87-467: Numit Kappa ( Manipuri : ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ ) is an ancient Meitei language mythological epic literary work. The work is believed to be written around or before 33 AD. It is written in the form of partial poetry and partial prose. The epic work is still considered to be the oldest known epic account in Meitei literature . In the epic, there are two Sun Gods , who brighten the world simultaneously. One
174-469: A heraldic dragon , was present in all the former royal flags and coats of arms of Manipur. The kingdom of Manipur had a set of two flags, a white one and a red one. All featured the Pakhangba dragon in the centre, although not as prominently in the latter flags. Keiyen is an ancient Meitei language song describing the conflict between Pakhangba (Apanba) and his elder brother Sanamahi (Asheeba), as
261-760: A "first language" subject at primary level in 24 schools throughout the state. In December 2021, Tripura University proposed to the Indian Ministry of Education and the University Grants Council (UGC) , regarding the introduction of diploma courses in Meitei, along with international languages like Japanese, Korean and Nepali. The exact classification of the Meitei language within Sino-Tibetan remains unclear. It has lexical resemblances to Kuki and Tangkhul . The Meitei language
348-552: A bamboo from your father.' But her father would not give her a bamboo. 'Go to your uncle and beg a bamboo from the Thongkhongkhural, a bamboo that grows on the Khural King's Sokpa Ching.' Thus he said, and sent her off. The Khural Lakpa gave him a bamboo from the hill. The slave of Khowai Nongjengba Piba in five days made a bow and arrows, and when he had dried them, he smeared the tips of the arrows with poison, and put
435-462: A compound from mí 'man' + they 'separate'. This term is used by most Western linguistic scholarship. Meitei scholars use the term Meit(h)ei when writing in English and the term Meitheirón when writing in Meitei. Chelliah (2015: 89) notes that the Meitei spelling has replaced the earlier Meithei spelling. The language (and people) is also referred to by the loconym Manipuri. The term
522-505: A conflict between a tiger and a cock respectively, having mythological and symbolic importance to the Meitei culture . It is symbolically represented in the Ke-kre-Chongba performance. Younger brother Pakhangba's attempt to escape, along with his seven goddesses, from the elder brother Sanamahi is depicted in the song. Its interpretation by the different minstrels, maibas and maibis , have many variations. Metaphorically,
609-516: A dead person has entered into you. You do judgment on the dead. Call the Sun.' With these words they sent her. Thongnak Lairemma called the Sun. 'O Sun, by reason of thy disappearance, the land of the Meiteis is in darkness day and night. Bring thy warmth over this land and over its villages.' Thus said she, and the Sun made answer to her. Yea, Thōngnāk Lairemma, formerly my Mother, who is Mother of all
696-624: A few of the numerous consorts of the Meitei deity Pakhangba. Lady Saram Tangkhul Nurabi is the consort of Tangkhul Pakhangba, a Tangkhul deity, who is a divine form of Pakhangba. Pakhangba is mentioned in numerous ancient Meitei language texts, including the Thanglon Thangchat , the Pakhangba Laihui , the Pakhangba Phambal , the "Pakhangba Naoyom", the "Pakhangba Nongkarol", etc. Pakhangba, as
783-588: A fishing weir and was killed. Thereupon his teeth became like the teeth of a wild beast, his rib-bones became the long dao of the Gods. The hairs of his head became like the flowers that men offer to Pureiromba and all the other Gods." They became even as the flowers that men fasten on the ends of their spears to catch luangs (small hill fish) in December, or like to the flowers that the King's wives and children present to
870-514: A household. The Khencho ( ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ ), an early Meitei work of poetry was composed by the beginning of the 7th century CE. Although it is obscure and unintelligible to present-day Meiteis, it is still recited as part of the Lai Haraoba festival. One of the best-preserved early Meitei language epigraphic records is a copper plate inscription dating to the reign of King Khongtekcha ( r. c. 763 – 773 CE ). During
957-465: A shrine dedicated to the deity Pakhangba. The BJP-ruled state government of Manipur developed the sacred sites of Pakhangba and performed rituals in the Kangla . Other opposition political parties are also seen in engaging religious activities in relation to deity Pakhangba. During his 2019 Parliamentary election campaign , Kaiku Rajkumar , a renowned politician-turned actor of Meitei cinema , visited
