Himalayan Hallucination

The Himalayas are one of the regions where traditional ideas of haunting range for mystery reports of specters and spirits in the chilly wilds, which is just as terrifying as everywhere else. The stories I'll be telling today are ones that I found eerie; it gave me goosebumps when my mother told me the stories of her village, which is located in the eastern part of Bhutan. As the realm of various spirits, gods, and ghosts comes to life in her village's forest, it is inhabited by demonic and unknown creatures. The eastern forest has long been described as a rough, spreading wilderness of icy valleys and rising peaks, which has remained firmly established in local legend and mythology.

The story revolves around Aum Lamelame or Gradmu. They have been identified as deities of some form, but they are also spirits. We can't see them, but we can see them when Luck or Lungta isn't on our side. People who have observed these creatures claim that they had tire-like feet, the look of a human but with a larger forehead, and a backpack-like apparatus on their back. It is stated that they have a hole in their back and that when they wish to trap someone, they just open their back and grab it. According to the locals in the east, Gradmu can be found in both genders. Their look allows them to be identified. The female has large, lengthy breasts, while the male has long toenails. Females cannot run downhill because their breasts would draw them down, while males cannot sprint upwards because their toes will become trapped in the ground. We are supposed to be able to detect their existence by smell. When they are close, the wind picks up and there is a strong garlic odor in the air. It is stated that if a female encounters a female Gradmu, the Gradmu will murder her, but if a female encounters a male Gradmu, he will accept her as his bride, and vice versa.

 (Art by: Author, This is how I  imagine Gradmus would look)

Locals believe that anyone who dies in the mountains without being properly buried is doomed to wander as restless spirits for the rest of their lives. The presence of spirits in the mountains causes residents to be concerned about those who get home late since it indicates they have encountered one of these lost wraiths, which are occasionally reported to assault or possess the living. Many people who go out into these cold plains never return. That is why herders never go out at night or respond to sounds when they are alone in the wild. Gradmu usually finds us by listening to our voices. If we hear awooo in the jungle, we should not respond. If we respond, the Gradmu will make a sound and come to locate you.

In my mother's village, there is a story of a herder who heard the call of Gradmu and answered it. The herder arrived in the camp and caught up with his companions. He could still hear the calling, "awoooo," as the sound got closer to their camp. They were inside the camp, and they all knew the Gradmu had arrived since they had responded to the summons. It lingered near their tent till daybreak and then moved away when the sun rose. The campers reported hearing unusual phantom whispers or strange sounds, as well as agonizing cries and the rare sighting of scary ghostly figures who vanished in thin air when approached.

Another account tells of how the village's herders encountered Gradmu. This is the story of a blind man and his son. The herders were in the forest one day, letting their cattle graze in the area. The elderly man remained near the camp, and his young son was making a fire for them. When the wind picked up, the elderly man could smell freshly ground garlic. Soon later, he called out to his son, who did not respond. Because the man was blind, all he could do was cry his son's name. Fortunately, a couple other herders heard him and rushed to his rescue. The man explained what had occurred. They sought advice from the tshampa or monk, and their worst dread came true. "Ya...," replied the tshampa. “Only if his wangta lungta is there would he be able to return; else, he should be considered dead. Because Gradmu has taken him." They then performed ceremonies and made a smoke offering.

Only after a few days did they discover the young man in terrible condition. He was encircled by thorns. They discovered him, carried him to the tshampa, and performed rites on him. Because there was no hospital at the time, they had to employ conventional procedures and medications to treat the son. After a few days, he recovered consciousness and informed the others about his ordeal. Everyone was taken aback. The young man informed them he was walking with a gorgeous lady, who was leading him along a straight, well-kept road. He was well nourished, and he claimed to be able to smell only garlic in that realm. This demonstrates that Gradmu has the ability to create illusions and can steal whatever they desire. Gradmu desired the young man's soul.

What do we make of such disparate accounts of ghostly paranormal happenings from the Himalayas' freezing, vast expanses? It's conceivable we'll never know for sure. We know from such stories that reports of spirits, specters, and ghosts are not restricted to the stereotypical idea of what such a location should be like. As we can see, they may appear in the most unexpected places, and the Himalayas will likely always be a site of not just spectacular beauty, adventure, and local myth and legend, but also bizarre ghostly occurrences that we may never completely comprehend.

As time passes, so do beliefs and customs. These stories were popular in the past, but now we seldom hear them, and even when we do, people are doubtful. Skeptics argue that experiences with phantom climbers, ghosts, and other phenomena in the Himalayas are explained by the effects of severe circumstances and high altitude on the brain. Weariness, physical pressure, being cold and hungry, low oxygen levels, and high-altitude illness can all conspire to induce reduced brain performance, lack of coordination, poor memory abilities, and even hallucinations in such circumstances. Can these stories be dismissed as simple hallucinations, or is there anything more behind it?