By Raphael Warjri
During the golden age, temporal and celestial beings coexist harmoniously, and communication is clear and perpetual. Stone and soil understand the language of birds and insects, just as plants and trees comprehend the voices of animals, water, and stars. Tangible and intangible elements interact seamlessly throughout the universe. Truthfulness and compassion prevail among creatures, but enmity and vengeance are embodied in the mammon serpent, known as ‘U Thlen’ in Khasi mythology.
The seven divine families represent esoteric spiritual beings from the celestial orbit, descending upon earth to enlighten temporal attributes. Syiem Lakriah, Lukhimai, Sormoh, Sorphin, and all members of these families were in harmony with the entire universe until the mammon serpent, U Thlen, disrupted the harmonious rhythm on earth.
- Mythic cosmology and the ordering of power
The article opens with a cosmic assembly—creatures receiving attributes, humans arriving late and being given intelligence, a council formed, the serpent and tiger envying humans, the mammon-serpent Thlen punished, etc. This mythic narrative does several things:
It establishes humans as supreme (yet latecomers) in the cosmic order; the paradox of being lesser physically but greater by intelligence.
It uses animal/creature symbolism (elephants, rhinos, tigers, snakes, birds, fish) to map domains of power (strength, defensive spikes, venom, night vision, wings, water).
It encodes moral-ethical norms: humans pledge to live righteously, honor maternal and paternal kinship (“Imsngi ban kamai ïa ka hok, tipbriew tipblei bad tipkur tipkha”).
This narrative resonates with wider tribal mythologies where humans emerge late, receive “gifts” or “attributes” and then are tasked with ethical-social obligations. It also underscores that human superiority is not by brute force but by moral/intellectual capacity.
In the Khasi context, mythic origin narratives are well documented. For example, the paper by Wattanagun on the legend of Ka Pahsyntiew shows how matrilineal ideas are embedded in cosmology:
“Among the Khasis … descent is traced through the female line … the legend portrays Khasi outlooks on female generative power, wifehood/motherhood, and women’s vital roles in the formation of a secured and wholesome society.” (Thai Journal Online)
The article’s invocation of “Dorbar Blei” (divine assembly) and the emphasis on maternal kin (“tipblei”, “tipkur tipkha”) can be seen as articulating a world-view where cosmic, social and moral orders interlock.
Reflection: For a film and folk-inspired work, perhaps this mythic structure can serve as a template: hierarchical gift-bestowal, humans given intelligence rather than physical power, a council of creatures, a pact of conduct, a faltering human act (curiosity) triggering loss or change. The article’s narrative aligns well with that pattern.
- Mortality, human exceptionalism and loss of divine protection
The second part of the article deals with the “golden age” (Aïom Ksiar) when humans were physically immortal (spiritually & physically) under divine protection. Only after the leader Syiem Nongklung’s act of folly is the protection withdrawn, humans become subject to plague, mortality, and suffering.
This is a powerful narrative of fall—from divine favour to human vulnerability. In many mythologies this is a pivot: humans lose a special status because of arrogance or disobedience (think of Eden, Pandora, etc.). Here, the impetus is curiosity (of Syiem Nongklung) and a symbolic effigy turned to stone (in the village of Nongkhrah) as a reminder.
From an anthropological perspective, such narratives often encode social lessons: the need for humility, respect for the divine order, acceptance of suffering as part of life. They also situate human mortality as a consequence of human agency, rather than simply external misfortune.
In Khasi culture, the notion of matriliny is itself intertwined with ideas of continuity, lineage, ritual debt, and the vulnerability of social order in changing times. One scholar writes:
“The Khasis, generally, follow the residential pattern known as matrilocal residence … The mother is regarded as the custodian of family rites and religious performances, besides performing the task of keeping the family property …” (CRVP)
If the golden age narrative emphasises human exceptionality and subsequent vulnerability, this can reflect a deeper cultural awareness of change, of the fragility of social orders—and by extension, of the matrilineal order in transition (see section 4 below).
Reflection for your project: The motif of a “lost golden age” followed by a fragile present is cinematic and evocative. While working on folk-inspired story “U Tiew Langkaphor”, one might parallel this: the “golden age” of Morba and Shibet’s world, followed by rupture because of a human (or supernatural) act, and the ensuing need to re-establish moral/social order.
- Ritual, music and folk instruments as markers of identity
The article’s discussion of the “maryngod” (a Khasi folk violin), its role in mourning (Jamlu), the flute, Jew’s harp and percussion, and especially the tale of the farmer, the vampire-creature and the red-vented bulbul intervening—this section points to how folklore, ritual performance and musical instruments encode cultural memory.
Music, lament, folklore duel between farmer-musician and vampire, bird-helper, stain on the bulbul’s tail—all of this is a rich narrative terrain. These folk motifs serve social functions: they preserve identity, sanctify mourning, mediate human-supernatural relation.
In the academic literature, the role of oral tradition and instruments in Khasi culture is emphasised. For instance:
“Khasi historian Amena Nora Passah … said that Khasis are people of oral tradition.”
In a matrilineal society with an oral past, instruments become carriers of memory—as much as myths.
Reflection: Given the interest in adapting poetic works into voice-over monologue or visual poem formats, this section is ripe. We might explore the maryngod as a metaphor for the voice of the community, the lament as a symbol for loss, the bird-helper as indigenous agency. Also, the motif of “evil spirits no longer dare to dance with humans” can link to the struggle between tradition and modernity.
- Matriliny, change and contemporary tensions
Although the article doesn’t explicitly focus on matriliny, the themes of origin, lineage, pledge to maternal and paternal kinship (“tipkur tipkha”), and the golden era narrative implicitly underscore the centrality of kin-relations. This is especially significant given your stated interest in preserving Khasi matriliny.
Scholars note that the Khasis are one of the largest remaining matrilineal communities in India:
“The Khasis, the largest tribal group in Meghalaya, follow a sophisticated matrilineal system … children belong to their mother’s clan, and the youngest daughter inherits the family property.” (Political Science Institute)
However, contemporary scholarship also flags tensions: patriarchy’s increasing influence, property disputes, erosion of customary law under colonial-legal frameworks. For example:
“While Khasi women are often perceived as empowered … I would emphasise ongoing gender debates within the community. … Real authority is often concentrated among a few individuals rather than being an equally distributed collective consensus.”
Thus, the mythic narrative in the article subtly connects with deeper issues: lineage, inheritance, changing social order, the human condition in the context of matriliny.
- Commentary on the article’s strengths and gaps
Strengths:
The article provides a compelling mythic framework that is richly symbolic and culturally specific—fitting for the Khasi world.
It links cosmic themes (divine assembly, creatures, gifts) with social themes (human pledge, kinship, power).
It includes folk performances: the maryngod, the tale of the farmer, birds, parasites—this grounds the myth in lived cultural practice.
It offers a narrative arc: a golden age → human act → loss of divine protection → enduring struggle.
Gaps / Questions:
The matrilineal dimension: while implied (honour maternal and paternal kin, youngest daughter as heir in Khasi culture) the article could more explicitly engage with how the myth intersects with matriliny: e.g., the pledge to maternal kin, the youngest daughter, the role of women in the ‘golden age’, etc.
The article does not fully address how these mythic narratives are translated into contemporary social practices or contested in practice—e.g., how matriliny is being challenged, how youth engage with these myths, how Christianisation or modernisation affects them.
It would benefit from more explicit linkage between myth and ecological or material practices (e.g., land, forest, animals)—since the myth deals with creatures, it invites an ecological reading.
Also Read: https://highlandpost.com/a-commentary-of-khasi-folklore-14/