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#17328023945471044-400: A son who was still-born; the second too did not last long as an unhatched egg; the third one fondly called Sană Khommat on Numit Kaite Ngampā when yet a frolicking child met with his watery grave in a fishing trap, his luxuriant hair turning into the white flower of the tall wild grass and his pearly teeth taking the form of bright cowries; his brother Tauhuireng Ahanpa and elder to him also fell
1131-619: A steep conical roof and is decorated with bas relief carvings of a peacock, moon and sun on the upper part of its entrance door. The eastern wall is carved with images of the moon, a horse and a cow. There are a few shrines dedicated to Pakhangba in Myanmar. One notable example is found in the village of Tadalel, Amarapura township, Mandalay Division . In 2023, the Mandalay-based Myanmar Meitei Development Association requested help with
1218-401: A victim to the sharp arrows of Khwai Nongchengpam Näicha Pongparacha Atanpa; his mount too, fatally wounded, rolled down the slopes of Khunbirok and his elder brother a scion of the blood royal and resplendent like an incandescent flame had wandered off into the other side of the firmament. "Therefore, O Chakpa Amãipi," he further says, "I cannot yield to your call and come back alone. To think of
1305-624: Is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India . It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam . It is one of the constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic . Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali . There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to
1392-412: Is a tonal language . There is a controversy over whether there are two or three tones. Meitei distinguishes the following phonemes : Consonants Vowels Note: the central vowel /ɐ/ is transcribed as <ə> in recent linguistic work on Meitei. However, phonetically it is never [ə], but more usually [ɐ]. It is assimilated to a following approximant: /ɐw/ = [ow], /ɐj/ = [ej]. A velar deletion
1479-514: Is a 3rd-century narrative work describing the establishment of a colony in Kangleipak by a group of immigrants led by Poireiton , the younger brother of the god of the underworld. The Yumbanlol , a copper plate manuscript was composed in the 6th century or 7th century CE for the royal family of Kangleipak. It is a rare work of dharmashastra , covering sexuality, the relationships between husbands and wives, and instructions on how to run
1566-493: Is considered by many scholars to be an all the time apparent. When the female priest sang in her melodious voice in admiration of the younger sun, she was narrating the sufferings of the people to the sun. The sun could no longer resist and his first response is as follows: “Addressing her, Nongpok Touring Leimacha (the younger sun) points out that his mother, the Goddess Korou Nongmai Hanpi, first raised
1653-469: Is depicted as a serpent with the antlers of a sangai , or brow-antlered deer, signifying the cultural synthesis of two different totemic belief systems, which are the worship of serpents and stags . Serpents are the totem creatures of the Ningthouja clan . Ningthoujas do not consume any fishes or plants that look like serpents, as a mark of respect for their ancestors. The Sangai is associated with
1740-555: Is derived from the name of the state of Manipur . Manipuri is the official name of the language for the Indian government and is used by government institutions and non-Meitei authors. The term Manipuri is also used to refer to the different languages of Manipur and to the people. Additionally, Manipuri, being a loconym, can refer to anything pertaining to the Manipur state. Speakers of Meitei language are known as "Kathe" by
1827-442: Is derived from the word Machi ( Meitei for 'antler'), and rong ( Meitei for 'branching') is derived from the word rongba ( Meitei for 'posterior directed branch'). The Chirong symbolises the antler premeditated on his head of the deity Pakhangba. In relation to Pakhangba, Meitei language has two commonly used words to refer to the snakes or serpents . The words are "lin" and "lairen". Lin
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#17328023945471914-561: Is imbibed in the dances performed in the Lai Haraoba . Later, it gradually evolved into present day dance of the Thabal Chongba . Pakhangba, being considered as one of the Umang Lai deities, is honoured with the celebration of the Lai Haraoba festival by the Meitei people . Pakhangba Cheng Hongba is a traditional Meitei religious festival celebrated annually in honour of deity Pakhangba, to bring peace and tranquility among
2001-604: Is noted to occur on the suffix -lək when following a syllable ending with a /k/ phoneme. Meitei has a dissimilatory process similar to Grassmann's law found in Ancient Greek and Sanskrit , though occurring on the second aspirate. Here, an aspirated consonant is deaspirated if preceded by an aspirated consonant (including /h/, /s/ ) in the previous syllable. The deaspirated consonants are then voiced between sonorants. /tʰin-/ pierce + Pakhangba Pakhangba ( Meitei : ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ , lit. '
