Singosari
 Numerous
temple remains dating from the 13th century kingdom of Singosari
can still be seen in the Malang region. Well known sites include
Candi Singosari, Jajaghu (or Jago), Kidal, as well as the so
called 'Bathing Place of Ken Dedes'. All are to be found within
a thirty kilometre radius from the city of Malang.
The dynasty of Singosari was established in A.D. 1222, when the
young ruler of Tumapel, Ken Angrok, defeated the last king of
Kediri. Legend has it that Ken Angrok was born from the union
of his mother and the god Brahma. Abandoned in a cemetery shortly
after his birth, the infant was subsequently adopted by a thief,
who taught the child all the tricks of his trade. Ken Angrok
grew up to become a notorious gambler, running up debts to the
point where both his mother and stepfather were forced into slavery.
He then took to thievery himself and ended up in so much trouble
that on several occasions Brahma had to intervene when he feared
for the boy's life.
Ken Angrok's fortune changed when he learned that it was his
destiny to become king of Java. Captivated by the young queen
of Tumapel, named Ken Dedes, he sought a way to win her by murdering
her husband. This, however, was no easy task and required the
forging of a special keris (Javanese double edged sword),
endowed with supernatural power. The weapon was eventually completed,
but not without a price. In anger and impatience at having to
wait so long for the keris, Ken Angrok ended up stabbing
the unfortunate metal smith who, as he lay dying, cursed the
murderer and his descendants, swearing that they would all die
by the same weapon which Ken Angrok now held in his hand. The
curse was not long in taking effect and the rest of the century
saw a bitter and bloody family feud. Shortly after Ken Angrok
took the throne and married Ken Dedes, he was betrayed by his
wife and died at the hand of his stepson, Anusapati, who ruled
Singosari for twenty years. Yet, despite excessive precautions
such as having a moat built around his bed, Anusapati too fell
victim to the keris maker's curse, stabbed while contesting
in a cock fight. His memorial shrine is at Candl Kidal.
Anusapati's successor was Wisnuwardhana, during whose reign the
beautiful temple of Jajaghu was built. Following him came Kertanagara,
the last and most famous king of Singosari. It was the time of
the Mongol expansion in Asia, when a descendant of Genghiz Khan
ruled in China. Demanding tribute from all the rulers in south
east Asia, the Khan sent an envoy to the court of Kertanagara.
The bold Javanese king sent his reply back to China, carved into
the forehead of the emperor's delegate. Before the enraged Khan
was able to organize a retaliatory fleet, however, Kertanagara
was ambushed by soldiers from a neighbouring vassal state and
put to death alongside a number of his priests and ministers.
The two shrines dedicated to Kertanagara are CandiSingosari and
Candi Jawi. The former is located in the village of Singosari,
which is thought to have been the centre of the old kingdom,
on the outskirts of Malang; Candi Jawi can be found at
Pandaan, to the south of Surabaya in the foothills of the Arjuna/Welirang
mountain range.
The dynasty of Singosari came to a close with the death of Kertanagara
in 1292. This king is considered by Javanese to have been the
first to envisage a united Indonesia, a dream which was to become
reality some fifty years later under the leadership of Gajah
Mada.
A
spout figure the 'Bathing place of Ken Dedes', Singosari
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One
of two gigantic stone guardian figures, remains of the 13th century
kingdom of singosari.
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