Epic cycles of incarnations
Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi dancing before the King of Moirang
Folk tale
NameEpic cycles of incarnations
Also known as
MythologyMeitei mythology (Manipuri mythology)
Country
RegionMoirang, Manipur
RelatedMeitei folklore (Manipuri folklore),
Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)

In Meitei mythology and folklore, the epic cycles of incarnations in Moirang (Meitei: Moirang Shayon, Moirang Sayon; Old Manipuri: Moilang Shaion, Moilang Saion)[1] is a cyclic epic of seven incarnations (nine in some versions) of two divine lovers in the kingdom of Moirang[lower-alpha 1] in the realm of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[2][3][4][5][6]

Contents

Title Description
Akongjamba and Phouoibi (Meitei: ꯑꯀꯣꯡꯖꯥꯝꯕ - ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤ, Old Manipuri: ꯑꯀꯣꯡꯆꯥꯝꯄ - ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯄꯤ, lit. 'Akongchampa and Phouoipi') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Kaba Purang (917-981 AD), Akongjamba, a handsome, married nobleman of Moirang, was captivated by the goddess Phouoibi, who fell in love with him. Due to Akongjamba's failure to keep his word and the cruelty of Akongjamba's wife, Phouoibi decides to leave the human world as well as her lover.[7][2][8]
Henjunaha and Lairoulembi (Meitei: ꯍꯦꯟꯖꯨꯅꯍꯥ - ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯧꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, Old Manipuri: ꯍꯦꯟꯁꯨꯅꯍꯥ - ꯂꯥꯏꯂꯧꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, lit. 'Hensunaha and Lailoulempi') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Telheiba (28-78 AD), Henjunaha Yangleingamba (Old Manipuri: Hensunaha Yangleingampa), a fatherless lad, was brought up by a poor widowed mother. He loved Thongnang Lairoulembi (Old Manipuri: Thongnang Lailoulempi), a beautiful lady brought up by a rich father. Henjunaha is murdered by evil spirits. Lairoulembi follows her lover by killing herself, after which she faces troubles and adventures in the underworld.[7][2][8]: 63–65 
Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu (Meitei: ꯈꯨꯌꯣꯜ ꯍꯥꯎꯕ - ꯌꯥꯏꯊꯤꯡ ꯀꯣꯅꯨ, Old Manipuri: ꯈꯨꯌꯣꯜ ꯍꯥꯎꯄ - ꯌꯥꯏꯊꯤꯡ ꯀꯣꯅꯨ, lit. 'Khuyol Haupa and Yaithing Konu') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Sana Lakhwa (185-236 AD), Khuyol Haoba, was the son of late Khundouremba (Old Manipuri: Khuntoulempa), a court official of Moirang. Yaithing Konu was the daughter of Luwang Huiningsumba (Old Manipuri: Luwang Huiningsumpa), an influential nobleman. During an escape from a murderous attack by his enemies, Khuyol Haoba fell in love with Yaithing Konu. Konu married another man but fate permitted Konu to unite with Haoba in the end.[7][2][8]: 65–66 
Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi (Meitei: ꯀꯗꯦꯡ ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯍꯟꯕ - ꯇꯣꯅꯨ ꯂꯥꯏꯖꯤꯡꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, Old Manipuri: ꯀꯇꯦꯡ ꯊꯥꯡꯆꯍꯟꯄ - ꯇꯣꯅꯨ ꯂꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, lit. 'Kateng Thangchahanpa and Tonu Laichinglempi') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD), Kadeng Thangjahanba was a talented and skilful royal chief metalsmith appointed by King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba (Old Manipuri: Laiching Ningthou Punsipa), who loved Tonu Laijinglembi, the only daughter of Laijing Lakpa (Old Manipuri: Laiching Lakpa), a favourite nobleman of the King of Moirang. During the absence of Thangjahanba, Tonu was married to the King of Moirang, who was unaware of the relationship between the two lovers. Once the king found out the truth, he generously returned the lady to her true lover.[7][2][8]: 66–67 
Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu (Meitei: ꯎꯔꯥ ꯅꯍꯥ ꯈꯣꯡꯖꯣꯝꯕ - ꯄꯤꯗꯣꯅꯨ, Old Manipuri: ꯈꯣꯡꯆꯣꯝꯄ - ꯄꯤꯇꯣꯡꯅꯨ, lit. 'Khongchompa and Pitongnu') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD), Khongjomba (1210-1263 AD) was the biological son of King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba and Lady Tonu Laijinglembi, but he was born in the house of his foster father Kadeng Thangjahanba, the second husband of Tonu Laijinglembi. Pidonnu was the daughter of a nobleman of Moirang. Born as a legitimate but unrecognized royal offspring, Khongjomba faced abuse from the king's adopted son and her for his love affair with Lady Pidonnu. When the king discovers the truth, he has crowned his true son Khongjomba crowned as the sovereign of Moirang, discarding his adopted heir.[7][2][8]: 67–68 
Wanglen Pungdingheiba and Sappa Chanu Silheibi (Meitei: ꯋꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯄꯨꯡꯗꯤꯡꯍꯩꯕ - ꯁꯥꯞꯄ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯁꯤꯜꯍꯩꯕꯤ, Old Manipuri: ꯋꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯄꯨꯡꯇꯤꯟꯍꯟꯄ - ꯆꯛꯄ ꯌꯥꯏꯅꯨ ꯐꯤꯁꯥꯍꯩꯄꯤ, lit. 'Wanglen Pungtinhanpa and Chakpa Yainu Phisaheipi') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Ura Khongyamba (533-574 AD), Wanglen Pungdingheiba was a skilled maker of pung (a type of drum). Lady Sappa Chanu Silheibi was a skilful weaver. The two lovers compete to determine who can perform their craft the fastest. Due to a misunderstanding, Lady Silheibi believes she is being mocked for her defeat and kills herself. Upon discovering his lover's corpse in a pool of blood, Pungdingheiba follows her.[7][2][8]: 68–69 
Khamba and Thoibi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ - ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ, Old Manipuri: ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯈꯝꯄ - ꯃꯣꯏꯂꯥꯡ ꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ, lit. 'Khuman Khampa and Moilang Thoipi') During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Chingkhu Telheiba (1083-1138 AD), Khuman Khamba, an orphan raised by his elder sister, and Thoibi, the only princess of Moirang, fell in love. After facing different adventures, conspiracies, cruelties, threats and even murder attempts, the two lovers are united in the end.[7][8]: 69–70 

