By Tikaram Upreti

Mangmalung, Ilam Dec. 24: A boulder here has been drawing attention of people of late.
Situated on top of a hill, in the middle of the Mangmalung forest, which lies between Wards 2 and 6 of Mangasebung Rural Municipality in Ilam, the big boulder looks like it could begin to roll down any moment due to its own weight.
Estimated at over 100 tons, the stone that has naturally existed there for thousands of years holds religious significance as well.
People who visit the area do not return without touching the unique rock.
“Since the rock can be moved with fingers, we have named it Chakrashila,” said Bhakta Bahadur Rai, a local.
Standing above the Chakrashila, which looks like a crocodile, visitors take a peek into the shapes of other boulders lying around it.
Various shapes and features of the stones emerge in view.
“This place is full of attractive, naturally crafted stones,” said Rai.
Rai said that the locals had discovered the stone four decades ago and they had been worshipping it since then.
According to legends, a pond existed in its place in the past. A snake that used to reside there troubled the locals.
When Mangma, a lady, arrived in the pond, the locals shared their woes with her. Mangam then dived in the water and battled with the snake after telling the locals that if she died, milk would flow from her body and if the snake died, blood would flow from its body.
Before entering the pond, Mangma had hit the snake, which was sunbathing in a stone at the bank of the pond with a brass plate. The stone then broke into seven pieces.
The broken pieces of stone are still visible, the locals say. After the conflict between Mangma and the snake, the pond was filled with red blood.
The place was then named Mangmalung, after the name of Mangma and the power she had shown on the lung, that is, the stone in the local language.
Since then, the locals have been worshipping Mangma as the goddess who protected them from the snake.
Mangmalung is located about 25 kilometers away from Ilam’s district headquarters.
The place, which holds historical, archaeological, religious and tourism significance lies 2,100 metres above the sea level.
Apart from the stone, Mangmalung is also known for its biodiversity. People worship the stone two times a year on the occasion of Udhauli and Ubhauli festival, which is attended by people of every religion.
The big boulder has been gaining attention of a lot of people because of its unique position -- anyone can feel its movement about its fixed position with the force of their fingers.
But it is impossible to skid the rock.