Wednesday, June 16, 2010

THE PARARATON OR THE BOOK OF KINGS

The Pararaton, also known as the Book of Kings, is a manuscript in the Kawi language. The comparatively short text of 32 folio-size pages (1126 lines) contains the history of the kings of Singhasari and Majapahit in eastern Java. The book is also called "Pustaka Raja", which is Sanskrit for "book king", or "book of kings".

The prelude of Pararaton is followed by the meeting of Ken Arok with Lohgawe, a Brahmana who came from Bharatvarsha to make sure that Batara Guru's instructions were fulfilled. It was Lohgawe who asked Ken Arok to meet Tunggul Ametung, ruler of Tumapel. Ken Arok then killed Tunggul Ametung to gain possession of Ametung's wife, Ken Dedes and also the throne to Singashari. Ken Arok (1182-1227/1247 A.D.), was also destined to bring stability and power to Java. His exploits are now popular children's tale in Central and East Java...

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