Early Malay literature was mainly influenced by Indian epics, such as the
Mahabharata and the
Ramayana, which later included other traditions that now form the Malay literary heritage prose which were delivered through generations by oral tradition. These include the
Hikayat Seri Rama,
Hikayat Mara Karma,
Hikayat Panca Tanderan and
Hikayat Gul Bakawali. Much of the stories were compiled and published into books by
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the national language society. Malay romantic tales were also sourced from the
Panji cycle of Hindu
Java. The
hikayat is a form of
Malay literature that writes concerning the adventures of heroes and legends from the pre-modern time period within the
Malay Archipelago (spanning modern
Indonesia and
Malaysia, especially in
Sumatra), it may also chronicle royalties and events surrounding them. The stories they contain, though based on history, are heavily romanticized. For the
Orang Asli, literature was and still is constituted by accounts of actual events. Different ethnic groups have different versions of the same story, although there are several recurring themes and elements in every tale. The cultural practices of the indigenous people in
Sarawak are shaped in part by oral traditions. Themes like the relationship of the people to their past, particularly their ancestry, and the spirit world, including its influence on the production of food and health are the primary themes of the oral literature of various ethnic groups in Sarawak. The recitation of
oral literature is often accompanied by rituals. While the oral traditions of
Sabah encompass folk tales and legends, such as
creation myths, that have been preserved by the ethnic groups in the state. This oral literature is recited during ceremonies conducted by priestesses, who serve as ritual specialists, faith healers and spirit mediums. == Written format ==