King Niskala Wastu Kancana also known as Prabu Raja Wastu or popularly known as Wastu Kancana (c. 1348 – 1475) was one of the great kings of the Sunda Kingdom reigning throughout most of the 15th century.[1]: 390  He was the younger brother of Princess Pitaloka.

According to Carita Parahyangan, he ruled for 104 years, between 1371–1475.[2]: 10 [1]: 392 

Niskala Wastu Kancana
King of Sunda–Galuh
Reign1371 – 1475
PredecessorKing Bunisora
Successor
  • King Susuk Tunggal of Sunda
  • King Dewa Niskala of Galuh
Bornc. 1348
Kingdom of Sunda–Galuh
Died1475
Burial
Nusa Larang
Spouse
  • Lara Sarkati
  • Devi Mayangsari
Issue
  • King Susuk Tunggal of Sunda
  • King Dewa Niskala of Galuh
Posthumous name
Sang Mokteng Nusa Larang
FatherKing Linggabuana Wisesa of Sunda–Galuh
MotherDevi Lara Linsing

Early life

Wastu was the youngest son of Prabu Maharaja and the brother of Princess Pitaloka Citraresmi, which together, together with most of Wastu's family, perished in the Pasunda Bubat incident. In 1357, his family went to Majapahit in East Java to marry Wastu's eldest sister, Princess Pitaloka, with Maharaja Hayam Wuruk of Majapahit. As a child, Wastu however, was left to stay in Kawali palace and did not accompany his family to travel to faraway Trowulan in Majapahit. Gajah Mada, the ambitious prime minister of Majapahit, saw the event as an opportunity to demand the Sunda Kingdom's submission to Majapahit's overlordship. He demanded Princess Pitaloka to be given as a mere concubine, as a token of submission. Enraged, the Sundanese party felt humiliated and refused, thus subsequently violence broke out, and the entire Sundanese royal party was killed, including Wastu's parents, sister, and extended family.[1]: 391 

As a child, Wastu was considered too young to reign. Subsequently, the throne was delegated under the regency of his tutor and also a relative, Hyang Bunisora, until Wastu came of age. Hyang Bunisora ruled for 14 years until as a regent, he abdicated in favour of Prince Wastu.

Reign

"... nya mana sang Rama e(na)k mangan, sang Resi enak ngaresisasana, ngawakan na Purbatisti, Purbajati. Sang Dis(r)i enak masini ngawakan na manusasana, ngaduman alas pari-alas. Ku beet hamo diukih, ku gede hamo diukih. Nya mana sang Tarahan enak lalayaran ngawakan manurajasasana ... ngawakan sanghiyang rajasasana, angadeg di sanghiyang Linggawesi, brata siya puja tanpa lum. Sang Wiku e(n)ak ngadewasasana ngawakan sanghiyang watangageung, enak ngadeg manu-raja-suniya ..,"
"... thus the village elders eat well, the Rishis peacefully performed their Rishi rule of Purbatisti Purbajati. The medicine men/women peacefully entered into an agreement concerning life, distributing forest and its surrounding, either for the small (weak) and the big (powerful), there is no complain whatsoever. Even the sailors felt safe sailing according to King's rule, hold firmly to King's law, stands on Sanghyang Linggawesi, fasting and praying endlessly. The Wiku (priests) peacefully uphold the gods' rules, adhering to Sanghyang Watangageung. It was also because of his faith, that the King abdicated ..,"

Carita Parahyangan[1]: 392 

In 1371, Prince Wastu ascended to the throne, stylized as Prabu Raja Wastu Kancana. Raja Wastu resided in the Kawali palace of Galuh. Kawali inscription, approximately dated from the second half of the 14th century, mentioned that King Prabu Raja Wastu constructed the defensive structures; walls, and moats surrounding Kawali city, and renovated Surawisesa palace.[3]

The copperplate inscription of Kebantenan I (Jayagiri) reads that Raja Rahyang Niskala Wastu Kancana sent an order through Hyang Ningrat Kancana to the Susuhunan of Pakuan Pajajaran to take care of dayohan in Jayagiri and Sunda Sembawa, banning the collection of collecting taxes from the residents because they were knowledgeable about the (Hindu) religion and worshiped the gods.

Death and successor

The Batutulis inscription dated from a later period, mentioned him as Rahiyang Niskala Wastu Kancana, the father of Rahyang Niskala, and the grandfather of Sri Baduga Maharaja, King of Pakuan Pajajaran. According to Carita Parahyangan, the hundred-year-old king was abdicated and retreated to hermit life. Rahiyang Niskala Wastu Kancana was buried at Nusa Larang (forbidden island), which might be identified as Nusa Kambangan near the estuarine of Ci Tanduy that flows through Galuh Kingdom territory.[3]

Niskala Wastu Kancana's son, named Tohaan di Galuh in Carita Parahyangan, succeeded him as king but reigned for only seven years. Carita Parahyangan says "... kena salah twa(h) bogo(h) ka estri larangan ti kaluaran ..", which translates as "because (his) wrongdoing, fell in love with a forbidden outsider woman".[1]: 393 

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Marwati Djoened Poesponegoro; Nugroho Notosusanto (2008). Sejarah Nasional Indonesia: Zaman Kuno (in Indonesian). Balai Pustaka. ISBN 978-9794074084. OCLC 318053182. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Muhsin Z., Mumuh (2012). "Sri Baduga Maharaja (1482-1521), Tokoh Sejarah yang Memitos dan Melegenda" (PDF). Jurusan Sejarah Fakultas Sastra Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor (in Indonesian).
  3. 1 2 Sejarah Daerah Jawa Barat (in Indonesian). Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan.
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