tigers, being drowned, being cursed by gods — on anyone who rebels or disobeys the maharaja. It's a fascinating document because it reveals the Srivijayan view of power: the ruler wasn't just a political leader but also had spiritual authority. Dharmasetu, like later kings, likely claimed to be a bodhisattva — a enlightened being — and that divine status justified his rule. Luna: So he was both a conqueror and a religious figure. That mix of military strength and spiritual legitimacy is a common pattern in Southeast Asian empires. Lucas: Exactly. And it worked. Srivijaya under Dharmasetu became the dominant power in the region for nearly two centuries. But there's a lingering mystery: we don't know exactly where his capital was. Palembang is the leading candidate, but some scholars argue for Muaro Jambi or even a site along the Musi River that hasn't been fully excavated yet. The Musi River floor is full of artifacts — gold jewelry, Buddha statues, ceramics — that suggest a major settlement, but much of it is underwater now. Luna: That's the challenge with maritime empires — their centers can shift with the coastline or silt up over time. So what happened after Dharmasetu's reign? Lucas: His successors, like Maharaja Balaputradewa, continued his policies and expanded further. But the seeds of decline were also planted: the very wealth that attracted traders also attracted enemies. Three centuries later, the Chola king Rajendra Chola would invade and sack Kadaram, Srivijaya's outpost in the Malay Peninsula. But for Dharmasetu's time, it was a golden age. Luna: It's amazing how much we can piece together from a few stone inscriptions and Chinese accounts. It makes you wonder what else is still buried out there. Lucas: If you've been following along with these conversations about Srivijaya and Southeast Asia, you might appreciate that this kind of history survives because of passionate researchers — and also because of listeners who support shows like this. We keep Fexingo History ad-free and accessible, and listener support through buymeacoffee.com/fexingo goes directly into research and production. It's a small way to keep these stories alive. Luna: I love that. It's like being part of the effort to uncover history, one episode at a time. Lucas: Back to Dharmasetu — one last fascinating detail: he issued coins. Gold and silver coins stamped with a sandalwood flower design, known as 'mas krisna'. These have been found across Sumatra and even in Thailand, showing the reach of Srivijayan trade. It's concrete evidence of an integrated economic zone that he helped create. Luna: Were those coins used locally, or more for international trade? Lucas: Both, but they were particularly important for long-distance transactions with Chinese and Indian merchants. The Chinese records from the Tang dynasty mention Srivijayan gold being brought to Guangzhou. Dharmasetu's coinage standardized value across the strait, which made trade more efficient. It's a sign of a mature, well-managed economy. Luna: It really puts him in the ranks of great empire-builders like the Mauryas or the Guptas, just in a different part of the world. Lucas: Absolutely. And he's often overlooked because the Chola invasion and later Islamic sultanates get more attention. But without Dharmasetu, there might not have been a Srivijayan golden age at all. He's the architect of a maritime empire that linked the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea for centuries. Luna: I'm glad we finally got to talk about him. I feel like I understand Srivijaya's rise so much better now.