History of Langkawi - Mahsuri

Mahsuri was a young woman who lived in Langkawi, an island in Kedah, Malaysia, during the late 18th century. According to folklore, she was accused of adultery and executed by stabbing. Her tomb, Makam Mahsuri, has become a tourist attraction on the island.

Legend

Mahsuri was the daughter of a couple who moved from their native Phuket to the island of Langkawi in search of a better life. She was the most beautiful in all of Langkawi and married the warrior Wan Darus. As was required of him, her husband had to go to war, leaving Mahsuri behind to fend for herself. It was during this time that Mahsuri befriended a young man named Deraman. The village chief's wife was jealous of Mahsuri's beauty. She spread a rumour that Mahsuri was unfaithful and was having an affair with Deraman in the absence of Wan Darus. Eventually the rumours grew strong enough that the villagers openly accused her of adultery. Mahsuri pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.

Mahsuri was to be tied to a tree (or pole) and stabbed to death but it didn't work. After every execution attempt failed, Mahsuri told them to kill her with her family's Kris. When she was stabbed, white blood flowed from the wound, signifying her innocence. Some birds flew above her to cover her body. With her dying breath, Mahsuri cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck. The kingdom was soon taken over by Siam. The villagers at Padang Mat Sirat burned their own paddy fields rather than let them fall into the hands of the Siamese.

Impact

Many locals of Langkawi believe the legend to be true, citing the decades of failed crops that followed Mahsuri's death. Langkawi was also attacked by Siam numerous times, the last invasion taking place in 1821. The field which was torched by the farmers is still known as Beras Terbakar or "burnt rice". It is only at the end of the 20th century, after the seven generations have supposedly come to pass, that Langkawi began to prosper as a tourist destination. The descendants of Mahsuri continue to live in Phuket, Thailand, and have on occasion returned to Langkawi to visit her tomb. Among them was Sirintra Yayee (ศิรินทรา ยายี), also known as Wan Aishah Wan Nawawi, who came into the spotlight during her visit to Kedah in 2000.

Her Tomb at Makam Mahsuri Ulu Melaka

Beautiful Langkawi -The History of Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah.

The magnificent name, Langkawi, is believed to have originated from the abundance of eagles found on the island. The Brahminy Kite, a species of eagle fondly known as “Lang Merah” in Malay, and “Kawi”, meaning marble in Sanskrit, is also unique to the island. Another reference states that the name is a combination of two Sanskrit words, “Langka” (beauty) and “Wi” (innumerable), which means ‘The Place of Immense Beauty’. True enough, this island was also once known as the ‘Land of Bliss’ dating back 2,000 years ago.


The ‘Isles of Legends’
Langkawi’s heritage includes the oral storytelling passed down by the first settlers centuries ago. This resulted in having hundreds of legends attached to almost every cave, forest, islet, rock and lake within the archipelago.

As the island prospered, a legend took place. It is said that the beautiful Mahsuri was sentenced to death for adultery, a crime she was falsely accused of, and with her dying breath, she cursed the island, predicting that the island would not flourish for seven generations. Strangely enough, Langkawi suffered a series of woes after the curse as crops failed for a very long time.

There are many accounts on Langkawi’s origin, including those from legends and folklore, but according to history, one can ascertain that the island was under the rule of the Sultanate of Kedah for a long time. The Sultanate of Kedah, founded in 1136, was the earliest Sultanate on the Malay Peninsula.
 

Eventually, the island came under British rule and then, for a brief period during World War II, it was controlled by the Thai monarchy. This is evident by the number of Thai cuisines and Siamese-inspired sights found around the island. After the war ended, the island became a favourite nesting ground for pirates as the dense jungle provided an excellent hideout.

Today, Langkawi has changed dramatically. The island is probably one of the busiest islands in Malaysia. Yes, it was the duty-free status that made the island a popular destination, but many local folks still believe that it was due to something less tangible - that the seven-generation curse cast on the island by Mahsuri had finally ended.