MOUNT JERAI'S MYSTICAL MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Mount Jerai (Gunung Jerai) in Kedah is one of Malaysia’s most mystical landmarks. Because it stands isolated on a flat plain and was once an island (Pulau Serai), it has served as a beacon for sailors and a center for spiritual legends for over a thousand years.

Here are the most prominent myths and legends surrounding Mount Jerai:

1. The Legend of Raja Bersiong (The Fanged King)

Perhaps the most famous legend of Kedah, Raja Bersiong was a king of the ancient Bujang Valley civilization at the foot of the mountain.

• The Bloodlust: Legend says a cook accidentally cut his finger while preparing the king’s favorite spinach curry. The king found the dish unusually delicious and demanded to know why. Upon discovering it contained human blood, he developed a craving for it.
• The Fangs: As he continued to consume human blood, sharp fangs grew from his jaw.
• The Flight: Eventually, his subjects revolted against his cruelty. He is said to have fled to Mount Jerai and hidden in the thick forests. Local folklore suggests he eventually pulled out his fangs and threw them away (giving name to places like Baling), or that his spirit still haunts the mountain.

2. Sang Kelembai and Batu Kapal (The Stone Ship)

High on the mountain sits a massive boulder known as Batu Kapal, which remarkably resembles the hull of a capsized ship.

• The Curse: According to myth, this was once the actual ship of Maharaja Merong Mahawangsa. It was turned to stone by Sang Kelembai, a giant or forest spirit in Malay folklore who possessed the power to turn anything she spoke to into stone.
• Spiritual Warning: Elders often warn visitors not to point or speak loudly near the rock, as the "spirits of the ship" might take offense.

3. The Kingdom of the Orang Bunian

Mount Jerai is widely considered one of the primary gateways to the realm of the Orang Bunian (supernatural "hidden people").

• The Invisible City: Hikers and locals have long reported seeing grand wooden palaces or smelling fragrant scents in the middle of the deep forest, only for them to vanish seconds later.
• Missing Persons: There are numerous urban legends about hikers who went missing for days, only to reappear claiming they were "guests" at a beautiful wedding or in a magnificent village that doesn't exist on any map.

4. Padang Tok Sheikh and the First Azan

Near the peak is a clearing called Padang Tok Sheikh, named after Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Ahmad bin Sheikh Jaafar Qumiri.

• The Conversion: In the 12th century, Tok Sheikh is said to have converted the 9th King of Kedah (Maharaja Derbar Raja) to Islam.
• The Sacred Well: It is believed that the first Azan (call to prayer) in the Malay Peninsula was performed at this spot. Nearby, the Telaga Tok Sheikh (Tok Sheikh’s Well) is a sacred site where the water is said to never run dry and possess healing properties.

5. Guardians and Sacred Plants

• Guardian Spirits: Locals believe the mountain is guarded by ancient deities or "Penunggu." It is common for hikers to ask for "permission" before entering the forest to avoid getting lost or "teased" by spirits.
• Mystical Herbs: Botanists have noted that Jerai has unique flora not found on the mainland. Mythologically, these are believed to be the medicinal garden of the bunian or ancient shamans, and it is said that certain "magical" herbs can only be found by those with a pure heart.

BUJANG VALLEY

The Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang) is the richest archaeological site in Malaysia, proving that a highly sophisticated, multi-ethnic civilization existed at the foot of Mount Jerai long before the Melaka Sultanate.

Recent discoveries—including some as recent as late 2023 and 2024—have significantly pushed back the timeline of Malay history, suggesting the area was a global industrial hub as far back as 2,000 to 2,500 years ago.

1. Sungai Batu: The "Iron City" of Ancient Kedah

The discovery of the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex (just 6km from the main museum) changed everything.

• Oldest in Southeast Asia: Excavations revealed iron-smelting sites and a clay brick monument dating as far back as 110 AD, with some carbon dating suggesting activity as early as 788 BC. This makes it older than Angkor Wat and Borobudur.
• Global Industrial Hub: Archaeologists found dozens of iron-smelting furnaces and tuyeres (nozzles for blowing air into furnaces). The quality of iron produced here was of "global standard" and was exported to the Roman Empire and China.
• The Ancient Jetty: Remnants of a brick jetty along a dried-up river branch show that large merchant ships once sailed directly into the valley to trade.

2. The 2023-2024 Discovery: Bukit Choras Stupa

In late 2023 and mid-2024, a major breakthrough occurred at Bukit Choras, a small hill north of the main valley:

• Life-sized Buddha Statues: Two remarkably well-preserved, life-sized stucco statues of Buddha were unearthed. Stucco (a type of plaster) was previously thought to be rare in this region, typically found in Java or India.
• Unstuck in Time: This site is estimated to be 1,200 years old (approx. 8th or 9th century AD). The discovery is unique because it was found "in situ" (undisturbed), providing a rare look at Ancient Kedah’s religious sophistication.

3. The "Candi" (Ancient Temples)

More than 50 temple ruins (called candi) have been identified throughout the valley.

• Candi Bukit Batu Pahat: The most famous and largest temple, built around the 6th century AD. It was a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, evidenced by the discovery of stone reliquaries and gold foil images of Nandi (the sacred bull).
• Architectural Mix: The temples show a blend of Pallava (South Indian) and local indigenous architecture, proving that the local population didn't just "copy" foreign styles but adapted them.

4. Trade Artifacts: The "Maritime Silk Road"

The artifacts found in the valley confirm it was a "crossroads of the world":

• Beads: Thousands of "Indo-Pacific" glass beads were found, showing the valley was a major bead-manufacturing center.
• Ceramics: Pottery and ceramics from the Chinese Tang and Song dynasties, as well as glassware from the Middle East (Persia), have been recovered.
• Inscriptions: The Buddhagupta Inscription (found in the 1800s) and various stone tablets in Sanskrit/Pallava script indicate that Buddhist monks and Indian traders were regular residents.

Summary of Timeline & Significance

Period	Key Significance
788 BC – 2nd Century AD	Early iron-smelting and proto-industrial activity at Sungai Batu.
2nd – 10th Century AD	Peak as a major port (Kataha) mentioned in Chinese, Indian, and Greek records.
11th Century AD	Attacked by the South Indian Chola Empire; later shifts toward the Melaka Sultanate era.

Google Gemini AI

22 January 2026: 9.32 p.m