2088-811: Is the official language of the Government of Manipur as well as its lingua franca . There are nearly 170,000 Meitei-speakers in Assam, mainly in the Barak Valley , where it is the third most commonly-used language after Bengali and Hindi. Manipuri is also spoken by about 9500 people in Nagaland, in communities such as Dimapur , Kohima , Peren and Phek . Meitei is a second language for various Naga and Kuki-Chin ethnic groups. There are around 15,000 Meitei speakers in Bangladesh mainly are in
2175-447: Is used to refer to small snakes, usually the poisonous snakes . On the other hand, "Lairen" is used to refer to the large snakes, usually the pythons , as well as any big mythical snakes. Whenever anyone encounters a snake, they may attribute it to the "lin" or "lairen" or any other honorifics dedicated to divine serpents. Sometimes, they simply attribute it to the gods, or directly to Pakhangba. Pythons are related to Pakhangba in
2262-625: The Burmese people , "Moglie" or "Mekhlee" by the people of Cachar , Assam ( Dimasas and Assamese ) and "Cassay" by the Shan people and the other peoples living in the east of the Ningthee River (or Khyendwen River). "Ponna" is the Burmese term used to refer to the Meiteis living inside Burma . The Meitei language exhibits a degree of regional variation; however, in recent years
2349-509: The Ethnologue , the alternative names of Meitei language are Kathe, Kathi, Manipuri, Meetei, Meeteilon, Meiteilon, Meiteiron, Meithe, Meithei, Menipuri, Mitei, Mithe, Ponna . The name Meitei or its alternate spelling Meithei is preferred by many native speakers of Meitei over Manipuri. The term is derived from the Meitei word for the language Meitheirón ( Meithei + -lon 'language', pronounced /mə́i.təi.lón/ ). Meithei may be
2436-520: The Luwang clan. The Chakpa people, who are a part of the Meitei community , also regard deer as their totem animals. According to legend, Pudangkoi Khutkoiba, a king of the Luwangs, was once transformed into a deer. He was inadvertently killed by his own younger brother, who didn't know his true identity. Once the error was recognised, the head and antlers of the deer were brought into and preserved in
2523-540: The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (Manipuri Language Council). It also invested ₹ 6 crore (equivalent to ₹ 7.1 crore or US$ 850,000 in 2023) in the creation of a corpus for the development of the Meitei language. The Department of Manipuri of Assam University offers education up to the Ph.D. level in Meitei language. Since 1998, the Government of Tripura has offered Meitei language as
2610-600: The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad and the All Manipur Students' Union demanded that Meitei be made an official language for more than 40 years, until Meitei was finally added to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992. Meitei became an associate official language of Assam in 2024, following several years of effort by the Meitei associate official language movement to protect
2697-448: The Meiteis there is darkness night and day; by your brightness warm all the country to Imphal from here. Thus she said and thus she persuaded him, for he assented, and when the white fowl lifted up its foot on the earth, the Sun also raised his foot from the earth five times and climbed to the top of the machan. Then the ten Gods looked and saw that the sunshine was pale. Let us make this right,' they said. Then Pakhangba 's priest sat on
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2784-697: The Moirangs , the Angoms , the Luwangs , the Chengleis ( Sarang-Leishangthems ), and the Khaba-Nganbas . Each had their respective distinct dialects and were politically independent from one another. Later, all of them fell under the dominion of the Ningthouja dynasty , changing their status of being independent "ethnicities" into those of "clans" of the collective Meitei community . The Ningthouja dialect
2871-560: The Pakhangba Temple, Kangla and publicly performed laibau chenba ( Meitei for ' ritual divination '). A temple dedicated to Pakhangba was constructed during the time of Maharaja Gambhir Singh , in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. The temple is 24m tall and raised a further 90cm on a 15 by 37m brick platform, which it shares with temples dedicated to Yumjao Lairembi and Lainingthou Nongasaba. It has
2958-429: The 2011 census , 1.52 million of whom are found in the state of Manipur , where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh . Meitei and Gujarati jointly hold
