Negarakertagama for the Indonesian Nation and State
Author: Jacob Ereste
Freelance Journalist
Negarakertagama was written in a historical literary work during the Majapahit kingdom era compiled by Empu Prapanca in 1365 AD in the form of an ancient Javanese poem called Kakawin. The point is to describe the glory days of King Hayam Wuruk and the vast territory of the Majapahit Kingdom.
In addition, Negarakertagama also describes the spiritual and political journey of King Hayam Wuruk, so that its value content reveals moral teachings, governance and the king’s religious life as well as royal policies that should be an example in the life of the Indonesian nation and state today, which is uncertain about the future to enter the golden era of Indonesia after a century of independence.
Negarakertagama is indeed not just a historical document, but also a testimony to the existence of literature that is full of inseparable spiritual and political values. So that the political nuances have enough spiritual color that sides with ethics, morals and noble human morals. That is the integrity of local wisdom which is actually found in many ethnic groups in the archipelago so that it can be used as a basis for the nationalism of all ethnic groups in the archipelago who have agreed to unite in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, at least since 1945.
Negarakertagama depicts political glory, territorial power, as well as the religious and spiritual life of the Indonesian ethnic groups which can be used as a reference for the Indonesian nation and state in building a new civilization in one republic which should be able to go further beyond the glory days of the Majapahit kingdom and the Sriwijaya Kingdom which were once glorious and prosperous in the past. And as a historiographical Kakawin which is full of cultural, spiritual and political values - statecraft – it can be adopted without feeling embarrassed or inferior to be called a nation that has receded into the past. Because the essence of the meaning of not forgetting history is humility to learn from the past which is better than Mada now for all things, so that there is no need for the wardeg to be inferior to anyone who is considered to be left behind by the times.
As a historiographic kakawin, Negarakertagama can clearly provide a philosophical and ethical foothold in interpreting power, because true leadership must and absolutely side with the ethics, morals and noble morals of humans who must and are required to represent the khalifatullah – God’s representative – on earth. So that true leadership will always side with moral values and reflect noble morals for a harmonious order with nature in an atmosphere of inner purity, not just prioritizing the interests and dominance of political power.
This is the relevance of Negarakertagama to the desire of the Indonesian people to enter the Golden Indonesia era in 2045 which is only one generation away from being achieved, or must fail like the desire that was declared when the independence of the Indonesian nation was proclaimed. The attitude of inferiority needs to be corrected so that the attitude of inferiority towards one’s own culture – which is often considered old-fashioned, outdated, as if it has no value, can actually become a value advantage that cannot be matched by nations from any continent.**
Luar Batang Mosque, June 13, 2025
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