The universe was created millions of years ago from nothingness called JIMI JIMA or MIMI MAMA followed by a period called KURYUM KULU: there was no light, no sound, no life, thereby called Kurium Jimi (believed to be gaseous mass), there was no separation of Earth (SIICHI / SACHANG) and Sky (NYEDO), planets or stars.

Slowly the Earth and the Sky separated like shapes called CHIT RILLUM (SIICHI-CHIT) and DOT-RELLA (NYEDO-DOT).  DONYI, the sun was created. The sun starts shining – UJII DOLA JIQP, air starts blowing - HOJ PADA MIQP, separation of land – hills, valleys, mountains, etc. Separation of water body – river, ocean, lake, etc.

Life started, in this period called – CHIIT CHIGAR GARLIN’ and DOT DOGAR GARLIN’, the first human being was created and called CHITU (SIICHI CHITU) and her offspring was called TANYI (CHITU-TUNI). Hence, TANYI means man.

Nyikum Tanyi was the first man who married natural objects like heaps of leaves, leeches, insects, birds, and animals. These points the evolution of man through different stages – PYOI TANYI, NYAI TANYI, NYIMA TANYI, NYIKUM TANYI, NYIYA TANYI, etc.

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Nyikum Tanyi married DONYI YAI CHUMJI, then JIIT ANE. With JIIT ANE he became perfect human being called “NIDAR TANYI or NYIYA TANYI”. All Nyishi are believed to be the children of Abu Tanyi born from JIIT ANE, daughter of AYU DONYI (Great Mother Sun).