Guided by Legends:
The U Thlen Myth and what it really means.
In the lush, rolling hills of Meghalaya, amongst many myths, there lurks another. About a serpentine creature called
U Thlen.
The Thlen, they say, promised unimaginable wealth to its keeper in exchange for human blood. This dark bargain cast a long shadow over the Khasi and Jaintia hills, marking those who entered into it - as cursed.
The origins of U Thlen trace back to a cave near Rangjyrteh village.
It is said that this fearsome demon would ambush groups of villagers on their way to the market, devouring half, and sparing the rest. Terrified and desperate, the villagers turned to U Suidnoh, a brave guardian of the sacred groves, for help. U Suidnoh devised a cunning plan to rid the land of the Thlen. He befriended the demon by feeding it goat flesh. He would do so, slowly, patiently and daily, gaining its trust. And then one day, when the Thlen opened its mouth for food, he thrust a red-hot iron rod down its throat. The Thlen died, but to ensure it never returned, the villagers gathered, cut up the the carcass, and consumed it all, leaving no trace.
However, legend has it that an old woman, wanting to share the feast with her grandchild, saved a piece of the Thlen's meat. And forgot it in her bag.
Before anyone could say ‘U Thlen is dead’, the piece of meat breathed back to life. The revived Thlen demanded shelter and blood, promising the woman wealth, in exchange.
This rebirth marked the spread of U Thlen, casting a grim legacy upon its keepers, who were henceforth seen as murderers bound to supply human blood. They say, only the Syiem (chief) and the Lyngdoh (priest) could inherit the possessions of a Thlen keeper without inheriting the curse itself.
Indigenous wisdom come in the shape of strange stories and mysterious myths, and are easy to dismiss as fiction.
However, the Thlen myth may have been the social and economic guardrail of the ancient communities of the Khasi hills. They may not have had scientific data, but they used their own mediums - storytelling, verbal folklore, and spoken legends. To warn, guide, and maintain the delicate balance between humanity and nature.
“It would be naive to accept the legend of U Thlen literally.
The myth is a metaphor for greed, it not only seeks to explain the accumulation of unaccounted wealth in society but also acts as a moral injunction against profit accumulation and activities that thrive at the expense of others.” - Tiplut Nong.
Many believe this serpentine creature to still exist in the shadows, while some say that the grim myth has been used as a story to underline the dangers of greed. We read some observations and speculations on a paper by Tiplut Nong, titled ‘Culture and Biodiversity: Myths, Legends and the Conservation of Nature in the Hills of North-East India’. A closer look at the myth can indicate that the belief plays as an instrument of social control. Here’s a summarised version of what fascinated us:
A moral compass against greed
The myth of U Thlen served as a powerful moral lesson, if you really think about it. “If you seem unreasonably wealthy, you might be a Thlen keeper.” - this accusation kept a check on the accumulation of excessive wealth and property. By associating great wealth with the sinister practice of Thlen keeping, the myth discourages self-serving behaviour, promoting a more equitable distribution of resources.
Preservation of communal land ownership
To understand the Thlen myth's significance, understanding the Khasi economy and land ownership patterns become important. We are no experts (so please correct us if we are wrong), but so far, in Khasi society, land is seen as communal property rather than state-owned, with families having occupancy rights. Over time, these rights can evolve into ownership rights, leading to two land categories: Ri Raid (community land) and Ri Kynti (private land).
Ri Kynti allows holders full control, including proprietary, heritable, and transferable rights. This includes land acquired through clearing, improvement, or bestowed for service to the community.
Ri Raid remains community-controlled, granting only usage rights without ownership. Ideally, it cannot be sold or transferred and reverts to the community if unused for three years. However, in practice, improved land often becomes privately owned.
The Khasi land tenure system leans towards privatization, enabling resourceful families to claim unoccupied land as personal property. This trend risks creating economic imbalances and environmental harm. Without a central regulatory agency, the Thlen myth emerged as a mechanism to promote economic balance and discourage the unchecked accumulation of wealth and resources.
And here’s the most interesting bit:
There's a fascinating link between the Thlen myth and the presence of sacred groves* in Meghalaya.
The myth is said to have originated in Cherrapunjee, an area known for its rich ecological zone and some of the best sacred groves in the country. Environmentalists have discovered that these groves are home to keystone species essential for the stability of the fragile ecosystem.
*UNESCO (1996) defined Sacred Groves as an area of “natural” vegetation preserved through local taboos and sanctions that entail spiritual and ecological values. The ecological values are found in the traditional association of the sacred groves with wildlife and physical landscape such as streams.Similarly, higher in the midlands the sacred groves at Nongkrem, Shillong Peak and Mawphlang, believed to house the deities of the Lyngdoh and the Syiem clans and U Ryngkewand U Rasa that guard the villages in the vicinity, stand out like green islands in a sea of degraded landscape. The abundance of these natural sanctuaries isn't just due to the climate; it's deeply embedded in the cultural and ecological values of the Khasi people.
We wonder, is there really a connection between these sacred groves and the Thlen myth?
While research is scarce, it’s clear that both are driven by the same goal: promoting social and ecological prudence. The sacred sites reflect the people's simple faith and act as a call to balance human greed with environmental stewardship.
And we think it’s a beautiful piece of wisdom that we cannot afford to lose.
