Anonymous
The eternity called time is made up of identical cycles. Each cycle is divided into four chaks or ages, Hayi Chak, Haya Chak, Khunung Chak and Langba Chak. The wheel of time rolls on. The chaks come one after another to complete a cycle only to be followed by a similar cycle of four chaks. At the end of a cycle, total annihilation takes place. Everything vanishes to leave a total void.
The people of the last Langba Chak, before present cycle of chaks, were very short, not much taller than a few inches. To pluck egg-fruits they had to climb on ladders. The sun, the moon and the stars hung very low in the sky. As a result, the sun was thousand times hotter. Cracks developed all over the earth and all the living beings perished in the intolerable heat.
Terrible cyclonic storms lashed across the earth. The hills and mountains crumbled. The lakes, rivers and seas dried up. Fires razed the earth. The inferno did not spare even the gods. The three great gods found it difficult to escape the annihilation. The fire burnt one of them. The second one stumbled and fell. The third one picked him up and carried him to safety on his back. The Almighty, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba, saw them and saved them but the nine layers of heaven and nine netherworlds vanished. Ultimately, even the sun, the moon and the stars vanished. Emptiness prevailed everywhere. There was absolute darkness – a complete void.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba wished to create the Universe afresh. At his wish, a halo of seven colours appeared out of nowhere. He broke the halo into two arcs. From the arcs sprang the seed of the Universe. Sensing that he cannot complete the creation of the Universe, he brought forth Leimarel Shidabi, the mother goddess, from his intestines. She gave birth to three sons, Atingkok Shidaba, Atiya Shidaba and Konjil Tingthokpa
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba instructed his eldest son, Atingkok Shidaba to take along his brother, Atiya Shidaba and create the earth. From then onwards Atingkok Shidaba had been known as Ashiba.
Ashiba did not know where to start. He was at a loss and prayed his father to show him what he was to create. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba opened his mouth and showed his son a model of the whole Universe with the sun, the moon and the earth.
Having seen the model, Ashiba started creating the earth. But before he could complete, his youngest brother Konjil Tingthokpa destroyed it. Because his destructive nature Konjil Tingthokpa was called Haraba Leithing-gai or Haraba in short. Ashiba again started creating the earth afresh. This time also Haraba destroyed it. But he could not completely dissuade Ashiba from creating the earth. Filled with anger, Ashiba created a flying horse from the dirt sticking on his feet. Sensing danger, Leimarel Shidabi told Haraba to turn into a serpent. Haraba did as he was told but could not escape from flying horse Ashiba had created. It trampled on the serpent and crushed it with its hooves over and over again. But the serpent survived the onslaught by turning into a thousand headed one and slithered all over the place.
Leimarel Shidabi came to Haraba’s rescue. She brought forth seven celestial nymphs and instructed them to catch the flying horse. Holding each other’s hands, they encircled the flying horse. Haraba once again turned into his original form and caught the flying horse.
A helpless, Ashiba complained to his father, about Haraba’s misdeeds. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba was determined to stop Haraba from hindering Ashiba’s work of creation. He looked at his navel and cried, “Dear”. Instantly a beautiful damsel, Nongthang Leima, in flame-coloured dress sprang out from his eye. She was the goddess of lighting. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba commanded her to stop Haraba from destroying Ashiba’s creation.
She flashed across the sky and manifested her dazzling beauty. She was able to draw Haraba’s attention. He was captivated by her exquisite form and enquired about her identity. She simply smiled to entice him but never disclosed her true identity. Drunk with her intoxicating smile, powerful Haraba became a prisoner of her love. He followed her around wherever she went. But he could never catch up with her. One moment she was here, another moment she was gone. His heart ached for a glimpse of her. He had completely forgotten about destroying Ashiba’s creation.
In the meantime, Ashiba started creating the earth afresh. First he created water and brought out the earth from under the water. He thus completed the creation of the earth. Four gods were placed at the vulnerable points to protect the newly created earth. When Haraba came to know of the completion of the creation of the earth, he tried to destroy it once more but he was helpless. It was beyond his power to face to the gods guarding the earth. He confessed his defeat.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba heard about the completion of the creation of the earth. He went for inspection. The earth was covered with water all over. At one place he found land. Ashiba then brought forth nine Laibungthous, celestial brothers, from his body and sculptured the landmass into hills and plains. They were helped by seven celestial nymphs who too were brought forth by Ashiba from his body.
Satisfied with Ashiba’s work, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba then instructed him to create the living beings. An overjoyed Ashiba immediately set to task. He created the plants and trees. But he was never successful in creating the human beings. An ogress ate up whatever he created. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba sent the ogress to a far off place beyond the seas and kept her imprisoned there. With all the hindrances cleared Ashiba sat down peacefully to complete his creation of human beings. But, he had trouble in creating the human beings. His first creation did not have any likeliness to a human. He released it in a pond. It turned into a frog. He kept trying but was successful in creating all sorts of animals other than the human beings.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba came to know of Ashiba’s difficulties. He appeared before him and instructed him to create the human beings to the likeliness of his image. This time Ashiba was successful.