3045-481: The Father of all the unfortunate, thou art deathless, there is none like thee for truth and beauty. I cannot tell all thy names in my song, so many are they. Thou art the source of all good fortune, for in the scent of the earth is seen the warmth of the sun. O Bright Sun, thou art the source and the strength of all the world and of immortality .' The Numit Kappa shows the political scenario in an allegorical element. It
3132-455: The Gods and the Mother of the world, gave birth to five sons. One day my eldest brother shrivelled up like dry paddy and was destroyed. My second brother became rotten like the eggs of a fowl, my brother Koidè Ngamba fell into a fishing weir and was drowned. Now my elder brother Taohuirengba has fallen by the arrow of the slave of Khowai Nongjengba Piba, for his horse was pierced through the leg by
3219-400: The Gods for pity because the day remained not. Weeds grew. Women that used to go to the fields went no more, women that used to toil in the fields went no more. The ten kings ( Nongpok Ningthou , Chingkhai, Wangpulen , Khana Chaoba, Thangching , Sampurel, Loyalakpa , Koupalu , Kaoburel, Marjing ), these ten gods knew not how to look for the place where the sun was. A woman going to the field
3306-561: The Kamarupan group—a geographic rather than a genetic grouping. However, some still consider Meitei to be a member of the Kuki-Chin-Naga branch . The Meitei language has existed for at least 2000 years. According to linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterjee , the ancient Meitei literature dates back to 1500 to 2000 years before present . The earliest known Meitei language compositions is the ritual song Ougri ( ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ ), which
3393-421: The Mother of the Gods and the Mother of all the country, thy face is beautiful, do thou go, do thou call thy Father the Sun.' When they said this, the King's dear daughter who causes a flower to bloom merely by touching a big white leaf, assented to their request. Ye Ten Gods, if ye bid me to persuade the bright Sun to come forth, make ready the roads, make men to go to and fro, build a machan five stories high, make
3480-407: The Pakhangba. The identity of the deity is often fused with Nongda Lairen Pakhangba , the first ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty . The title Pakhangba was also used by other kings in the history of Manipur . Pakhangba and his elder brother Sanamahi were told by their father that the one who could circumambulate the universe seven times and reach him first would be given the throne of
3567-823: The Royal Palace of Tripura . In the 2018 edition of the Sangai festival held in Manipur , twenty artistes, standing and dancing in the form of a human chain, presented a lively 30 metres long image of deity Pakhangba, dancing on the stage for 45 minutes, depicting the origin of the human beings, as adapted from the Lai Haraoba festival performances, while presenting a theatrical show titled Laigi Machasing ( Meitei for 'Children of God'), choreographed by Sangeet Natak Akademi 's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Awardee Sinam Basu. A Mumbai -based group of musical artists titled "Serpents of Pakhangba", named after
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3654-727: The Umang Lai pantheon of the Meitei people. Besides being identified as a form of deity Pakhangba, in some cases, Saram Tangkhul is also identified with Nongpok Ningthou . Pakhangba has numerous consorts, belonging to different communities and ethnicities. One legend of Pakhangba says that he has seven wives, who give birth to the seven Meitei clans. It signifies the integration of different communities and ethnicities into one single nation. Lady Liksanu Saphabi belonging to Kabui people and Thangal people , lady Khamlang Taobi belonging to Chothe people , lady Chotenu belonging to Kom people and lady Leiyoi Nurabi belonging to Langmeidong are
3741-419: The arrow carefully at the sun, he hit the sun's horse on the leg, and it fell near the great Maring village. When the bright sun fell by the arrow of the slave of Khowai Nongjengba Piba, he was afraid and hid himself in the earth in a great cave by the big village near the shrine of Pakhangba and Sanamahi . Then the Meitei land was dark by day and dark by night. The fields and the whole countryside looked to
3828-501: The arrow which he shot, and so he hides in a dark cave.' Thus he spake, and would not come forth. Thōngnāk Lairemma returned to her abode. Ye ten Gods, hear. The Sun cannot remain alone in the world.' Then the ten Gods hired Panthoibi , the daughter of the Meitei King , the wife of Khaba . O daughter of the King, who art beloved of the King of the country, who causest to be born all the souls of men and dost cause them to die, who art
3915-409: The arrows in the quiver and rested. Then he said, 'Dear wife, Haonu Changkanu, my pretty one, go draw water and put the pot on your head. Then as his wife came from the water, he aimed and hit the pot on her head. One day he aimed and hit the hole in her ear. One day he aimed and hit a sparrow sitting on a heap of dhan. 'Wife, make food ready. A big boar has entered the field, a great python has come into
