Mahabharata in Bahasa Malaysia

I wonder how many non-Indian Malaysians know about the great epic Mahabharata? It is one of the major holy books of the Hindus written in Sanskrit.

Who's the good guys? The Pandava clan -- consists of five brothers. The eldest and leader is Yuddhisthira.

Who's the bad guys? The Kaurava clan -- the Pandavas have only one uncle who is the eldest son in the family, he had a hundred sons and they become the Kaurava clan. Therefore, the Pandavas and the Kauravas are first cousins.

The conflict Both clans claim rulership to the kingdom of Astinapura, which encompassed the region around modern Delhi. Their grandfather had two sons. The eldest was disqualified from inheriting the throne for being blind according to custom. The younger prince ascended the throne instead. However, he renounced the kingship,retired as a hermit in the Himalayas and finally died young due to a curse. So his blind brother became King.
When the Pandavas came of age, they demanded the throne from their uncle. Their uncle's hundred sons, plotted treacherously against them and drove them out of the kingdom.
Uncle tried to make peace by dividing the kingdom between the two clans. On the other hand, uncle's own sons were discontent with the idea of sharing the kingdom with their cousins. The Kauravas challenged the Pandavas to a great dice match. By devious means, the Kauravas won and drove the Pandavas out again.
This ongoing struggle for supremacy culminated in the Pandavas return for vengeance, resulting in an 18-day war and victory for the Pandavas.

Complexity

I have told you already in my Panji story that Hindu literature tends to be crowded and complicated. Therefore, I need to briefly address the complexity first. Otherwise Hindu folks might think a lot of things are missing here.

Mahabharata as the longest single poem in the world literature, according to a Malaysian encyclopedia, is composed of some 100,000 couplets-- a length that fills up 18 books. This is compounded with many subplots and irrelevant tales, of enormously complex theological nature. Therefore, Wan can only discuss the outline and concentrate on its ...

Malaysian Connection

More than 700 years ago, Javanese version of the Mahabharata was translated into Malay. Written in Jawi, the Malay version preserves the core of the epic, namely the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Different episodes within the epic was adjusted in shadow play to suit various events such as birth, circumcision, recovery from illness and etc. It was through the wayang kulit, rural Malays become familiar with the story mainly as a form of entertainment and also as an occasion to teach their young ones about good and evil.

An example of difference is linked to Princess Draupadi. According to the Hindu version, Arjuna the ace archer Pandava won Draupadi's hand in marriage after winning an archery contest. Arjuna told his mother about his "prize" to which his mother said he must share with his brothers. She didn't realize the "prize" was a bride but what she had uttered was a vow that could not be undone. So Draupadi married five husbands. Actually in Draupadi's past life, she had prayed to god Shiva " for a husband five times", so this is a fulfillment of her past karma.

The Javanese and Malay versions apparently played down this religious aspect, presented Draupadi as wife of one husband, that was the eldest Pandava Yudhisthira.

Can you guess what is "Hikayat Pandawa Lima" about by just glancing at the title? It is "Story of the Five Pandavas". This is the most 'complete' Malay version which covers almost all the important parts of the original Mahabharata. Arjuna, the exceptionally handsome Pandavas, is called Rajuna in the Malay version. He used his good looks to seduce women, mostly other men's wives. As mentioned above, the Pandavas were supposed to be the good guys in the epic, so his big brother Yuddhisthira, called Dharmawangsa in Malay was not pleased with this at all. Consequently, Rajuna brought much misery upon himself. He is an illustration of "no man is perfect", even "good guys" may at times exhibit failings.

Other Hikayat based on the Mahabharata are:

Hikayat Pandawa
Hikayat Pandawa Jaya --This one concentrates on the 18-day war of Kurushetra
Hikayat Perang Pandawa Jaya
Hikayat Purasara
Hikayat Sang Boma

Public traces of the Mahabharata in Malaysia are manuscripts kept at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, the National Library of Malaysia and tapestry found in Batu Caves, a famous Hindu's site of worship in Kuala Lumpur.

Back to Malaysia Culture Section

Homepage