Kahuripan (also spelled Kuripan) was an 11th-century Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom with its capital located around the estuarine of Brantas River valley in East Java.

Airlangga was born and grew up in Bali, and spent his youth in Watugaluh Palace, Mataram, under the patronage of his uncle, King Dharmawangsa.

The Calcutta Stone inscription (dated from 1041), describes a calamity that befell the East Javanese kingdom of the Isyana dynasty in the early years of the 11th century.

[2] According to tradition the calamity, called Pralaya (the death) of Mataram, took place during Airlangga's wedding ceremony in Dharmawangsa palace.

Airlangga, accompanied by his guard Narottama, escaped into the jungle and retreated as a hermit in Vanagiri (today Wonogiri, Central Java).

In 1019, after several years in self-imposed exile in Vanagiri hermitage, Airlangga rallied support from officials and regents that were loyal to the former Isyana dynasty and began to unite the areas that had formerly been ruled by the Mataram kingdom, which had disintegrated after Dharmawangsa's death.

The tale of Airlangga's life was illustrated in the Belahan Temple on the flanks of Mount Penanggungan, where he was portrayed in stone as Vishnu on Garuda.

By building a dam on the Brantas River, he provided irrigation to surrounding paddy fields and maintained the hydraulic system in the area.

The story of a crown princess who renounces the throne to become a hermit is linked with the popular legend of Dewi Kilisuci who resides in the Selomangleng Cave beneath Mount Klothok, 5 kilometers to the west of the city of Kediri.

After 1319, she was assisted by Gajah Mada promoted as patih (prime minister) of Kahuripan, as the reward for his service in cracking down Ra Kuti rebellion.

Hayam Wuruk, during his early years as Yuvaraja (crown prince), also held the title of the king of Kahuripan Jiwanarajyapratistha.

After the death of Tribhuwana Tunggadewi, the title of Kahuripan regent was held by her granddaughter Surawardhani, later inherited by her son Ratnapangkaja.