Mythology and Historicals of Tanii

Sometimes we tend to forget our sense of our own history, the richness of our mythology, the beauty of its art and culture. The Dree souvenir published by Dree Festival Committee Capital Complex Itanagar in 2005 is an interesting and a valuable piece of document which has recorded some important historical, mythological, art and artifact facts. Lest it gets forgotten and gather dust, I've digitized it and will be serializing it for the benefit of our younger generation members.

TAHI LAMPII - A mysterious stone cave located at PAKI HALYANG, village RERU, said to be the lone refuge for leprosy afflicted persons of the yore.

PUCHAN PUTU -The historic small up-hill landscape at TANYANG, village BAMIN, it's significance is in the sense that the earthen pots used by Apatanis is said to have been manufactured here in olden days.

PIGEH SIIRE AHIE KELE - The record of lower jaw of gaint wild boar believed to have been inhabiting PIGEH, once the dense and swampy fores during the early settlement of Apatanis. This giant wild boar had been killed by PEE KAGO of present Nenker Clan of Reru Village.

SUTHII PACHE KO - The pine tree at HARI RANTII with hallow trunk and a hole which stands out distinctively from other trees.

PARE KOBYA BOKA ARII - A historic Mithun horn whose origin is clouded in obscurity renown for its unique ringing pattern.

TIIRU DIPEH - The historic metal spade at PAMUN AGYAN of NAMI TAGE, village MUDANG TAGE said to have been dug out during performance of ceremonial rites called PAMUN KHONUN. It is said to be the oldest metal spade existing in Apatani plateau today.

NENKER CHARNII-The historic sacred stone at KURU-NENKER village, RERU. The history of the origin of NENKAR is hidden in this venerated stones. Erstwhile PEE KAGO, wealthy and prosperous, one who had been observing MURUNG ritual in summer instead of winter, in which these sacred stones had been used as tripod stand. As it was in summer the large quantity of meats from sacrificed animal gave out foul smells of rotting meats and thus the title "NENKER" originated (In Tanii NENKER is equivalent to smell)

HIIRAN YAJU - A sacred antique metallic piece recorded as per oral narration of history by NYIBU and POPI SARMIN, to have descended from IIPYO HIIRAN GANDA (IIPYO HIIRAN GANDA HO NYIBO PACHA LA HIIRAN YAJU MI PAGII TII)

YAPUNG YAPER - A venerated sacred stone at DILANG BOGO, village RERU, where the great forefather's of RERU in the olden days performed ROPI ritual en-route to war with TAI TAYU.

DILAN TARI BO - The sacred aged old Pine tree at MUDANG TAGE venerated as one mythological personal called KHALO

RANTII HIRUN BO - The revered sacred stone at HARI RANTII where ritual rites called Lakhiin is being performed by one who kills dangerous wild animals like tiger to thwart off the spirit from probable revenge in vengeance.

RANUH AKHII - A comb-shaped sacred metallic piece recorded to have been obtained from IIPYO RANUH by means of war, as per the oral narration of NYIBU and POPI SARMIN. (Iipyo ranuh ganda ho nyibo pacha la, Tanii Dree miina naniipa, Ranuh Akhii mi Paghii tii)

Custodian of Ranii Akhii

Dree this year has been celebrated all over the country in the most visible way, thanks to the internet and social networking sites.

Some of the most significant events, however, take place silently. Such an event has been the passing away of Tabyu Karlung, who inherited Ranii Akhii from his brother Tabyu Tabin and has been responsible for initiating the process of Dree ritual every year. He quietly passed away on June 25, 2011 just a week ahead of the Dree.

Ranii Akhii remains one of the most sacred and mysterious artefacts in Apatani culture. As per the oral history, the comb was brought from a mythological place called Wiipyo Ranii by a war expedition. "Wiipyo Ranii gañda ho nyibo pachala, Tanii Dree miinii naniipa, Ranii Akhii mi pagiitii," so goes the narration. 

The tale of the akhii, which resembles some designs of Chinese comb, has always been baffling. During a major fire accident in Tajang village decades back, Tabyu Tabin, who was its custodian at the time, thought it has been burnt along with his house. To his amazement, however, the akhii returned unscathed a day after he re-constructed his house!

Ranii Akhii has always been kept away from ordinary people, especially children, as it would harm them in various ways if disturbed. If its curse causes, for example, skin diseases, that could be cured by propitiating the akhiiin appropriate ways. It was only during occasions like Dree that the sacred akhii could be freely seen by anybody. Did you see it this Dree?

Even as the custodian of the Ranii Akhii quietly passed away, Dree has been celebrated with pomp and gaiety, praying for the well being of humankind. The world goes on.(Source)

NENCHAN DULYAN -A sacred stone venerated in "DONY-POLOISM" as "RAIN GODDESS". It is located at DUTA PAPII where Apatani NYIBU chants hymns of appeasement to shower rain to nourish vegetables and crops for bumper harvest during Dree ritual ceremony.

DORA KULU - The mysterious wild banana located at KIME village, HIJA which according to wise Apatani NYIBU and POPI-SARMIN sprouts at NEKAN of one DORA clan. The surprisingly all-out disappearance of DORA clan from ZIRO is believed to have been effected by the tremendous multiplication of these KULUS.

MYAMYA PIIRO - A plated basket of Bamboo splits for sacred brass plate called MYAMYA at TARO-TAKU village, HIJA. The local rice powder called TANII YATAN is smeared during every occasion of MYOKO.

MAMYA - A mystical sacred brass plate believed to have eleiminated BURU, a giant crocodile beneath Apatani plateau, en-route migration from REGAN REGO t0 present-day TANII SUPUN

PENGU MIILYO BOKA ANYIN - Located at midway between HARI and KALUNG village in a paddy field believed to be the breast of PENGU MIILYO BO.

GANO LYIDE BO- A sacred stone at GANO up-hill, village BAMIN, believed to be the male organ of PENGU MIILYO BO.

GANO PEDE BO- A sacred stone at GANO down hill in a paddy field, village Bamin, believed to be the female organ of PENGU MIILYO BO.

PENGU MIILYO BOKA PIIDIN -A sacred stone located at KHOGYO, village HONG, believed to be hairknot of PENGU MIILYO BO

PENGU MIILYO BOKA HABYAN AKO- It is located at SIIPYU, village TAJANg, is a sacred stones believed to be head and chest of PENGU MIILYO BO.

PENGU MIILYO BOKA ADIN - IT is believed to have been there as a colossal mystic stone of an Apatani mythological personal (KHALO KAHE) of very high status called PENGU MIILYO BO at PENGU, the present trijunction of Hari, Ziro and Hapoli. Envious as it stand, all the surrounding KHALO KAHE viz SIILAN SHANTI, DILAN TARI BO, ASAN KORLAN, AHA KORLAN etc hatched conspiracy to root it out. Said and done, AHA KORLAN acted up but did not budge. ASAN KORLAN came amids massive storm, thundering and lightning, which is believed to have been with a terrible explosion which destroyed the standing PENGU MIILYO BO.
Interestingly, the remnants of the parts and organs of PENGU MIILYO BO can still be located at different places of present Apatani plateau.
PENGU MIILYO BOKA ADIN & HABYAN AKO- It is located at SIIPYU, village TAJANg, is a sacred stones believed to be head and chest of PENGU MIILYO BO.

LARU-MAKU - The mythological personal (KHOLO) of Apatanis in sacred stone form located at LARU, village BAMIN.

By-Mudang Tajang