In popular culture, the epic cycles of incarnations appear in arts, books, movies, theatres and many others.

Manmohan Singh, the then prime minister of India, being presented a memento of a painting depicting Khuman Khamba capturing the Kao (bull), by Shivinder Singh Sidhu, the then Governor of Manipur and Okram Ibobi Singh, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of three projects, National Academy of Sports, Convention Center and Manipur Institute of Technology, in the Kangla in Manipur on 2 December 2006

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Moirang was an independent kingdom in early times, though later became a province of a unified kingdom, called Manipur Kingdom.

References

  1. ↑ "Glimpses of Manipuri Language, Literature, and Culture". Manipuri Sahitya Parishad. 1970. p. 15. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. pp. 236, 237. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0. Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or age.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 349. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1. The epic ballad cycle of the incarnations of Moirang which is nine in number according to some and only seven according to others is a grand majestic saga of the eternal triangle in which generations after generations would find reflections of the various hopes, ideals and aspirations of each age.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ↑ Kaushal, Molly; Arts, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the (2001). Chanted Narratives: The Living "katha-vachana" Tradition. India: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-246-0182-2.
  5. ↑ Pattanayak, Debi Prasanna; Claus, Peter J. (1981). Indian Folklore. Original from:Indiana University. India: Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ↑ Jādava, Kiśora (1998). Folklore and Its Motifs in Modern Literature. India: Manas Publications. pp. 69, 142. ISBN 978-81-7049-086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Salwons And Langwons Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 9". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 62, 63. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ↑ "KAO - A Glimpse of Manipuri Opera". e-pao.net.
  10. ↑ ""Kao - the sacred bull" by Laihui on 6 March 2011". e-pao.net.
  11. ↑ Press, Imphal Free (15 March 2014). "MDU drama festival from March 21 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  12. ↑ NEWS, NE NOW (26 March 2018). "Manipur Folk Drama Festival kicks off in Imphal". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Literary books in Meitei Mayek released : 29th apr18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Literary books in Meitei Mayek released – Manipur News". 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". e-pao.net.
  16. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". www.thesangaiexpress.com.
  17. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". thesangaiexpress.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.