Malacca empire was actually a Malacca city state or outpost only and was a vassal of the great Hindu-Buddist Majaphit empire

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8: Various Indian NGOs and Indian based political parties are anticipating the results of the Hindu relic found in the Malacca river to be published as this may have a strong possibility of altering Malaysia’s history.

A group of professional divers discovered parts of a Hindu temple and a fort-like structure two weeks ago.

Expansion of the Majapahit Empire started in Trowulan Majapahit in the 13th century and extended to much of the Indonesian archipelago until it receded and fell in the early 16th century.

The Malacca Museum Corporation has confirmed that relics from the Majapahit age have been salvaged from the river since the late 1990s.

Read about Majapahit

It was reported recently that the relics dating back to the 13th-century Majapahit empire were believed to have been found along a 2km stretch, about 20 metres beneath the Malacca river.

Majapahit, is the last Indianised kingdom in Indonesia, was based in eastern Java. It was founded by Prince Vijaya of Singhasari in Java Timur.

Majapahit existed between the 13th and 16th centuries from 1293 to 1527.The Majapahit kingdom is believed to have made Malacca their maritime headquarters.

The Majapahit empire, with its centre in east Java, stretched over a vast part of the Malay Archipelago before the arrival of Parameswara and the later Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511.


Archeologist found a Hindu temple foundation on the Malacca river bed with relics from Majapahit era way before a Hindu prince exile ran away to Temasik, killed the local ruler to grab power, ousted and ran to Malacca.

While history claim the prince founded Malacca, it seems more like Malacca is already a Hindu settlement being taken over. Should history change and lessen the praise for this Hindu convert Parameswara?

While history claim the prince founded Malacca, it seems more like Malacca is already a Hindu settlement being taken over. Should history change and lessen the praise for this Hindu convert Parameswara?

The submerged city is believed to have existed even before Parameswara founded Malacca in 1400.

malacca-river

According to Professor Dr. M.Rajaenthiran from the Department of Indian studies at Universiti Malaya, it is still too early to make comments on whether this archaeological find may have a huge influence to alter Malaysia’s history.

“The government is being very vague with their response regarding this issue, no proper statement has been made by them to describe what has actually been found.

However, Rajaenthiran said seeing that Majapahit used to be a Hindu civilisation and that there are remains of the Hindu Kingdom found under the Malacca River, Malaysian history may have actually been very different from what we know.

“We do not have concrete evidence to prove Hindu heritage in Malacca before Parameswara, this find may just prove to be a breakthrough,” he told The Malaysian Times (TMT) when contacted.

Third party archaeological team

Meanwhile, MIC Youth chief Datuk C. Sivaraajh said this discovery may have a vital part to play in Malaysian history.

“This might prove to alter Malaysian history, this is why I request the archaeological department to investigate this find with the utmost of importance.

“We are hoping to have a third party archaeological team to conduct a joint analysis with the archaeological department from the government to provide transparent information,” he said in a statement.

Sivaarajh has highlighted the fact that this artifact must be preserved well because it carries a huge significance of Hindu history in Malaysia.

Besides that, Malacca State Public Affairs, Human Resources and NGO Affairs committee Chairman Datuk M.S. Mahadevan has also requested that the Hindu relic found in the Malacca River be published with full transparency in order to preserve Hindu history.

“At the moment, the state government and the federal government have not revealed any information regarding their findings.

“The government will most probably reveal the information on the findings after thorough analysis in order to reveal accurate information,” Mahadevan told TMT.

According to Mahadevan, MIC Malacca is in contacts with the Malacca state government and both parties are expected to have a meeting regarding this very soon.

Political figures are not the only ones to raise concern and awareness regarding this discovery.

Hindu Sangam President Datuk R.S.Mohan Shan has expressed willingness to cooperate with the Malacca State Council to analyse and publish the Hindu Relic from the Majapahit Kingdom which was found in the Malacca River.

“Hindu Sangam at the moment does not have the full detailed information regarding the artefact that was discovered.

