AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 121 of 332 actually pronouncing them man and wife much to the discomfiture of the Apatani council. The Apatani custom was the Bride price of a Mithun (Bos frontalis), a magnificent semi- wild Bovine that was a source of meat and skin prized by the Apatanis. This strange breed loves salt and is partially domesticated by the Apatanis feeding salt to the Mithun at regular intervals and a particular spot. The Mithun gets used to the spot and the persons feeding him salt. The wealth of a person is judged based on the number of heads of Mithun! Grudgingly and out of respect for the Major the marriage was accepted and grand feasting eliminated the hard feelings between the Buliang and the workshop. During one of his explorative treks, the Major stumbled upon the wonderful remains of an ancient temple built in Granite. Astonished to find a similarity with the temples of the South, he was mesmerised by the legends that the ruins held! The ruins perched on a height gave a commanding view of the Brahmaputra valley. It had been built by the Chutiya kings who had invited Brahmins to settle there. Legend said that it was the spot where Lord Krishna and Rukmini had taken refuge while fleeing from her brother. At this beautiful place, they were hosted by Durga and Shiva. Durga offered flower garlands to welcome them and Krishna was so enamoured by the beauty and fragrance of those flowers that he addressed Durga as ‘Malini’. Hence, the place is known as Malinithan. The Major was equally captivated by those beautiful ruins and often talked about them on his return. Mithun at the Salt Lick Mithun Malinithan Ruins Malinithan Rukmani Temple