Which dynasty ruled over the whole of Suvarnadvipa in the 8th century A.D.?

Correct option is C

Information Booster:

• The Shailendra dynasty ruled over Suvarnadvipa (the ancient name for parts of Southeast Asia, especially Sumatra and Java) in the 8th century A.D.

• They were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism and are credited with constructing the famous Borobudur stupa in Central Java.

• The Shailendras maintained close cultural and religious ties with Nalanda in India and with Srivijaya, a contemporary maritime empire.

• Suvarnadvipa is the ancient name for Sumatra and the Malay Archipelago, often referred to in Indian and Buddhist texts.

• In the 8th century A.D., the Shailendra dynasty emerged as a powerful maritime empire that ruled large parts of Southeast Asia, including Java, Sumatra, and possibly parts of Malaysia and Cambodia.

• They were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism and are credited with building the famous Borobudur Stupa in Java, Indonesia.

• Their influence extended across the seas, giving them dominance over Suvarnadvipa.

Additional Knowledge:

• Kadiri dynasty – Ruled in later periods, mostly in Java, and not during the 8th century.

• Singhasari dynasty – A 13th-century kingdom in East Java, came much after the Shailendras.

• Sanjaya dynasty – Also ruled in Java around the same period but were Hindu rulers and often seen as rivals or contemporaries of the Buddhist Shailendras, but did not rule over all of Suvarnadvipa.

​