Mother goose stories, Hang Tuah and the first super hero, Hanu-Man!

Once upon a time, there were 5 friends who descended from the heavenly kingdoms where people were cultured and wise. They were brave, feared no man and had mystical powers with a mythical dagger and was loyal to the country. They maintained law and order in their newly embraced state and were exemplary in their conduct. The leader of the the 5 had the tenacity to scale the unscably elusive Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang) which is said to house the ever youthful princess who had found the fountain of youth. And he was indeed summoned by reigning Sultan to represent Him for to propose His hand for marriage. For the longest time, generations have come and gone listening to the escapades and brave deeds of the famous and noble five!
One peninsular away (against the rotation of the Earth), in India, was told of a prince born out of divine intervention, who was literally bigger than life. Every single act done was praised till high heavens, what he did and did not was immortalized as how life should be lived. His wife was personified as true meaning of virtuous ever abiding consort of man. His friendship (bond) with step brother became synonymous with true friendship. And the King of Monkeys who leapt over countries in a single bound faster than a speeding lightning (Hanu-Man, the first super hero) left his foot prints all over the world, including in Batu Maung, Penang- as the the locals believe, [although the same stony structure is said to be of Admiral Cheng Ho, the Chinese Muslim eunuch who sailed the seven seas in his time], is a true self immolating servant. Hanu-Man was in search of the magical plant Sanjeevani (Selaginella bryopteris) all over the world to cure Laxman of battle wounds in the Ramayana biopics.

Sanjeevani

That is the problem with undocumented events of the past. 'He says, She says' type of facts cannot be accepted as historical facts. Bedtime stories coined to pacify crying toddlers, retold for the longest time has made it to the Malaysian Historical textbooks. On the other hand, in India, the mythical narration has transformed into a religious text seeping deep into its culture and riots have broken out to resurrect a temple in place of a mosque to relive the glorious past! So much for symbolism and the good message - all lost in translation.
*Sanjeevani,the miraculous herb that is believed to revive the dead! In the Ramayana when Ravana’s son Indrajit severely injures and nearly slaughters Laxman, Hanu-Man was summoned to fetch the Sanjeevani from the Himalayas. Hanu-Man, unable to recognize the herb, lifted the whole mountain, bringing it to the battle-field!