The Monoliths in Meghalaya

Dimensions & embelishments: Mawshynrang: height from 2 pruh (18 inches) to 18 pruh, width from 1 pruh to 3 pruh & its thickness from 1 handspan to 2 pruh, the base is always bigger the tip. The head of the center mawshynrang is sometimes decorated with ornamental carvings or a sphere that makes it look like a crown. Mawkynthei: length from 2 to 19 pruh, width from 1 to 9 pruh & it's thickness from the width of 4 fingers to about a handspan. These are placed on top of three or four rock-pillars that are between 1-2 pruh in height from ground level.

Hand carved/ Chiselled

Material/Process/Dimension

Belief/Myths

Rock (type to be determined)

Horizontal Female Dolmen (Mawkynthei) Orientation Upright Male Menhir (Mawshynrang)

Mawkiaw (Mother-in-law)

Maternal Nephew sides (Mawpyrsa)

Maternal Uncle center (Mawki)

Monoliths (Mawbynna)

Maw Umkoi (un-natural death): The bones of the deceased must first be washed & cleansed in a pool/pond made specifically for this purpose, then they are interned at the Mawbah A set of triliths and a dolmen erected close to the pool of purification to bear witness to the fact that the cleansing rites were performed

Maw Khim (adultery): Beside roads Niam Tr belief, marriage marks eternal union beyond death Before surviving partner marries, relatives of dead partner perform the rituals to obliterate the sacrilege of adultery committed against the clan Combined expenditure

Culture

Types

Sacred/Funerary (Mawniam) Maw Niam Thymmai: When a clan ossuary is repaired, remodelled or rebuilt Trilith and dolmen erected near the new sepulchre

Modern Day

History

Maw Kjat (foot)/Maw Lynti (path): Halfway between house & Mawbah (clan ossuary) Specifically selected site Place for spirits accompanying kinsmen to rest their limbs on the way to the Mawbah Consists of a large dolmen and regular sized triliths

Mawlum: On top of hills to commemorate & perpetuate the memories of dead ancestors Rituals Commemorative (Mawnam)

Mawnam ba buhphan: Patronage or ancestors When living members ask for special favours from dead ancestors for material prosperity In the honour of clan ancestor/ ancestress or individual/s

Misc.

Maw Shongthait/Palong/Kor: All dolmens For weary travellers, along roadsides and market places Erected by the rich or clan members for the purpose of commemorating & perpetuating the memories of dead members of the family/lineage/ clan or to mark a noteworthy incident. Mawbri (property demarcation)

Setting up market/ settlements

Mawpud (administrative demarcation)

Maw Kait (banana)/ Maw Ksing (drum): Commemorate name/fame of paternal grandparents Central menhir is the paternal ancestor, U Mawthawlan Dolmen is the paternal grandmother, Ka Kiawkha On either side of the central menhir are the Mawksing (the name is derived from the drums beating when a baby is taken to the home of the paternal grandparents for the first time) & Mawkait (derived from customary feeding of babies with bananas during this occasion

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