The Legend of Merong Mahawangsa
Some say that Merong was a descendant of Alexander the Great. More recent legends have also surfaced that say that he was a Hindu prince by the name of Maran Mahavamsam. "Maha" means "great" in Sanskrit while "vamsam" means "lineage or descent".
According to the Kedah Annals, which is supposed to be a record of the history of Kedah, Merong was a fighter and was a Hindu ruler of an unknown kingdom. He travelled around from kingdom to kingdom, but mostly stayed in Rome. One day, he left Rome to do some trading in China. But then, after he passed the Arabian Sea, he was suddenly attacked by a legendary giant phoenix called Garuda, that destroyed most of Merong's fleet. They fled to the nearest land, which is Bujang Valley, where they settled and founded the kingdom of Langkasuka.
Merong was the original ruler of Langkasuka before he made his son, Merong Mahapudisat, the king. He returned to Rome, leaving his son to rule after. His fate was unknown, as some say that he died on his way to Rome. His son ruled Langkasuka, along with his descendants, until Phra Ong Mahawangsa converted into Islam and changed the Kingdom of Langkasuka into the Sultanate of Kedah. He also changed his name into Sultan Mudzafar Shah.
Later, the salutation for the king of Langkasuka changed into the Sultanate of Kedah. The name 'Langkasuka' can be divided into two parts: for which 'Langka' meant 'the land of glory' in Sanskrit, while 'suka' was from the name of the Jain king Emperor Ashoka, who later converted into Buddhism.
Merong's tale is said to be a mythical legend and the Kedah Annals may not be a reliable source because this legend is not mentioned in the Malay Annals or other important annals.
The history of Merong Mahawangsa was not that famous or well known compared to the tale of Hang Tuah. However, KRU Studios has completed the production of its feature film entitled "Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa". The movie is based on the great tale and the myth of Merong Mahawangsa. It is Malaysia's second expensive movie production in the country.
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