Mayang Sari is but one more of the many folklores in the rich
trove of Terengganu cultural heritage. Terengganu, in the east coast of
Peninsula Malaysia, with an elongated shape has a relatively a long
coastline that give it a maritime outlook. Though the discovery of oil
has made petroleum-related industries as the mainstay of the economy of
the state, the traditional occupations of fishing and farming are very
much part of the livelihood of the people of Terengganu. As such its
traditions, folktales, cultures which include its pastime like
kite-flying and top-spinning, singing and dancing are very much related to these two pursuits.
Fishing
is still an important occupation in Terengganu, dotted with fishing
villages from Bacok in the north to Kemaman in the south. The quaint
fishing boats with the stork head were a familiar scene along the
shores, though the masts of the sails are now replaced by the motor
engines. Nevertheless, the fishing season is limited by the blow of the
monsoon, during September to January. The fishermen of old faced a
great deal of danger from sudden squalls, mega clouds clashing,
producing thunderbolts and lightning, accompanying pelting rains. So
much so this phenomenon of weather became entrenched in the Malay
writings.
Berderu-deru hujan panas
Sabung-menyabung kilat
Panah-memanah halilintar
Pelting rain, lightning strikes, thunderous bolts across the skies (Awang Sulung Merah Muda)
There
was also the element of uncertainty in getting a good catch. Deep from
the animistic past, appealing to the spirits of the sea had been the
basis of many myths and superstitions of the region.
This is the
romance of a young fisherman and a “kayangan” princess. Though she
existed in the realm of the imagination, in the wooly softness of the
drifting clouds, the brilliance of the breaking dawn of the eastern
sky, the amber rays of the evening sun, it should be told and retold, so
that it can be as familiar to our future generation.
Legends from the Ancient Malay Kingdoms
by ninotaziz
Ku tahu asal usul mu
Yang laut balik ke laut
Yang darat balik ke darat
Once,
there was a vast kayangan kingdom in the land above the winds called
Seri Tanjung. It was ruled by a mighty Dewa King and his Queen. They had
seven enchanting daughters. The youngest princess, Mayang Sari, was
the most beautiful. Princess Mayang Sari had an angelic face as
luminous as the full moon, her lips were as red and moist as the
pomegranate, and most of all, she had luxurious straight jet-black long
hair. Her breath-taking beauty enchanted all who chanced upon her
visage, her charm delighted those in service to the royal family.
Very often, the seven princesses would fly down to earth to the
enchanted garden. Most of all, they loved to play and bathe at the
Mirror Lake before returning to their palace in Kayangan.
The
enchanted garden was near a small fishing village where a young man
lived. The young man, by the name of Awang, lived with his mother. His
dearest mother was simply called Mek Awang. There was not a kinder and
more loving son than Awang in the village.The sea entranced Awang.It
gave him his daily livelihood and at dawn, the sky would be a glorious
burst of golden rays. Once in a while, Awang thought he saw swans
gliding across the evening skies but he could not be sure. During the
long monsoon season, he would stay home to repair his boat, rethread his
fishing net or bend his fishing hooks ready for the next season. One
particularly strong monsoon when the weather was wet for many days on
end, Awang’s mother caught a chill and the fever did not abate. He tried
to cool her head with water cooled by the night frost but her effort
was to no avail. Day by day, she became more and more frail. So Awang
called for the village “Tok Bomoh”, or medicine man. The bomoh came
bringing incense which he burned and filled the dilapidated hut a sweet
smelling aroma to ward away evil spirits. Then he began his
incantations.
“How do I do that?” asked Awang. The Tok Bomoh told him that only the seven princesses, the Puteri Tujuh, could help him.
As
a child, Awang’s mother had told him stories about seven beautiful
princesses who came down to play at the lake near his village. Awang
thought those stories were just his mother’s ploy to keep him away from
the dangerous lake. Now, he was determined to ask the princesses for
help when they came again.
For days, Awang waited
by the Mirror Lake. He hid high in the trees and looked at the images
in the lake. But he saw nothing in the shimmering reflection. One day
he saw clouds the shape of trees, another day he saw kites from far
away. Then, one early morning, just after the break of dawn, he thought
he saw swans gliding closer and closer to the lake. When they were
just above the water, to his amazement, he saw that they were the seven
princesses!
Awang kept still in hiding. He saw the princesses
putting aside beautiful veils of the different colours of the rainbow,
seven in all. Then he saw the most beautiful princess, the daintiest of
them all placing her emerald veil a bit further away from the others.
