A Manual of the Malay language

The groups of words remaining to be noticed are those connected with the Hindu religion, and with the demon-worship or spirit-worship, which was the earliest form which the religious sentiment took among the Malay tribes.35 After the conversion of the Malays to the faith of Muhammad, the traditions of Hinduism were gradually confused with the aboriginal superstitions, and neither have been entirely obliterated by the cult which superseded them. The belief in the power of malignant spirits to cause misfortune, sickness, and death is still strong among the Malays, whose pawangs or medicine-men claim to be able to propitiate demons by spells, prayers, and offerings. These men frequently invoke benevolent spirits by the names of Rama, Vishnu, and other Hindu deities, in complete ignorance that they are Hindu,36 to counteract the evil influences of malevolent demons. Practices of this sort prevail most generally in places remote from Arab influence.

The Malays did not altogether discard the theological terms of Hinduism when they adopted a new religion. For instance, puâsa,37 abstinence, fasting (Sansk. upavâsa), is used to express the annual fast of the Muhammadans during the month Ramzan. Heaven and hell also retain their Sanskrit names.

The following are some of the principal theological terms which have passed from Sanskrit into Malay:-

âgama (sacred science)38

J., S. Mak., Bu., and D. agama.

Spiritual guide

J., S. Mak., Bu., and D. guru.

Praise, adoration

puji, puja

pûj (to honour)

pûjâ (worshipping)

J. and S. puji, puja; Bat. and Mak. puji; D. mampuji; to invoke.

Religious penance

J., S., Mak., D., and Bu. tapa.

nâraka, patâla

naraka, pâtâla

J., S., Mak., and D. naraka; S. patala.

Fast, abstinence

J., S., Mak., D., and Bis. puasa; Bat. puaso.

Supernatural power

çakti (strength, power)

Meritorious service, merit

bhakti (worship, devotion)

Sacred formula, charm, spell

J., S., Mak., Bu., and D. dupa; Bat. daupa; Tag. dupa-an, censer.

Incense (made of eight ingredients)

ash?aka (a collection of eight things)

S. istanggi; Mak. satanggi.

Censer (a bamboo split at one end, and opened out so as to form a receptacle)

ça?kha (conchshell used for libations)

ça?kha (conchshell used for blowing as a horn), kala (time)

Protection, blessing, or invocation to secure protection

Sati, self-sacrifice on the tomb of a lord or husband

velâ (sudden death?)

J. and Bat. bela.

Recluse, devotee

bhikshu (a religious mendicant)

Kw. wiku; Siam. phiku, a devotee, beggar.

Mystic words prefixed to prayers and invocations

Om, hong39

om (a mystic word prefacing all prayers); hum (a mystic syllable used in incantations)

Sacrifice, burnt-offering

homa (sacrifice)

DEITIES, &c.

avatâra (descent)

J., S., Bat., and Mak. batara; Bis. batala, idol.

Minor deity

dêwa, dêwâta

deva, devatâ

J. and S. dewa, dewata; Mak. dewa, rewata; D. dewa; Bis. dia, idol; Bat. debata; Bu. dewata.

Do. (female)

J., S., and Mak. dewi.

Names supposed by Malays to belong to powerful spirits or demons

Brahma (one of the three principal Hindu deities)

Vishnu (one of the three principal Hindu deities)

Srî Râma

Râma (the hero of the Râmâyana)

Arjuna (the third son of Pandu)

Varu?a (the deity of the waters)

Hanumant (the monkey chief in the Râmâyana)

Maharshi (asage of a pre-eminent class)

Supernatural beings

Indra (king of heaven)

Kw. Endra; S. Indra.

Chandra (the moon)

J. and S. Chandra.

Nymph, goddess

Vidyâdharî (a female demi-god)

J. Widadari; Mak. Bidadari.

DEMONS, &c.

jana, janu

jana (creature, demon)

Malignant spirit

J. and S. buta; Mak. bota.

Name of a particular demon

pancha-maha-bôta

panchan (five); bhûta (element); the five elements according to the Hindus are earth, fire, water, air, and æther

Akind of demon

bhoga (asnake)

Name of a particular demon

bhuja?ga (asnake)

An evil spirit

Ghost, goblin

hantu (death)

J. antu; Bat. and S. hantu; D. hantu, corpse.

Spectre (which haunts the scene of a murder or sudden death)

vadha (killing, murder)

A female who chants incantations

bîdû, bidûan

vidhavâ (awidow)

Bat. biduwan.

Spell to cause death

pramaya (death)

A daitya or demon

Asupernatural monster

karkaça (cruel), or perhaps, from ugra, very strong, terrible, cruel

J. gargasi, a large bird

çâstra (science, learning)

Magician, sorcerer

çâstravant (skilled in the holy writings)

A remarkable instance of the extent to which the Malay language has been enriched by Aryan terms is to be found in their national or racial name. The origin of the word Malayu (the native word from which we obtain our "Malay") has been made the subject of some discussion by several authors. Some are disposed to trace it to the Sanskrit word malaya, while others prefer to regard it as a purely native word. These views are summarised in the following extract from the introduction to the Malay Grammar of the Abbé...