For Nagas the erection of monoliths and laying of stones embody meanings and significance that is immediately not visible; the materiality imposed on the stones, inanimate as they are, reflected their worldview and offer profound opportunities for contextualizing the history of a place and its people.
The village of Makhrai Rabu (Makhel) has a number of stone monuments that locates it as one of the most important sites in the history of the Naga peoples.
Among them is Chazhelophi.
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Chazhelophi (Tamara tu)
The place of the Stones of the Ora (God/Spirit), Okhe (Tiger), and Alew (Man).
Chazhelophi is perhaps the most significant place in the oral tradition of the Nagas. It is an intrinsic part of their cosmology and situates their worldview of being an integral part of a force and a balance that is beyond the shallow understanding of humankind.
The story (as told by villagers and recorded in a monolith at Makhel) goes that Grandfather Ranoriina Kahe Kachena and Grandmother Dziiliamosiiro had three sons, Okhe (Tiger), Ora (God/Spirit), and Alew (Man; in another narrative, Omei is the youngest son who fathered Alew). They erected a stone each at Chazhelophi. When they grew up and came time to decide who would inherit their Father’s house, they agreed to race to Chazhelophi and whoever touches their stone first would get the inheritance. (There are variations in this part of the story, with some stating that it was a ball of grass they had to touch while in others they had to sight the first light of the Sun)
Alew touched his stone first and won the race. Thereafter Ora went to a place where human beings could not dwell while Okhe went to the forest.
Alew had three sons, Ashiipfu Alapha (forefather of Kolamai or plainspeople), Tutow (forefather of Mikrimai or Meiteis), and Khephio (forefather of the Nagas). When they grew up Ashiipfu Alapha and Tutow decided to go away in search of new places to settle. Ashiipfu Alapha and Tutow took seven (7) and five (5) days respectively to find suitable places for themselves.
Before finally leaving for the new places Ashiipfu Alapha and Tutow had found for themselves, the three brothers had a final feast together. When Ashiipfu Alapha and Tutow departed, they took with them bamboo for planting in their backyards; they were told that when a sparrow perches on the plant and if its leaves fall, it was an omen that their Grandmother had died.
When the omen came to pass, Ashiipfu Alapha came back to attend his Grandmother’s funeral; however, Tutow failed to make it.
Alew was given custody of all the sacred items in the house and village. Till this day, the sacred items can be found in the village.
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