After the creation was completed, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba informed his three sons about his wish to retire in heaven and leave one of them to rule the newly created earth. He wanted to test their knowledge and strength. Only the winner could rule the earth in his place.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba told his sons to circumvent the earth. The one who completed first could rule in his place. Ashiba and his younger brother Atiya Shidaba immediately left to circumvent the earth. But a pensive Konjil Thingthokpa was left behind. He knew he could not compete with two his elder brothers. He felt very unhappy and wailed at his sure defeat in the test. His mother Leimaren Shidabi, felt pity and disclosed him, “When your father asked you to circumvent the earth, he was really testing whether you can recognise his true self. All you have to do is to go around your father’s throne, the symbolic representation of the earth, seven times. It is as good as going around the earth.”
Konjil Thingthokpa did as he was told. After going around his father’s throne seven times, Konjil Thingthokpa bowed and paid obeisance to his father. He was pleased and said, “Since you have been able to recognise my true self, I shall call you Pakhangba, the one who recognises his father.” Then Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba put Konjil Thingthokpa on the throne.
When Ashiba and Atiya Shidaba returned after completing their journey around the earth, they saw Konjil Thingthokpa already sitting on the throne. Ashiba flew into a rage and lifted the earth up to destroy it. Leimaren Shidabi tried to pacify him. She said, “O Ashiba! O brilliant one endowed with liquid gold complexion! I shall call you Sanamahi. You are the mightier one who has actually gone round the earth. Your youngest brother is sitting on the throne only but he does not rule each and every family on the earth. You can still rule the households.” On hearing it, Ashiba slowly lowered the earth and placed it in its place. But he had already disturbed the original position of the earth, making it tilt on one side.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba also pacified Atiya Shidaba by telling him to come with him to the heavenly abode and stay there. After, making sure all are in their right places, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba left for heaven along with Atiya Shidaba. Pakhangba was left behind to stay in the palace and rule the earth. Sanamahi ruled every household. Leimaren Shidabi also stayed behind with Sanamahi. To this day in very household, there is a corner reserved for Sanamahi. He is worshipped as the household deity. A place is also reserved for Leimaren Shidabiin every house.
The eternity called time is made up of identical cycles. Each cycle is divided into four chaks or ages, Hayi Chak, Haya Chak, Khunung Chak and Langba Chak. The wheel of time rolls on. The chaks come one after another to complete a cycle only to be followed by a similar cycle of four chaks. At the end of a cycle, total annihilation takes place. Everything vanishes to leave a total void.
The people of the last Langba Chak, before present cycle of chaks, were very short, not much taller than a few inches. To pluck egg-fruits they had to climb on ladders. The sun, the moon and the stars hung very low in the sky. As a result, the sun was thousand times hotter. Cracks developed all over the earth and all the living beings perished in the intolerable heat.
Terrible cyclonic storms lashed across the earth. The hills and mountains crumbled. The lakes, rivers and seas dried up. Fires razed the earth. The inferno did not spare even the gods. The three great gods found it difficult to escape the annihilation. The fire burnt one of them. The second one stumbled and fell. The third one picked him up and carried him to safety on his back. The Almighty, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba, saw them and saved them but the nine layers of heaven and nine netherworlds vanished. Ultimately, even the sun, the moon and the stars vanished. Emptiness prevailed everywhere. There was absolute darkness – a complete void.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba wished to create the Universe afresh. At his wish, a halo of seven colours appeared out of nowhere. He broke the halo into two arcs. From the arcs sprang the seed of the Universe. Sensing that he cannot complete the creation of the Universe, he brought forth Leimarel Shidabi, the mother goddess, from his intestines. She gave birth to three sons, Atingkok Shidaba, Atiya Shidaba and Konjil Tingthokpa
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba instructed his eldest son, Atingkok Shidaba to take along his brother, Atiya Shidaba and create the earth. From then onwards Atingkok Shidaba had been known as Ashiba.
Ashiba did not know where to start. He was at a loss and prayed his father to show him what he was to create. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba opened his mouth and showed his son a model of the whole Universe with the sun, the moon and the earth.
Having seen the model, Ashiba started creating the earth. But before he could complete, his youngest brother Konjil Tingthokpa destroyed it. Because his destructive nature Konjil Tingthokpa was called Haraba Leithing-gai or Haraba in short. Ashiba again started creating the earth afresh. This time also Haraba destroyed it. But he could not completely dissuade Ashiba from creating the earth. Filled with anger, Ashiba created a flying horse from the dirt sticking on his feet. Sensing danger, Leimarel Shidabi told Haraba to turn into a serpent. Haraba did as he was told but could not escape from flying horse Ashiba had created. It trampled on the serpent and crushed it with its hooves over and over again. But the serpent survived the onslaught by turning into a thousand headed one and slithered all over the place.
