Indonesia has a variety of interesting stories about the origin of an area or region. One area or region that has an interesting story about its origin is Salatiga. Salatiga is the name of a city located in the province of Central Java. According to the story in ancient times, there was an area led by regent Ki Ageng Pandan Arang alias Pandanaran who liked to satisfy himself with wealth. On a daily basis, Ki Ageng extorted people’s money by collecting excessive taxes.
One day, Ki Ageng Pandan Arang, met an old man, a grassman. Then, Ki Ageng asked for the grass that the old man brought. However, the old man rejected him on the grounds of his cattle. But Ki Ageng still asked for it and Ki Ageng replaced it with a piece of money.
Without Ki Ageng Pandan Arang knowing, the old man slipped the money back in the pile of grass to be brought and it happened over and over again. Until one time the regent realized what the old man had done, so Ki Ageng became angry and thought that the old man had insulted him.
At that time, the old man suddenly changed into Sunan Kalijaga, a religious leader who was respected even by kings. So Ki Ageng immediately bowed to worship and asked forgiveness for his mistake.
Finally, Sunan Kalijaga forgave him on the condition that Ki Ageng had to leave all his belongings and follow Sunan Kalijaga to go wandering. However, the regent’s wife broke, she brought gold and diamonds and put them in the stick.
On the way they were intercepted by a gang of robbers. Sunan Kalijaga ordered the robbers to take the property brought by the regent’s wife. The robbers left with a stick filled with gold and diamonds. After the robber left Sunan Kalijaga said: “I will name this place Salatiga because you have made three mistakes”.
“First, you are very stingy. Second you are arrogant. Third, you have tormented the people. Hopefully this place will be a good and lively place in the future.”
There are several sources that are used as the basis for uncovering the origin of Salatiga, namely those from folk tales, inscriptions, as well as fairly detailed research and studies. From these sources, the Plumpungan inscription is the basis for the origin of the city of Salatiga. Based on this inscription, the Salatiga City Anniversary was standardized, namely July 24, 750 which was stipulated by the Salatiga City Level II Regional Regulation Number 15 of 1995 concerning the Anniversary of the City of Salatiga.
The Plumpungan inscription, the forerunner to the birth of Salatiga, is inscribed in a large andesite stone measuring 170 centimeters long, 160 centimeters wide with a 5 meter circumference, hereinafter referred to as the Plumpungan inscription.
Based on the inscription in Plumpungan Hamlet, Kauman Kidul Village, Sidorejo District, Salatiga has existed since 750 AD, at that time Salatiga was a perdikan.
Perdikan means an area within a certain kingdom. This area is exempt from all tax or tribute obligations because the area has certain specificities, the area must be used in accordance with its specificities. Raja Bhanu gave the territory of perdikan covering Salatiga and its surroundings.
According to its history, the Plumpungan inscription contains legal provisions, namely a stipulation of the status of perdikan or self-contained land for the Village of Hampra.
In his day, the determination of the provisions of the Plumpungan Inscription was a very important event, especially for people in the Hampra area. The determination of the inscription is the starting point for the official establishment of the Hampra area as a perdikan or swantantra area.
Hampra Village, where the inscription is located, is now part of the administrative area of the City of Salatiga. Thus the Hampra area which was given the status of a tax-free perdikan area at the time of the inscription-making is the present-day Salatiga area. It is said that experts have confirmed that the writing of the Plumpungan inscription was carried out by an citralekha (writer) accompanied by priests (rishis). King Bhanu who is mentioned in the inscription was a great king of his time who paid much attention to the fate of his people.
The contents of the Plumpungan inscription are written in Old Javanese and Sanskrit. The writing is encrusted in a double-lined square grid that juts in and out at each corner. Thus, the granting of perdikan land was a very special and rare event, because it was only given to villages that really contributed to the king.
To perpetuate this event, the king wrote in the Plumpungan Srir Astu Swasti Prajabhyah Inscription, which means “Hopefully Happy, Happy People.” Written on Friday, July 24, 750 AD. Come on, get information and other interesting stories from indonesiar.com.
