Indian influence

Further information: Greater India

Candi Bukit Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley. A Hindu-Buddhist kingdom ruled ancient Kedah possibly as early as 110 AD, the earliest evidence of strong Indian influence which was once prevalent among the pre-Islamic Kedahan Malays.

There is no definite evidence which dates the first Indian voyages across the Bay of Bengal but conservative estimates place the earliest arrivals on Malay shores at least 2,000 years ago. The discovery of jetty remains, iron smelting sites, and a clay brick monument dating back to 110 AD in Bujang Valley, shows that a maritime trading route with south Indian Tamil kingdoms was already established since the 2nd century AD.[32] The growth of trade with India brought coastal people in much of the Malay world into contact with the major religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Thus, Indian religions, cultural traditions and the Sanskrit language began to spread across the land. Temples were built in the Indian style, local kings began referring to themselves as Raja and more desirable aspects of Indian government were adopted.[33] Subsequently, small Malay states started to appear in the coastal areas of Malay peninsular, notably the Red Earth Kingdom (1st century), Negara Sri Dharmaraja (1st century), Gangga Negara (2nd century), Langkasuka (2nd century), and Kedah (2nd century). Around 6th century Malay states established in Sumatran east coast, the notable ones are Malayu in present day Jambi and Srivijaya in present day South Sumatra. Between the 7th and 13th centuries, many of these small, often prosperous Sumatran and peninsular maritime trading states, became part of the Srivijaya empire mandala,[34] a great Malay kingdom centered in Palembang,[35] Kadaram,[36] Chaiya and Ligor.

The Buddhist maritime empire of Srivijaya, the first vast Malay polity in the region

Srivijaya’s influence spread over all the coastal areas of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula, western Java and western Borneo, as well as the rest of the Malay Archipelago. Enjoying both Indian and Chinese patronage, its wealth was gained mostly through trade. At its height, the Old Malay language was used as its official language and became the lingua franca of the region, replacing Sanskrit, the language of Hinduism and Buddhism.[33] The Srivijayan era is considered the golden age of Malay culture.

The glory of Srivijaya however began to wane after the series of raids by Indian Chola Empire in 11th century. By the end of 13th century, the remnants of the Malay empire in Sumatra was finally destroyed by the Javanese invaders during the Pamalayu expedition (Pamalayu literally means: war against the Malayu).

The destruction of Srivijaya led to the diaspora of the Srivijayan court and several attempts were made by the fleeing Malay princes to revive the empire. In 1324, with the support of the loyal servants of the empire, the Orang lauts, a Malay prince of Srivijaya origin, Sang Nila Utama established the kingdom of Singapura in Temasek.[37] His dynasty ruled the island until the end of 14th century, when the Malay polity once again faced the wrath of Javanese invaders. In 1401, his great grandson, Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara headed north and established the Malacca Sultanate.[38] The Malacca sultanate succeeded Srivijaya and inherited much of the Malay royal and cultural traditions, including most of the territories of its predecessor.[39][40][41]

Another mighty Malay kingdom during this period is Tambralinga, once a subordinate of Srivijaya, the kingdom began to grow after the regression of the Srivijayan empire in 12th century. Between the 13th to early 14th century, the kingdom managed to conquer most of the Malay peninsular under its rule. The growth of the kingdom intensified under the reign of Chandrabhanu Sridhamaraja (1230–1263), in which he had succeeded in capturing the Jaffna Kingdom in Sri Lanka between 1247 until 1258. The invasion marked an unrivaled feature in the Southeast Asian History, as it was the only time there was an armed maritime expedition beyond the Southeast Asian borders.

The cultivation of Malay polity system also diffused beyond the proper Sumatran-Peninsular border during this era. The age avowed by exploration and migration of the Malays to establish kingdoms beyond the traditional Srivijayan realm. Several exemplification are the enthronement of a Tambralingan prince to reign the Lavo Kingdom in present-day Bangkok, the foundation of Rajahnate of Cebu in the Visayas and the establishment of Tanjungpura Kingdom in Borneo. The expansion is also eminent as it shaped the ethnocultural development of the related Acehnese and Banjarese people and further spreading the Indian influenced-Malay ethos within the regional sphere