| Description |
Overlooking a small perennial spring amidst a wooded hill is the seat of the Sapta Devi, “replica of seven goddesses” under a big rock beside a tree on the slope of the hill. In Lhotsamkha (Southern Bhutanese language), they are regarded as the Sapta Devi – “Seven goddesses” the protecting deity of the village. As per the present elderly village folks, one of the main stone replicas was dug out and was originated at same place, which is regarded as main deity was dug out by the local shaman “Paus”. A few meters below there is a pond of the deity. In the past, people used to collect water from the pond for domestic use.
The origin of the identification of the sacred site dates back to the first settlement in 1940sas no villagers exactly know the date when they knew about the deity. According to the folks, herders and people collecting water from the pond used to see images of little girl vanishing into the bushes usually in the morning and evening. Even some people fell ill after they saw the image of the spirit. Upon consulting the shaman, they said that they were possessed by the deity residing above the spring. So, a group of shamans performed rites in the month of May in 1966, and identified the exact location and dug out the stone’s replica of the deity. People say that the stone replica was unearthed by the shamans after they knew about the location. The shamans also fixed a day for the ceremony to be performed during new moon in the month of May every year. The community thereafter started celebrating the day annually and performed the rites on the new moon day in May.
Although the people observe the day annually, people visit the seat of the local deity whenever the village is in grip of pandemic or natural calamities. They make offerings of local products, incense and new pieces of different colored clothes. The past practice of killing animals as offering is no more in practice. Instead, Brahmins (one of the Hindhu casts) recite Holy Scriptures to please the goddess. The rice mixed with butter is offered in the sacrificial fire. All the people in the village take part in the ceremony to pray and ward off any disaster or natural calamities in the village.
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| Social and cultural significance |
Sapta Devi- the goddess is the protecting deity of the village. Although the villagers worship the goddess once a year, they visit the place during the difficult times. Whenever epidemic breaks out in the surrounding villages or any external threat is felt, people from the village go to worship to ward off evil spirit and for protection. The people visit the place alone or in groups at other times of need as per their wish. At other times as well, people visit the site on auspicious days to offer prayers and offering. According to the folks, the volume of water in the spring below the seat of the goodness increases whenever they visit and worship.
As the place is a site of the important protecting deity, the surrounding is protected by the people. Presently, there are a mixed groups of the Buddhist and the Hindus, together they visit the site and worship the deity. It also brings unity and understanding among the people. Worshipping the deity is also significant for the protection of the natural forest, which controls landslide and flash flood. Performing ritual and celebration brings together all the people in the village which also brings understanding thereby leading to unity and happiness in the village.
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| Transmission method |
The importance of the site dates back to 1940s, as there was no human settlement known before, but people didn’t bother about the existence the site of the deity until 1965. In 1966, the seat of the “Devi” was identified and the custom of worshipping began which is performed annually. Thereafter, the way of performing and worshipping the deity has been passed down the generation orally. On other auspicious days also, the villagers visit the seat of the deity when they sense any natural calamities and other dangers, but the brahmins recite holy books at the seat of the deity during the annual event. The village folks visit the place with their children to offer prayers. Villages do not carry out any manual work on the day of the worship. The village elders and Brahmins narrate unusual incidents and events of the past like the pandemic affecting other neighboring villages except Nobgang. They say that the village is protected by the goddess local deity.
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| Community |
The communities worshipping the local deity comprise of three small villages- Nobgang Toe, Lungsigang and Lower Nobgang under Dekiling Gewog with approximately 90 households. As such everybody is equally responsible. Although the villages are spread far away from the site, people gather once a year to worship the goddess. As the site is in a secluded place in the woods, there is no caretaker to look after the place. So, everybody takes the responsibility of taking care of the place. It is also believed that if anybody litters or cut the plantation, the person falls ill or there will be calamity like the storm or heavy rain causing flash flood and destruction.
Data collected by: Mr. T. B. Chhetri, Teacher, Choekorling Middle Secondary School, Sarpang |
