Today historians strongly suggested that the invasion was actually a Srivijayan retaliation against Mataram for the attacks upon the empire. After the failed Dharmawangsa's naval campaign against Palembang back in 990, Sri Culamanivarmadeva the Maharaja of Srivijaya saw Javanese Mataram as a dangerous threat, thus arranged a stratagem to destroy Mataram by inciting a revolt. King Wurawari of Lwaram was probably an ally of Srivijaya in Java and also the vassal of Mataram. With Srivijaya's assistance Wurawari managed to sack and burn Watugaluh Palace during Mataram's most unexpected time; the Airlangga's royal wedding. Airlangga, accompanied by his guard Narottama, escaped westward into the jungle and retreated as a hermit in Vanagiri (today Wonogiri, Central Java).
