Why They called it Malacca(Melaka)

I know most of you will say, Paramesware name it when he was resting under a tree(Indian gooseberry) and saw a dog which defeated by a mouse deer(Pelanduk).  He considered it was so un-normal and praise the courageous and the fearless of the mouse deer.  So, he decided to name the place – Melaka (name of the tree he sit underneath).

Indian Gooseberry

Above, is what we learn from our history book(Malay History), there are others reasons, why it was called – Melaka.

• Arabian word

• Melaka once is a very important Trading Harbour.  Lots of business coming from East and West meet at Melaka

• Traders from Arab called the place
  1. Mulaqah – mean Meeting or
     
  2. Malakat - mean Gathering of all Trade
• The words pronounce is very similar to Melaka

• Hindu myth

• In Hindu religious text – Skanda Purana, Vaisnava Khanda or Visnu Khanda section had talk about a tree called – Amalaka
• It stated that, Amalaka tree is the FIRST tree grow in this World(Universal) and it has links to Hindu’s god resting place, Brahmin, Vishnu and Shiva
• It believed that, Amalaka tree is related to Wealth, Health and Power.
• Hindu business men and traders who came to Melaka and found the place is full of wealth, power and fast growing.  So, they treated the place like – Amalaka(Melaka)