Sang Nila Utama

Sang Nila Utama / Seri Teri Buana
King of Singapura
Reign	1299–1347
Successor	Sri Wikrama Wira
Born	13th century Sumatra, Indonesia
Died	1347 Kingdom of Singapura
Burial	Fort Canning Hill or Bukit Larangan
House	Sang Sapurba
Father	Sang Sapurba

13th century

1347

Sang Nila Utama is a Srivijayan prince from Palembang said to have founded the Kingdom of Singapura in 1299. His official title adopted upon his coronation, was Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana, which can be translated as "Central Lord King of the Three Worlds". The "Three Worlds" may refer to the three realms of the universe – the heaven of the gods, the world of humans, and the underworld of demons. A few early kings in South East Asia had used the title Sri Tri Buana or "Lord of the Three Worlds". He died in 1347; his son, Paduka Seri Wikrama Wira succeeded him. The account of his life is given in the Malay Annals. However, the historicity of the events as given in the Malay Annals is debated by scholars, and some believe that Sang Nila Utama may be a mythical person.

While the earliest known historical records of Singapore are shrouded, a 3rd-century Chinese account describes it as the "island at the end of a peninsula" or Pulau Ujung. Later, the city was known as Temasek (likely meaning "Sea Town").

According to the Malay Annals, the founding of the city of Singapore began with Sang Nila Utama who was a prince of Palembang, which was then the capital of the Srivijaya Empire. He and his men were on Bintan island on a hunting trip. While hunting, he spotted a stag and started chasing it up a small hill but, when he reached the top, the stag vanished. He then came to a very large rock and decided to climb it. When he stood on top of the rock, he looked across the sea and saw another island with a white sandy beach which had the appearance of a white sheet of cloth.

Asking his chief minister what land it was, he was told that it was the island of Temasek. He then decided to visit Temasek. However, when his ship was out on the sea, a great storm erupted and the ship was tossed about in the huge waves. The ship began to take in water. To prevent it from sinking, his men threw all the heavy things on board into the sea to lighten the ship. But still water kept entering the ship. On the advice of the ship's captain, he threw his crown overboard as a gift to the sea. At once, the storm died down and he reached Temasek safely. (Another version of the legend states that his crown was too heavy for his ship.)

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Wikipedia