Gajah Mada

Common card · No. 204622

Gajah Mada (c. 1290 – c. 1364, also known as Jirnnodhara) was a mahapatih and prominent general of the Javanese Majapahit Empire. He is known for unifying the Nusantara archipelago, bringing the empire to its peak of glory. According to legend, he even went as far as delivering an oath called Sumpah Palapa, in which he vowed not to rest until he had accomplished his goal of unification. His accomplishments had been heavily credited in Old Javanese manuscripts, poems and inscriptions. During his reign, the Hindu epics, including the Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata, became ingrained in the Javanese culture and worldview through the performing arts of wayang kulit (“leather puppets”). He is considered an important national hero in modern Indonesia, as well as a symbol of patriotism and national unity. Historical accounts of his life, political career, and administration are taken from several sources, mainly the Pararaton ("The Book of Kings"), the Nagarakretagama (a Javanese-language eulogy...

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