4002-503: The broadening of communication, as well as intermarriage, has caused the dialectal differences to become relatively insignificant. The only exceptions to this occurrence are the speech differences of the dialects found in Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The exact number of dialects of Meitei is unknown. The three main dialects of Meitei are: Meitei proper, Loi and Pangal. Differences between these dialects are primarily characterised by
4089-523: The cock. It implies that Pakhangba's deeds are not good and so, he deserves to be devoured as a punishment. But, that very cock is not an ordinary one, as it belongs to Lai ( Meitei for 'God'). The last line indicates that the entire actions of everyone are done as a divine will of God, thereby showing the ultimate power of the Almighty God and his process of the creation of the entire universe. The Meitei philosophy associated with Keiyen
4176-531: The cult of Yumjao Lairembi . In the Thangmeiband region, Meitei king Naothingkhong (c. 5th century CE) is worshipped as Naothingkhong Pakhangba. Another King, Khagemba is also worshipped as a form of Pakhangba. Saram Tangkhul Pakhangba and his wife, Saram Tangkhul Nurabi are associated with the Tangkhul people of north eastern parts of Manipur. The Tangkhul deities were given a prominent position in
4263-585: The districts of Sylhet , Moulvibazar , Sunamganj and Habiganj in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. In the past, there was a Meitei speaking population in Dhaka , Mymensingh and Comilla also. Manipuri is used as a second language by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people . Myanmar has a significant Meitei speaking population in the states of Kachin and Shan and the regions of Yangon , Sagaing , and Ayeyarwady , among others. According to
4350-502: The earth, and became even as the ant heaps. Thereupon the Lairemma ( Meitei for 'goddess') paddy and the great paddy were turned into Morasi and Iroya paddy. Her second-born son became rotten even as chicken's eggs, he became as the darkening rainbow. His eyes became like unto the eyes of a deer. Her third-born son was called Koide Ngamba, the younger brother of the Sun. He was of a haughty temper and quick in spirit. He fell into
4437-763: The educational institutions in Manipur. It is one of the 40 instructional languages offered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), controlled and managed by the Ministry of Education . Meitei is taught as a subject up to the post-graduate level in Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University , Delhi University , Gauhati University , and the University of North Bengal . Indira Gandhi National Open University teaches Meitei to undergraduates. Meitei language instruction has been offered in
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#17328023945474524-522: The extensions of new sounds and tonal shifts. Meitei proper is considered to be the standard variety —and is viewed as more dynamic than the other two dialects. The brief table below compares some words in these three dialects: Devi (2002) compares the Imphal , Andro , Koutruk, and Kakching dialects of Meitei. Meitei is the sole official language of the Government of Manipur , and has been an official language of India since 1992. Meitei language
4611-460: The features of deity Pakhangba. In the post- Khagemba era, representations of Pakhangba in the form of a paphal (a coiled serpent or dragon biting its own tail, similar to an oubouros became prominent. In traditional Meitei architecture , the most important Meitei cultural element in building a house is the decoration for the front roof with a design resembling a deer's antlers ( Meitei : Chirong ). Chi ( Meitei for 'horn')
4698-408: The field. I will combat those strong things. I will kill that boar.' He slept by the side of the things he was going to take to the field, and for this reason the place is called "Thongyala Mamungshi" . The Great Sun set at Loijing. His elder brother Taohuireng arose in his splendour, and Ekma Haodongla the slave of Khowai Nongjengba Piba, a lazy churl, drew the string to his cheek and though he fired
4785-633: The fields, such flowers as the Angom Ningthou daily offers up, even as such became the white hairs of the God. "Now the Sun and his brother Taohuirenga rose and set alternately. There was a man Khowai Nongjengba who had a slave, a lazy churl named Ekma Haodongla, who was wroth because the suns rose and set alternately. He said, 'I am a slave and twice have I to fetch wood, twice to bring in my master's paddy on my head. I cannot rear my children. I cannot see my wife. So he said to his wife, 'My dear, go, get
