SITHA LINGDING
27.291700,88.450000
Description
The souls of the Lepchas from Badong enter and exit the world by a fabulous underground tunnel (note 1), which is entered at a cave called Sitha-Lingding (ROCK 1953: 942; HUMMEL 1957: 629) and »haunted by a local spirit of the Naga race, as well as by a Nymph« (note 2). SITUATION: Somewhere on the left (east) bank of the river Tista below a village of Badong (note 3) on a hill of the same name and at approximate linear distances of 17.5 km about west of Gangtok (N27°20': E88°37') and 35 km NE of Darjeeling (N27°02': E88°16') or 8 km in a direct line NW of the Singtam (N27°14': E88°30') on the road from Kalimpong (N27°04': E88°29') to Gangtok. CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend (ROCK 1953: 942-943): »The Lepchas who live at Badong call themselves Sithang-Ihang Putsos, and they ascribe their origin to the following: At the foot of Badong, on the bank of the Tista, there is a cave called Sitha - Lingding which is held to be sacred. It is also believed to be haunted by a local spirit of the Naga race, as well as by a Nymph. This Nymph had a son called Sum-jun. This Sum-jun had again by connection with another Nymph two sons named Dil-dol and Trim-trom. Dil-dol came in contact with a Lepcha girl, with whom he lived as husband and wife for a long time [note 4]. At last the wife began to entertain the idea of seing her husband's parents. But her husband said that she could not and must not see them, as she was a mortal human being while they were spiritual beings, and therefore his parents would not consent to meet her. But as his wife persisted he went to his father to tell him of this morbid desire of his wife, a human being. The father said "If you care for the continuence of parental love and protection, you had better not humour your wife's caprice; it is better that she should not see me." The son returned and told his wife the above message. But she, with all a woman's obstinacy, persisted in her resolve … [and] collected some sugarcane, ginger, edible arum-roots (Kachu), plantains, and various other fruits, and packing them all up in green leaves set out on her journey to obtain an interview with her husband's father. Her husband therefore went on ahead and related her strong conduct to his father, who now laid these injunctions: If she must have this inteview, let her not presume to address me, nor to laugh nor to show fear; on these conditions only I will grant her the interview, and not otherwise." So the son went out and told her all these. Then he conducted her, and having arranged all her offerings on a cane mat, he opened the door to the rock cave where the father was restsing. The sight which met her eyes was appaling, for there lay the old gentleman with one ear underneath him and one above, serving as bedding [note 5], he had a fire burning and was enjoying the smoke of a weed. The girl could not help exclaiming Adzi-dzi, and exclamation of horror, and backed out of the presence. On this the father said to his son: "Akha-kha (Alas). Yet I had taught you how to worship the local spirits, do so, but I will no longer dwell here. Saying this he withdrew into the cave, and disappeared« (note 6).
NOTE 1: »Die Lepchas von Badong (88°23' 27°19') verlegen ihren Ursprung in die heilige Höhle Sita-Lingding bei Badong (ROCK 1953: 942)« (HUMMEL 1957: 628-629). NOTE 2: »This spirit is worshipped even now by the Lepchas, whom they call Tukho-thing« (ROCK 1953: 943).NOTE 3: »Badong« is indicated near N27°17'30”: E88°28' at elevations between 2600 and 5000 feet (800 to 1500 m asl) but the cave, if at the level of the Tista (circa 725 m asl) must lie sorth of east of the village and near N27°17'30”: E88°27' (± 1' or 3km). NOTE 4: The son of the above pair was called Thekong Telog. Thekong Telog had no male issue (worth mentioning?) but a daughter named Chang-kyi-ma. She also had exclusively female issues. The descendants from these are also females, and there are some in Badong even now (ROCK 1953: 943).NOTE 5: The resting Tukho-thing is wrapped in his ears like a resting bat is wrapped in her wings. NOTE 6: Key-word: Exitcave.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 | BE PHUG | ||
| 6.5 | PHIM LEB CAVE, Lingmo | ||
| 7.3 | SING DANG (Cave near) | ||
| 14.0 | PACHIKHANI MINES | ||
| 15.2 | TSE CHU PHUG 2 | ||
| 15.2 | TSE CHU PHUG | ||
| 15.3 | KAHDO SANG PHUG | ||
| 19.8 | DRET GANG | ||
| 23.4 | LHARI NYING PHUG |