Sri Kesari Warmadewa

The Belanjong pillar in Sanur dates to 914 CE, and testifies to the contacts between Bali and the Indian subcontinent.

Sri Kesari Warmadewa was the first king of Bali to leave a written inscription. He authored the inscription on the 914 CE Belanjong pillar ("Prasasti Blanjong") in southern Sanur. The inscription It is written in both the Indian Sanskrit language and Old Balinese language, using two script, the Nagari script and the Old Balinese script (which is used to write both Balinese and Sanskrit).^[1] The pillar testifies to the connections of Bali with the Sanjaya Dynasty in Central Java.^[2] It is dated according to the Indian Saka calendar.^[3]

Sri Kesari is considered as the founder as the Warmadewa dynasty, which prospered for several generations, one of its descendant being the famous king Udayana Warmadewa.^[4]

According to the inscription, Sri Kesari was a Buddhist king of the Sailendra Dynasty leading a military expedition,^[5] to establishing a Mahayana Buddhist government in Bali.^[6]

See also

• History of Bali

Notes

1. Haer, p.275
2. Barski, p.45
3. The people of Bali Angela Hobart p.24
4. The people of Bali Angela Hobart p.24
5. Bali handbook with Lombok and the Eastern Isles by Liz Capaldi, Joshua Eliot p.98
6. Bali & Lombok Lesley Reader, Lucy Ridout p.156

References

• Debbie Guthrie Haer, Juliette Morillot and Irene Toh, Haer (2001). Bali, a traveller's companion. Editions Didier Millet. ISBN 978-981-4217-35-4.
• Andy Barski, Albert Beaucort and Bruce Carpenter, Barski (2007). Bali and Lombok. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 978-0-7566-2878-9.