4872-520: The history, he makes birds and crows that are dead to be among the Gods. He knows the souls of men and their names, even though they are lost, he knows them when they have become animals, though their names should be forgotten, he calls them in his song. Though hereafter the names of men be forgotten, he in his wisdom knows them, though they are wandering in the abyss among the demons, even though they have joined themselves unto swine, he knows them. Thus made he prayer. 'O Sun, Thou alone art beautiful, thou art
4959-407: The identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris in Assam. The Meitei language is one of the 13 official languages of the India used to administer police, armed services, and civil service recruitment exams. The Press Information Bureau of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting publishes in 14 languages, including Meitei. Meitei is a language of instruction in all in
5046-530: The lower primary schools of Assam since 1956. The Board of Secondary Education, Assam offers secondary education in Manipuri. The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council of Assam offers both Meitei-language schooling and instruction in Meitei as a second language. Since 2020, the Assam Government has made an annual grant of ₹ 5 lakh (equivalent to ₹ 5.9 lakh or US$ 7,100 in 2023) to
5133-667: The mankind. One of the most notable celebrations is organised by the Utra Shanglen Sana Konung and the Pacha Loishang by offering flowers to Nongshaba , Pakhangba and Yumjao Lairembi . This festival is celebrated on regular basis in the Sana Konung , widely believed to be organised since the era of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba . It has been participated by a renowned cultural institute named "Atinga" since 2017. In 1992, Meitei King Okendrajit Singh,
5220-406: The one who knows his father ' ) is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon , in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism , the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom , which originated in paphal ( Meitei : ꯄꯥꯐꯜ ), mythical illustrations of the deity. It is believed that the ancestor of one of the Meitei clans manifested himself as
5307-558: The piercing arrows--they still fright me. Nor do have I the desire like my brother to head for the other world, nor be amidst mankind again, but would rather pass the rest of my life here quietly.” The secondary meaning of the lines in the text was very clearly written, especially in the episode of the event when Sana Khomadon, a sadder and a wiser man, left his place of hiding. The priests of the Moirang and Meitei ethnicity praised him with sweet sounded ritual songs, give him holy bath with
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#17328023945475394-488: The protection and preservation of the site from Nongthombam Biren , the then Chief Minister of Manipur , to give assistance for the preservation and protection of the holy site. A temple dedicated to deity Pakhangba was built during the coronation of Tripuri King Radha Kishore Manikya , highlighting the influence of Meitei queens, including both the mother and the wife of King Radha, on the Kingdom of Tripura . During
5481-768: The realm. The last lines in the final part of the text, in a loud and forceful manner, extol the rare excellencies of Sana Khomadon whom the poet, in happiness, compares to the flame that shines throughout eternity. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under out of copyright ( license statement/permission ). Text taken from The Meitheis , Thomas Callan Hodson , David Nutt . Manipuri language Meitei ( / ˈ m eɪ t eɪ / ; ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ , Eastern Nagari script : মৈতৈলোন্ , [mejtejlon] ( IPA ) , romanized: meiteilon ) also known as Manipuri ( ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ , Eastern Nagari script : মণিপুরী , [mɐnipuɾi] ( IPA ) ),
5568-494: The reign of the Meitei king Marjit Singh , Raja Borothakur Krishna Kishore ruled in Tripura. The first queen was Sija Chandrakala Devi, a Meitei princess and the second, known as Bamon Leima was a Meitei Brahmin . Meitei culture flourished in Tripura, with the proliferation of cults dedicated to different Meitei deities in the region of Bonmalipur. Pakhangba is still worshipped in the Pakhangba Temple, located near
5655-413: The right, and the priest of Thangjing , the God of Moirang , sat on the left. They took water from the river of Moirang, and an egg and yellow grass, and drew water from the top of Nongmaiching , and the priests, the children of the Gods, made the face of the Sun right, and his eyes and his face were bright and beautiful. Panthoibi holding the fowl soothed the Sun. Then the priest, who formerly guarded
