According to the Mao-Naga myth, Tiger, spirit and human kind (man) are three brothers came into existence through the miraculous union between the already existing first woman and the clouds of the sky. Man wants to understand reality as a whole and naturally his own origin not only as a particular tribe but as a human being. The myth reflects the worldview of a people. Myth hides an explanation. How the first human being, that is, the woman came into existence is not explained but her existence is taken for granted. This is perhaps because the earth is already there and its origin is not explained. The woman represents the reproductive power of nature, the myth recognizes that she cannot create on her own. There is a supernatural element in human beings, or spiritual element which is brought from ‘outside’ or the unknown.The first woman’s name was called Dziiliimosiiro which approximately means the ‘purest water’ or ‘crystal clear water’? One day, she was resting under a tree with her legs wide apart, at a place called Makhriifii or Makhel which is the last halting place, during the migration movement for the Tengimie (Angami, Chakhesung, Mao and Poumei) and their closely allied Naga tribes. This place is in the present Mao Naga country. Suddenly a cluster of clouds came over her and some drops of liquid came down over her private part and she became pregnant. Subsequently she gave birth to Tiger, spirit and man or human being. The cloud represents the unknown force, its nature is unknown which later becomes God.
When the three children had grown up, their mother was old and sick. Turn by turn each one used to look after their mother. When the Tiger looked after her, the mother used to get more sickness with anxiety and worry intensified. Because the Tiger used to eagerly identify fleshy, good muscle of the mother, to eat after her death. During the turn of the spirit, the mother used to get more fever and headache. The mother feels at ease and relaxes when the man looks after her since he tended his mother with great care and concern.
Before their mother’s death there was competition among the three brothers as to who should inherit the mother’s land. For the purpose, the mother suggested to make a ball-like grass from a distance. The three brothers are to race for it. And the one who touches the ball-like grass first will inherit the mothers’ land. The man being the youngest and good fellow, his mother instructed him to make bow and arrow to shoot at the grass target as he cannot compete in race with tiger and spirit. The man following his mother’s instruction, succeeded in touching the grass target first by his arrow and finally inherited his mother’s land. The tiger went to the thick jungles and the spirit to the far south wards (Kashiipei). All three parted ways. This myth is also prevalent among the Angami and Chakesang Nagas.
Now I wish to give my own analysis of the above myth. Myth making is one of the primary and basic functions of human being. Mythology reflects socio-economic, cultural and historical conditions of the community or society. Creation of myth is creation of meaning. There are levels of meaning. There cannot be competition between science and mythology. Mythology creates different types of meaning. James Frazer argues that human beings think alike. Analysis of myths, folklores, folktales etc. reveals the universal structure of human being. Even I. Kant argues that basic forms of human thought are similar. The above myth represents evolution rather than creation of Adam & Eve of Judao-Christain-Islamic world- view.
Tiger and man representing the animal kingdom and spirit representing the superhuman being are all related, since having common uterine mother. Having competition is quite natural as they are brothers. In attempting to decipher the meaning of the myth, the question of truth and falsity does not arise. The tiger wanting to eat the mother after her death is perhaps, the reflection of the greatly famished & poverty-ridden society at that time. The woman represents reproductive mechanism. Her name signifying pure water fertilized by a cluster of clouds is perhaps duplicating the copulation of the sky God father and the somersault earth mother from which all things have emerged. This is perhaps like the Chinese Yin & Yan principles of female and male or like the Indian principles of Purusha and Prakriti that is consciousness and nature. Further, the myth gives due weight to commonsense knowledge that the woman has to receive ‘seeds of life’ to reproduce. But that does not explain the origin of life as such. The mystery remains. The myth reflects an extraordinary insight into the principle of ‘the unity of life’. And clearly states that the source of three distinct forms of spirits- man, animal, god – is the same. The competition rules between brothers, reflects a sharp sense of justice and fairness in dealings in personal relations. “The spirit went to the far south”. “Far south” represents the more attractive and resourceful domain. It also shows that they migrated from the North, which is stony and lacks water. The south has more vegetation and the sea.
Dr. X P. Mao
Department of Philosophy
NEHU, Shillong-22