Leimarel Shidabi came to Haraba’s rescue. She brought forth seven celestial nymphs and instructed them to catch the flying horse. Holding each other’s hands, they encircled the flying horse. Haraba once again turned into his original form and caught the flying horse.
A helpless, Ashiba complained to his father, about Haraba’s misdeeds. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba was determined to stop Haraba from hindering Ashiba’s work of creation. He looked at his navel and cried, “Dear”. Instantly a beautiful damsel, Nongthang Leima, in flame-coloured dress sprang out from his eye. She was the goddess of lighting. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba commanded her to stop Haraba from destroying Ashiba’s creation.
She flashed across the sky and manifested her dazzling beauty. She was able to draw Haraba’s attention. He was captivated by her exquisite form and enquired about her identity. She simply smiled to entice him but never disclosed her true identity. Drunk with her intoxicating smile, powerful Haraba became a prisoner of her love. He followed her around wherever she went. But he could never catch up with her. One moment she was here, another moment she was gone. His heart ached for a glimpse of her. He had completely forgotten about destroying Ashiba’s creation.
In the meantime, Ashiba started creating the earth afresh. First he created water and brought out the earth from under the water. He thus completed the creation of the earth. Four gods were placed at the vulnerable points to protect the newly created earth. When Haraba came to know of the completion of the creation of the earth, he tried to destroy it once more but he was helpless. It was beyond his power to face to the gods guarding the earth. He confessed his defeat.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba heard about the completion of the creation of the earth. He went for inspection. The earth was covered with water all over. At one place he found land. Ashiba then brought forth nine Laibungthous, celestial brothers, from his body and sculptured the landmass into hills and plains. They were helped by seven celestial nymphs who too were brought forth by Ashiba from his body.
Satisfied with Ashiba’s work, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba then instructed him to create the living beings. An overjoyed Ashiba immediately set to task. He created the plants and trees. But he was never successful in creating the human beings. An ogress ate up whatever he created. Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba sent the ogress to a far off place beyond the seas and kept her imprisoned there. With all the hindrances cleared Ashiba sat down peacefully to complete his creation of human beings. But, he had trouble in creating the human beings. His first creation did not have any likeliness to a human. He released it in a pond. It turned into a frog. He kept trying but was successful in creating all sorts of animals other than the human beings.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba came to know of Ashiba’s difficulties. He appeared before him and instructed him to create the human beings to the likeliness of his image. This time Ashiba was successful.
After the creation was completed, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba informed his three sons about his wish to retire in heaven and leave one of them to rule the newly created earth. He wanted to test their knowledge and strength. Only the winner could rule the earth in his place.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba told his sons to circumvent the earth. The one who completed first could rule in his place. Ashiba and his younger brother Atiya Shidaba immediately left to circumvent the earth. But a pensive Konjil Thingthokpa was left behind. He knew he could not compete with two his elder brothers. He felt very unhappy and wailed at his sure defeat in the test. His mother Leimaren Shidabi, felt pity and disclosed him, “When your father asked you to circumvent the earth, he was really testing whether you can recognise his true self. All you have to do is to go around your father’s throne, the symbolic representation of the earth, seven times. It is as good as going around the earth.”
Konjil Thingthokpa did as he was told. After going around his father’s throne seven times, Konjil Thingthokpa bowed and paid obeisance to his father. He was pleased and said, “Since you have been able to recognise my true self, I shall call you Pakhangba, the one who recognises his father.” Then Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba put Konjil Thingthokpa on the throne.
When Ashiba and Atiya Shidaba returned after completing their journey around the earth, they saw Konjil Thingthokpa already sitting on the throne. Ashiba flew into a rage and lifted the earth up to destroy it. Leimaren Shidabi tried to pacify him. She said, “O Ashiba! O brilliant one endowed with liquid gold complexion! I shall call you Sanamahi. You are the mightier one who has actually gone round the earth. Your youngest brother is sitting on the throne only but he does not rule each and every family on the earth. You can still rule the households.” On hearing it, Ashiba slowly lowered the earth and placed it in its place. But he had already disturbed the original position of the earth, making it tilt on one side.
Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba also pacified Atiya Shidaba by telling him to come with him to the heavenly abode and stay there. After, making sure all are in their right places, Khoiyum Yaibirel Shidaba left for heaven along with Atiya Shidaba. Pakhangba was left behind to stay in the palace and rule the earth. Sanamahi ruled every household. Leimaren Shidabi also stayed behind with Sanamahi. To this day in very household, there is a corner reserved for Sanamahi. He is worshipped as the household deity. A place is also reserved for Leimaren Shidabiin every house.
The story is awesome indeed. Thanks for writing. May God bless you.
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