5742-487: The royal palace. For the inauguration of a royal boat of a Luwang king, the preserved horned head was decoratively installed on the stern. After the cultural integration of the Luwangs and the Meiteis, this tradition was integrated into the making of Meitei hiyang hiren ( Meitei for 'royal boats'). Simultaneously, the sides of the boat are decorated to resemble the body of serpentine dragon, thereby looking like
5829-406: The sacred waters of the Kangla , with different medicinal herbs dipped in it. Later, he becomes shining very brightly like his elder brother. All the darkness got dispelled from every nook and corners of the realm. Consequently, the farm hands began to be busy with ploughing, flocks of birds flying out in search of food and evil spirits taking to their heels. So, there wass light and warmth all around
5916-466: The same time period, Akoijam Tombi composed the Panthoibi Khonggul ( ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯀꯨꯜ ), an account of the romantic adventures of the deified Meitei princess Panthoibi . In 1100 CE, a written constitution, ( Meitei : ꯂꯣꯏꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯜꯌꯦꯜ , romanized: Loyumba Shinyen ), was finalised by King Loiyumba ( r. c. 1074 – 1112 CE ) of Kangleipak . It
6003-611: The same time, the Hinduised King Pamheiba ordered that the Meitei script be replaced by the Bengali-Assamese script . In 1725 CE, Pamheiba wrote Parikshit , possibly the first piece of Meitei-language Hindu literature , based on the story of the eponymous king Parikshit of the Mahabharata . The majority of Meitei speakers, about 1.5 million live in the Indian state of Manupur. Meitei
6090-404: The seven branches of Nongmaiching, and who lived on that holy hill, whose name was Langmai Khoiri, who formerly worshipped the face of the sun, made prayers to the Sun. Thou hast come like the eyes of the hill. In the likeness of the eyes of the hill in thy brightness thou hast pitied us, the villages of Nongmaiching. Like the eyes of the Sun thou hast come. Like the eyes of the Sun by thy brightness
6177-407: The song is about a cock (Pakhangba) being pursued by a tiger (Sanamahi). In Ancient Meitei language , a tiger is termed as “Kei”. “Yangen” is a name of a small wild bushy shrub plant. “Shamba” means “to traverse” in Meitei. “Shyao Shyao” refers to the ancient Meitei onomatopoeic word for the sound produced while traversing the bushy way by the tiger. “Yengkhong Phate” refers to the ominous sound of
6264-458: The south the Khuman priest prayed. His father and his forefathers were very skilful, and his voice was very good, and his singing carried far. Than him there was none greater, his voice was like the cry of the crane, and in his singing there was no fault. Thus prayed he. 'O Sun, now that thou hast come, the trees, the bamboos, the grass, all are bright. O Sun by thy glorious brightness the leaves and
6351-618: The then ruler of Manipur Kingdom , converted from Hinduism to Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion to become a revivalist. In 2020, Leisemba Sanajaoba , the son of the former king Okendrajit, took oath of joining as an MP inside the Rajya Sabha on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), mentioning the name of deity Pakhangba, besides Sanamahi and Govindajee ( Krishna ). The state administrative office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Imphal houses
6438-404: The third place among the fastest growing languages of India , following Hindi and Kashmiri . Meitei is not endangered : its status has been assessed as safe by Ethnologue (where it is assigned to EGIDS level 2 "provincial language"). However, it is considered vulnerable by UNESCO. The Manipuri language is associated with the Ningthouja dynasty ( Mangangs ), the Khuman dynasty ,
6525-481: The trees and all the bamboos in our great village are warm with the warmth of the sun.' Thus said he and prayed. Then the brothers, the cunning priests, slaves of Thangjing , prayed to the Sun God, 'O thou born on the stone, born on the white stone, who lightest the jungle, and the water, and who shinest up to the top of the loftiest bamboo, with thy brightness make warm the heat of the sun on the water of Moirang .' In
6612-425: The universe. Sanamahi set out immediately. Pakhangba, besides being the younger brother, was less strong. His mother Leimarel Sidabi , said that circling his father's throne is equivalent to the circling of the entire universe. So, he circled the throne, and his father was satisfied with Pakhangba's knowledge. So, Pakhangba was given his name, which means "one who has realised his father" and was enthroned. Pakhangba
6699-414: The warmth of the sun has warmed all the ravines and jungle and all our villages on Nongmaiching.' Thus said he as he prayed." The great village also made prayers to the Sun, and its priests sang and prayed. The women also of the great village have crossed the river and have gone to the fields. The Tangkhuls have taken up their daos. Men see their shadow in the water. By thy brightness all the paths and all
