MSS Malay D 11

Tembai (myth of origins) and teremba (genealogy); incomplete end. A MS from South Sumatra, in Malay in incung (rencong) script.

A metrical litany, narrating the descent of the soul from its prenatal state in the land of the souls.

Notes on this MS and a full transliteration of its contents by P.Voorhoeve are held in MSS.Eur.D.520. Voorhoeve describes the MS as follows:

'In the first part, that ends on p.9, the soul in its various stages of development up to the stage of a full-grown man, is identified with the prophets, the final stage being that of Adam. From here on it is called Sidang Nabi Adam, the Venerable Prophet Adam. It seems to me that the following part of the text again refers to the prenatal stage and that the last part refers to the reluctance of the soul to be born, caused by the premonitions of death that it feels during the last nine days before birth. On each of these days it entreats its parents to avert this threatening danger. Reflection on its eternal origin, purification with citrus-juice, sacrificial meals and prayers are the means to reach this end. Their effect is that the soul feels "a little better", and though the text ends abruptly in the middle of the last day we may suppose that the soul is at last persuaded to take its abode in this world of "time" and "death". Perhaps this litany was recited during the ceremonies which were performed in the last days before the birth of a child.'

Begins (f.1r / ka): Anjut parahu dari ulu / pisang rukama kanan pari / tambai kutahu dari guru / taraba kapun barahi

Ends (f.31r / baba): apa warana masa datang / apa warana mahut turun / maka barasapda ku sidang nabi adam / ija ibu ka cetera desunt