The tales of Puteri Gunung Ledang

One of the fairy tales recorded in the history of the Malays is the legend of the Princess of Gunung Ledang or known as Puteri Gunung Ledang for the malays.. Gunung ledang or Mount Ledang is the highest mountain in the state of Johore located at south of peninsula Malaysia. This story happened during the reign of the Sultan Mahmud Shah who was the eighth and last Sultan to rule the Malacca from 1488 to 1511.

The story begins with the death of his queen, Tun Kecil and leaves behind the future heir to the throne, the young Raja Ahmad. Sultan Mahmud Shah was in grieve and is unspeakable to remember the wife who was gone even though he had other wives, Tun Teja the princess from Pahang and Princess Onang Kening, the daughter of Sultan Mansur Shah from Kelantan. He has not visited Balai Rong Seri for a few days to meet the country's dignitaries. This is especially heartbreaking for the dignitaries, especially Bendahara Tun Perpatih Semasa and Laksamana Hang Tuah, two highly respected and influential dignitaries in the Malacca palace.

However, what happened one night changed everything when he dreamed of a woman who was too beautiful, and appeared and became engrossed in her. It is so unusual for her to look like, caress and tease him so much that he does not want to wake up from his dreams. It is rumored that the woman is Puteri Gunung Ledang, the guardian of Gunung Ledang who has inhabited the mountain for hundreds of years. All this time he only heard about the princess's stories but it was through his dream, only then did he know that the princess was too beautiful.

One day, Sultan Mahmud shah voiced his desire to marry the Puteri Gunung Ledang. Soon he sent a famous warrior named Admiral Hang Tuah to the mountain with the faithful and Tun Mamat as well as some warriors to accompany him. When they climbed the mountain they were hit by strong winds that left them unable to continue their ascent.

Tun Mamat ordered the Hang Tuah to resist while he and several people continued their journey. After crossing the thick bamboo forest, they finally reached one very beautiful and beautiful garden area. The fragrance of the park is very refreshing. There they found four women and told their purpose to meet Puteri Gunung Ledang and convey the wishes of the Sultan Mahmud Shah to marry her. One of the women named Dang Raya Rani, was the guardian of Puteri Gunung Ledang and promised to deliver the purpose to the Puteri Gunung Ledang. And soon after that the four women disappeared.

On that night, they stumbled upon an old wantita who had bent down according to age, telling Tun Mamat that if Sultan Mahmud shah wanted to be married, there were some conditions that needed to be fulfilled. Among the conditions are:

1. A gold and silver bridge connecting Melaka and Mount Ledang

2. 7 trays of mosquito liver

3. 7 vat of young areca nut

4. 7 vat of virgins tears

5. One cup of sultan's blood

6. One cup of blood of the sultan's son

Upon their return to Malacca, Tun Mamat presented the request of the Puteri Gunung Ledang to Sultan Mahmud Shah. Hearing the conditions made him dreamy at the thought of the rather strange terms of the condition. However, all such requests may be Sultan Mahmud shah cashed except for the last condition which is a cup of blood of the sultan's son. Sultan Mahmud Shah did not reach the heart to make the blood of his son, Raja Ahmad as a pass. Therefore, Sultan Mansur Shah cancelled his intention to marry Puteri Gunung Ledang.

Such is the story of the legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang where all the conditions and demands of the Puteri Gunung Ledang are actually just a trick to reject the request of the Sultan Mahmud Shah to marry her. There are also those who claim that the old lady is Puteri Gunung Ledang that manifests as an old woman. This story is very popular among the Malaysian community and several films and theaters are made for public viewing.