The sacred forest of Meghalaya known as Mawphlang is situated deep in the Sohra region. It is guarded by a simple yet strong faith that no man owns anything here. Tourists are not allowed to remove anything like a leaf, log, or any other natural object from the forest. This grove, which lies at a distance of 27.3 km from Shillong, is considered a deity that cares for the hill tribe people.
Known as the Law Lyngdoh, the sacred forest of Meghalaya was built by the Lyngdoh family in honour of the spirit god named U Rybkw U Basa. Visitors to the forest will see monoliths of ancestors and gods at the entrance. They have to perform their prayers before entering the forest. Monoliths are rocks that are carved from a single rock. Inside the dense tree cover, there is a fall in temperature. The forest feels secluded and mysterious.
There is a local myth about the association of the grove with Khmah Nongsai. According to the tale, elders in search of a queen were directed to look for her in Laitsohma by the deity of the forest. However, Nongsai would become their queen only if she planted Diengsohma (Rhus chinensis) and Diengsning (Castanopsis indica) saplings in Mawphlang and Laitsohma. The plants thrived in Mawphlang but grew in just one place in Laitsohma.
The legend also includes the coronation of her son as the king. It is said that the spirit announced him to be the next king and picked a place in the woods where his coronation would take place. Monoliths covered in moss are still there to show this place. There is a big monolith which is used for sacrifice.
There is no room for deviation when it comes to worship in the sacred forest of Meghalaya. All the ritual objects have to be brought inside at once, and one is not allowed to exit until the ritual is over. In the past, a healthy bull which had been locally bred would be bathed in a stream nearby and then sacrificed near the big monolith. Now chickens are used for sacrifice.
The sacred forest of Meghalaya is known for its biodiversity. The plants, animals, and mushrooms found in that area are not used for commercial purposes by the locals, even expensive varieties like panchmukhi and trimukhi rudrakshas. According to the passage, roughly 95% of mushrooms are poisonous.
Even the dead tree gets protected. No one can chop off, sit on, or commercialize the fallen tree. Like a deceased individual, the fallen tree also gets proper respect. Hence, the sacred forest of Meghalaya has survived over the years.
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