During the era of creation, the Kirat people believed that Kiva (the tiger) would live in the forests near the village, hiding under the leaves of the Unyu plant.

 

The myth of Kirat Rai People 

Kirati Creation Myth: The Three Brothers

At the beginning of creation, the Kirati Rai creator deities, Paruhang and Sumnima, brought life into the world. They created three beings:

1. Kiwa (Tiger)
2. Maksa (Bear)
3. Henkubung (Human)

As they grew up, the three brothers took their bows and arrows and began hunting in the forest.

• Kiwa (Tiger), being the eldest, was proud and arrogant.
• Maksa (Bear) was humble and less aggressive.
• Henkabung (Human) was intelligent and clever.

During their hunts, Kiwa and Henkabung often competed to see who was the better hunter. However, Henkabung always won, which made Kiwa furious and jealous. Every time Kiwa lost, he would attack his younger brother out of frustration.

Tired of this constant aggression, Henkabung returned home and complained to their mother, Sumnima. Seeing the rivalry between her sons, Sumnima was deeply saddened. She also sensed that Kiwa wanted to harm his younger brother.

One day, Sumnima prepared food and packed it in a bag for her sons before they left for another hunt. Henkabung carried the food and, before leaving, he bowed at his mother’s feet as a sign of respect.

Sumnima warned Kiwa to take care of his younger brother and to return home soon. After bidding their mother farewell, the brothers set out for the forest.

Along the way, Kiwa tried to attack Henkabung several times, but the younger brother managed to dodge him each time. Before parting ways to hunt, they made a deal—they would meet at a specific place before sunset to eat their food together.

With this agreement, they each went in different directions to begin their hunt.

The younger brother went ahead to hunt. The youngest brother took off his hat and placed it on a bush, then climbed a tree to hide and wait. The arrogant elder brother (Kiwa) arrived hunting, and as soon as he saw the hat on the bush, he pounced and tore it to pieces. Witnessing this act, the youngest brother thought, "If my eldest brother intends to kill me, he won't spare me." So, from the tree, the youngest brother called out, "Brother, what have you done?" The eldest brother casually replied, "Oh, I was just practicing for hunting."

Now, the youngest brother decided to kill the eldest brother. He prepared a meal and invited the eldest brother to eat, saying, "If you eat, close your eyes and say 'Ah.'" The eldest brother agreed, closed his eyes, and said "Ah." At that moment, the youngest brother struck him in the mouth with an arrow, killing him. He then covered the body with leaves and returned home.

In the evening, Henkabung returned home alone. Seeing this, the mother asked, "Where is your elder brother?" Henkabung initially lied, saying he didn't know. The mother insisted, "Don't lie. My maternal heart aches today. Something must have happened." Feeling guilty, Henkubung told her everything. After hearing the whole story, the mother, Sumnimale, prepared a ritual with a stone, ginger, rice, chilli water, and a knife. She took a sickle and told Henkabung, "Go, my child, to the place where your eldest brother died. Remove the arrow from his body and apply these herbs to the wound."

The eldest brother (Kiwa)'s body was treated with a stone, a sickle, chilli water, and a ritual offering (Chindo). Rice grains and ginger were thrown on him. After some time, when the sickle was struck, the eldest brother (Kiwa) revived and came back to life. Sumnima then said to Kiwa (the tiger), "From today, you are the elder brother of Henkabung."

**Kirat Mundhum (Kirat Mythology):**  

After this, the mother called both brothers and performed a ritual. She placed the bow and arrow used by Henkabung, the stone, chilli water, the ritual offering (Chindo), the sickle, rice grains, ginger, and a handful of the sickle's handle. She began to say, "Listen, my sons, you two will never meet again. If you do, you will fight. Therefore, from today, you must live separately. This stone will serve as both your boundary and witness. If either of you violates this, my heart will ache, and there will be no peace." She then struck the stone with ginger and rice grains and sprinkled chili water from the ritual offering.

While bidding farewell to her eldest son, Kiwa, the mother blessed him and said, "Your brother Henkubang will conquer the world with his wisdom and intelligence. Therefore, do not envy him. When you are on the lower hills (Chhabhar), he will be on the upper hills (Dhibar). Even if you meet, avoid him, even if it means hiding under the leaves of the Unyu plant. Now, go your way."

She then called Henkabung, blessed him, and said, "You are a human, and you are wiser than your elder brother. From today, I entrust you with the responsibility of upholding the traditions and customs we have inherited from our ancestors. Worship this stone every six months. It will bring you prosperity."

From that time onward, the Sakela/Sakenwa stone has been revered as a symbol of ancestors by the Kirat Rai community. They worship it twice a year during Baishakh Purnima (full moon in April-May) and Mangsir Purnima (full moon in November-December).

**Note:**  

Since then, Kiwa (the tiger) lives in the forests near the village, hiding under the leaves of the Unyu plant. Because our ancestors were saved by our mother, we Kirat Rais consider him our elder brother. This myth is still heard in villages, and it is believed that the tiger will not attack us easily or come close to us.

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**Mani Bantawa Rai**  

**Acknowledgments:**  

From my mother and Nakchhong. During the creation era, Paruhang and Sumnima, the creators (Suntum) of the Kirat Rais, created Kiva (the tiger), Maksa (the bear), and Henkabung (the human) on this earth.