6786-408: The women all join in entreaties to him. In the baskets spread leaves carefully and set therein white rice, put eggs, fill the wine jars full of wine, wrap ginger in leaves and set it down, wrap cowries up in a black cloth and put them down near.' Then she took a white cock and all the other things and went to the broad country to persuade the bright Sun. "O Sun, by reason of your hiding, in the land of
6873-463: The wood are as new, the heart is glad. By thy brightness make warm the heat of the sun upon the land of the Khumans . Then the priest of the King of Kangleipak , who was skilled in the songs of the Meiteis , whose voice was like the running water, invoked by name his deceased mother, and singing sweetly the name of his dead father, having sung the names of men that were dead and making them to unite in
6960-430: The word "Pakhangba", starting from cosmological deities to ancestral deities. Notable ones are Nongda Lairen Pakhangba , Tangja Leela Pakhangba , Leinung Loncha Pakhangba, Saram Tangkhul Pakhangba , Loidam Thaja Pakhangba and Laiyingthou Pakhangba. Since ancient times, rulers of Kangleipak were deified and worshipped as Pakhangba or one of his divine forms. Similarly, historical queens were deified and integrated into
7047-559: The world of charms and fortunes. Many people claim that their lives have changed in dramatic ways after encountering a pythons (or Pakhangba). There are some people who believe in the millenarian return of Pakhangba. According to their beliefs, Pakhangba will re-unite the people of the plains and the hills of Manipur, both politically and religiously, ending decades of tension and violent insurgency . The cult of Pakhangba extraordinarily has an ability to integrate different deities. There are numerous deities, whose names are sufficed with
7134-420: Was a codification of the proto-constitution drafted by King Naophangba in 429 CE. Before 1675 CE, the Meitei language experienced no significant influence from any other languages. Beginning in the late 17th century, Hindu influence on Meitei culture increased, and the Meitei language experienced some influences from other languages, on its phonology , morphology (linguistics) , syntax and semantics . At
7221-483: Was holding converse with a woman going to sow, 'My friend, my companion, what is that fire in the earth shining there over by the great village?' said she inquiring. 'Yes, my dear, the Sun is hiding near the shrine of God Pakhangba and Sanamahi .' 'It is the brightness of the Sun,' said the other as they talked. The ten Gods heard, and when they had returned to their own house, they called Thongnak, whose dreams were very true. Thongnak Lairemma , your dreams are very true,
7308-977: Was predominant, and received heavy influences from the speech forms of the other groups. Meitei is one of the advanced literary languages recognised by Sahitya Akademi , India's National Academy of Letters. Meitei belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages. During the 19th and 20th centuries, different linguists tried to assign Meitei to various sub-groups. Early classifier George Abraham Grierson (1903–1924) put it in Kuki-Chin , Vegelin and Voegelin (1965) in Kuki-Chin-Naga, and Benedict (1972) in Kuki-Naga. Robbins Burling has suggested that Meitei belongs to none those groups. Current academic consensus agrees with James Matisoff in placing Manipuri in its own subdivision of
7395-459: Was the court language of the historic Manipur Kingdom , and before it merged into the Indian Republic. The Sahitya Akademi , India's National Academy of Letters, recognised Meitei as one of the major advanced Indian literary languages in 1972, long before it became an official language in 1992. In 1950, the Government of India did not include Meitei in its list of 14 official languages. A language movement , spearheaded by organisations including
7482-478: Was to be slain in order to create the night . The hero, Khwai Nungjeng Piba was an expert archer , who shot Taothuireng , one of the two Suns in the sky. "O my Mother, O Mother of the Sun who is the Father of the world, O Mother of all the Gods. She who was the Mother of the World gave birth one day to three sons. The first-born son was destroyed like withered paddy, and became like old dry paddy, and entered into
7569-532: Was used in religious and coronation ceremonies of Kangleipak . It may have existed before the Common Era . Numit Kappa ( Meitei : ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ , transl: The Shooting of the Sun), a religious epic that tells the tale of how the night was divided from the day, was also composed in the first century. Poireiton Khunthok ( Meitei : ꯄꯣꯢꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ , transl: The Immigration of Poireiton)
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