Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.s2.t2.2

v2.c13.s2.t2.2

In the first place, let us examine Dr. Coedès’ view that the Śailendras were originally kings of Śrī-Vijaya (Palembang). The evidence on which he relies is the Ligor Inscription. In face A, it refers to Śrī-Vijayendrarāja, Śrī-Vijayeśvarabhūpati, and Śrī-Vijayanṛpati. Dr. Coedès takes them all to mean ‘king of Śrī-Vijaya,’ but Stutterheim proposes the translation “king over the lords of Śrī-Vijaya” for the first two expressions. The third expression, of course, can mean only ‘king of Śrī-Vijaya.’ Stutterheim, in defending his hypothesis about ‘overlord,’ remarks: “In mentioning his person for the third time, this intentional indication was no longer added, and replaced by the short indication of ‘king of Śrī-Vijaya’, which, in fact, he was for the people of that country.”² Now, without ignoring the force of this argument, it must be conceded that the probability lies in favour of Dr. Coedès’ view.³ Although, therefore, we may not regard it as certain, we may hold for the time being that the king of Śrī-Vijaya was intended by those expressions.