The Legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang

During the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah in Malacca, it was believed that there is one beautiful fairy princess staying at the peak of Mount Ledang. The princess was known as Puteri Gunung Ledang. The beauty of the princess has been spread all around the states and finally the news being heard by Sultan Mahmud Syah. At that time, the Sultan actually was still mourning as his wife (queen) was just passed away. However, when the Sultan heard about the beauty of Puteri Gunung Ledang, he was struck with the cupid’s arrow. If before this, many princesses and daughters of the minister from the empire around the Malacca had been presented to him, to be his wife candidate, all of them were rejected. Everything changed the Sultan heard about the beauty and gracefulness of the Puteri Gunung Ledang. He was very eager to meet The Princess and wanted to propose her to be his wife. 

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“Tun Mamat, I want you to go to the Mount Ledang with Laksaman Hang Tuah and Sang Setia. Tell the Princess that I proposed her for a marriage,” command Sultan Mahmud Syah.

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Tun Mamat and his team then started to climb the mount as the representative of His Majesty to propose the Princess for a marriage. The journey to go to the peak of the mountain was so long, and full of obstacles. The difficulties in their journey became worst when the mountain heavy rain struck on their midway up to the mountain. Sang Setia was unable to continue the journey. So, Laksamana Hang Tuah and Tun Mamat continue their climbing but unfortunately for them, there was a stage where Laksamana Hang Tuah had to stop his journey there.

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“I don’t think I can continue this journey. Please continue your climbing. I’ll be fine here,” said Laksamana Hang Tuah.

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At the end, Tun Mamat was the only man standing that kept on climbing and with all the spirit and effort that he put on himself, he finally managed to reach the top of the Mount Ledang.

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Tun Mamat was so amazed when he first saw the scenery of the place. He was very surprised to discover a beautiful garden that full of blooming flowers. The chirping of birds can be heard surrounds the garden and beautiful butterflies were flying all around. The garden gives a peaceful feeling towards him as if all his tiredness in his journey was all fly away. While Tun Mamat was amazed with the beauty that he just found, suddenly an old lady appeared in front of him.

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“Who are you? Where are you come from?” asked the old lady.



Tun Mamat gently replied, 

“I am Tun Mamat, the representative of the Sultan Mahmud Syah from Malacca. I came here to meet Puteri Gunung Ledang as His Majesty proposed her for a marriage. May I know who are you?”

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“Oh, I am Nenek Kebayan, the guardian of Puteri Gunung Ledang. Regarding to your proposal, please wait here for a while, I will tell the Princess about it” answered the old lady and then, she disappeared.

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After a moment, Nenek Kebayan reappeared and met Tun Mamat.

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“Tun Mamat, please tell the Sultan Mahmud Syah that Puteri Gunung Ledang send her regards to him. She had been thinking about the proposal you asked for and she said the proposal will be accepted if His Majesty can prepare her seven marriage gift. The gifts are …”

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1) A golden bridge connecting Mount Ledang to the Malacca Sultan’s Palace.
2) A silver bridge for her to walk back to Mount Ledang.
3) Seven trays of mosquitoes’ heart.
4) Seven trays of germs’ heart.
5) Seven jars of virgins’ tear as her bathing water.
6) Seven bowls of young betel nut juice.
7) One bowl of His Majesty’s son, Raja Ahmad’s blood.

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After Tun Mamat heard all the conditions from Puteri Gunung Ledang, he walked down to get his team and returned back to the palace. As soon as they reached the palace, Tun Mamat immediately told the seven conditions from The Princess to His Majesty. He thought that His Majesty will give up on the Princess and might cancel her marriage proposal.

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Unexpectedly, His Majesty agreed to full fill all the conditions. It was believed that His Majesty able to full fill all the sixth condition but in order to make it success, he has ruined his own kingdom. This is because, His Majesty had forced the citizen to work hard in order to complete the bridge and His Majesty became cruel to his own kingdom.

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However, His Majesty found a big problem in order to complete the seventh condition. He did not dare to kill his own son to get a bowl of his blood. His Majesty had tried for a few times and when he was confident enough to sacrifice his prince, suddenly, Puteri Gunung ledang appeared in that room.

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"Stop. Don't uou ever dare to that to your own prince," said Puteri Gunung Ledang.

The Princess stopped him from committing the sin and she also condemn him from his action, regarding to his effort in order to prepare the marriage gift. For The Princess, His Majesty became selfish towards his people as he had forced them to help him fulfill his desires to married The Princess. Puteri Gunung Ledang also stated that actually the marriage conditions were just her excuses in refusing the proposal. Sultan Mahmud Syah felt regretted and shamed with himself. Other people said that The Princess was still loyal to his late husband that died in Padang Besar and she will never marry anyone again.

Theme of the story