Awang decided to ask for help from the princess who was none other than
Mayang Sari.
That evening, when the princesses wanted to return,
Mayang Sari could not find her emerald veil. Her sisters tried their
best to help until they had to leave before the sun set. Only then did
Awang show himself to Mayang Sari. The princess was at first upset to
see Awang. However his simple charm and warmth calmed her down. She
asked Awang whether he had seen her veil and Awang immediately
confessed to taking it.
“Your Highness, forgive me but I am in
need of your help. I need the bakawali flower from your garden tonight
to save my mother. She is terribly ill and only the bakawali flower can
save her.”
Mayang Sari, who had never met a human being before,
was quite surprised to see that he was neither afraid nor in awe of
her. In actual truth, Awang had fallen in love with the beautiful
princess but he was too worried about his mother to think of anything
else. Mayang Sari agreed to help Awang so she turned Awang into a
little beetle and placed him in the knot of her emerald sash that he
tied around her waist. Together, they took to the skies as fast as she
could. When they reached the palace, they had to wait until midnight
when the bakawali flower bloomed. However, the Dewa King, Mayang Sari’s
father knew instantly that a human had entered the forbidden garden.
His rage was horrific and Mayang Sari stood transfixed to the ground
when he came thundering throughout the palace. After the Dewa King
chanted a spell, Awang appeared by her side and the truth had to be
explained. Mayang Sari pleaded forgiveness from her father. She had
fallen in love with the courageous and gentle-hearted Awang and feared
that the Dewa king would punish him. The Dewa King relented and allowed
Awang to take the bakawali flower from the garden but he must never
meet Mayang Sari ever.
Awang suddenly found himself back at his
hut and quickly revived his mother with the scent of the bakawali.
Immediately, she appeared to breathe a little bit easier. She drank the
water Awang offered her and swallowed the broth he prepared for her
that night. In the following days, Awang’s mother recovered fully.
However,
something was amissed with Awang. He could not erase the Princess
Mayang Sari’s exquisite beauty from his mind., Her gentle courage, quick
thinking and her generosity in helping her haunted his thought. He
missed her so deeply and terribly that he began to pine away. He could
not bear to look at the glorious dawn or sunset he used to love so much.
Awang became so weak that it was obvious that if something was not
done, he would die. He would lie in wait by the lake but the princesses
never came back. Until one night, when Awang was so weak that he just
lay on the ground, he thought he saw shimmering lights in the horizon.
The princesses had come to rescue Awang from his lingering pain as
Mayang Sari could not bear to see her beloved die.
With their
magic incantations the sisters then revived Awang. They agreed to leave
their sister Mayang Sari behind. Before they left, they taught Awang
the melodious chants. Whenever he invoke the words of the chants, they
would know that Awang and their sister were in need and they would
return to earth to help both of them. With that, they left the happy
couple and returned to Kayangan. Awang and Mayang Sari lived happily ever after.
Ulek mayang ku ulek
Ulek dengan jala jemala
Ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan tuannya puteri
Ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan jala jemala
Ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan puterinya dua
Puteri dua berbaju serong
Puteri dua bersanggol sendeng
Puteri dua bersubang gading
Puteri dua berselendang kuning
Umbok mayang diumbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Nok ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan puterinya empat
Puteri empat berbaju serong
Puteri empat bersanggol sendeng
Puteri empat bersubang gading
Puteri empat berselendang kuning
Umbok mayang diumbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Nok ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan puterinya enam
Puteri enam berbaju serong
Puteri enam bersanggol sendeng
Puteri enam bersubang gading
Puteri enam berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Nok ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan puterinya tujuh
Puteri tujuh berbaju serong
Puteri tujuh bersanggol sendeng
Puteri tujuh bersubang gading
Puteri tujuh berselendang kuning
Umbok mayang diumbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Nok ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan tuannya puteri
Tuan puteri berbaju serong
Tuan puteri bersanggol sendeng
Tuan puteri bersubang gading
Tuan puteri berselendang kuning
Umbok mayang diumbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Nok ulek mayang diulek
Ulek dengan tuannya puteri
Ku tahu asal usul mu
Yang laut balik ke laut
Yang darat balik ke daratNasi berwarna hamba sembahkan
Umbok mayang ku umbok
Umbok dengan jala jemala
Pulih mayang ku pulih
Pulih balik sedia kala
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