“However, we have contacted the Melaka State Council and we are fully ready to work together with the local authorities to analyse the relic.

“Hindu Sangam can only comment further on this matter once we have identified and analysed the artefact,” Mohan told TMT yesterday.

Who was greater during its height Malacca, Srivijaya or Majapahit?

Alvin Chaniago, studied at President University

Updated Mar 22

By territorial comparison, Majapahit wins since they almost conquered all the islands in today’ Indonesian archipelago and all areas in today’ mainland Malaysia. Take a look at this map which shows you the territorial extent of Majapahit during its height, based on Negarakertagama (an eulogy about the Majapahit kingdom which was written during Hayam Wuruk’ era).

Here’ the extent of Srivijaya’ influence during its greatest height.

They did manage to conquer some parts of today’ Thailand and all areas of today’ mainland Malaysia. But not as vast as Majapahit’, if compared to what they had managed to take, before the Dutch came and Islam spread.

I suppose the Malacca in this question is the Sultanate of Malacca (there’s another Melayu kingdom before Islam came). Malacca Sultanate’ territorial claim was not as wide as Srivijaya or Majapahit. So in my view, a third place suits them. The importance of the Sultanate however can’t be denied, as they were the one who had controlled the Strait of Malacca before any European power arrived.

By cultural and religious influences, both Srivijaya and Majapahit are on par. Srivijaya was one of the most important Buddhist kingdoms in the region. In fact, they were regarded as the center for the expansion of Mahayana Buddhism in Southeast Asia. Srivijaya also managed to reach Madagascar, suggesting a strong naval tradition which also helped them to secure the crucial maritime trade routes in the Indian ocean. Some archaeologists have also suggested that the political capital of Srivijaya was actually moved to Kedu plain in Central Java. And that marks the emergence of Sailendra dynasty. The famous Borobudur temple was constructed by the Sailendras.


Majapahit on the other hand, was an important Hindu kingdom in the region. The extent of their religious and cultural influences are now still noticeable in Bali, and some parts of Eastern Java. Their architectural style is still adopted up to this day, and you can easily find houses in East Java and Bali built with gates which look like this.


Btw, that’s not a house in Bali. That’s actually a Keraton (Palace) in Cirebon (West Java), which also adopts Majapahit’ architectural style. This suggests that their cultural influences also managed to spread to West Java, even though it was not within their realm (it was ruled by the once powerful Sunda Kingdom).

Modern Indonesian nationalists in the 20th century also referred to the territory controlled by Majapahit in the past, in order to emphasize on the importance of claiming back the lands which were taken away from them by the Dutch. Later, they received much support from the populace to establish an independent state.

The two kingdoms certainly are important in the history of Southeast Asia. Especially if we want to learn more about the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism in the region.

Malacca Sultanate is the only Islamic Kingdom in this question, and obviously their religious influence differs in context if compared to either Majapahit’ or Srivijaya’. Malacca Sultanate was founded by the last king of Singapore, and his name was Parameswara. He later was known as Iskandar Shah. Classical Malay became the official language of the kingdom.

When Islam came to SE Asia, Islamic arts and Arabic language also made their way into the region. Islam came through trade in SE Asia, and to control the Malacca strait was at that time as important as it is now. Malacca Sultanate emerged to the world stage because of trade. Several Chinese envoys from the Ming Dynasty made their journey to establish a trade relationship with the Malacca Sultanate, the same as Indian and Arab traders at that time. That was the point when the old Malay language was then mixed with both Arabic and Persian words, forming a new Classical Malay language.

Classical Malay was then used extensively in the surrounding islands, and became an important language of the era. This is one of the best examples of how important Malacca Sultanate was in the past. Not to mention that Malacca was one of the major trading hubs at that time as well. Malacca Sultanate ceased to exist when the Portuguese defeated them and took the capital, in an effort to of course control the strait of Malacca and major trade routes.

That’s only my personal view though, perhaps there are some other data which might show another perspective.