Ancestors of Meitei confederacy

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Classical Meitei language names of the 7 groups of Meitei race of Kangleipak in their respective 7 sacred colors Classical Meitei language names of the 7 holy clans (Yek Salai Taret) of ancient Meitei ethnicity (Meetei race) of Kangleipak civilisation (early Manipur), in the traditional Meetei Mayek script, in their respective 7 sacred colors.jpg
Classical Meitei language names of the 7 groups of Meitei race of Kangleipak in their respective 7 sacred colors

The Meitei community in Manipur was formerly divided into seven distinct clans. Every clan possessed its own lineage and collectively was referred to as a Yek Salai. [a] [1] [2] Each Yek Salai can trace its origins back to an ancient semi-mythical or a royal leader. The Yek Salais constitute the socio-political basis of Ancient Kangleipak and still shape Meitei identity and heritage. These Yek Salais form the social and political foundation of Ancient Kangleipak and continue to influence Meitei identity and culture in the present day. [3]

Contents

All seven sub-ethnic clans are thought to have descended from the same divine ancestor, the god Pakhangba, according to mythological, religious, and traditional narratives. [4]

These seven Meitei subgroups, nonetheless, were historically distinct ethnic groups with varied origins. Despite this, they shared a common language, although there were dialectal differences, a shared religion with different sects, and a collective homeland known as Kangleipak. [5]

On a brief note, not every people from each clan descends from the clan's common ancestors. An ancestor of a clan means the founder of the main lineage of the clan. [6]

Mangang (Ningthouja)

The first ever recorded Ningthouja (Mangang) ruler was Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, who was also the first historically attested king of unified Kangleipak. Even though every Mangang today may have not descended from (Nongda Lairen) Pakhangba, he stands as the common ancestor of the clan. [7] [8]

The Mangang as given the name, was previously composed of two groups—Mangang and Ningthouja— These two groups settled in different parts of Manipur:

However, in the 7th century, the Mangang tribes were defeated and merged into the Ningthouja polity during the reign of King Naothingkhong. [12] [13] [14] According to Wahengbam Ibohal, the Ningthoujas came to be known as Mangangs during the reign of Khongtekcha. [15]

Luwang-Khuman

The Khuman and Luwang clan share a common ancestor called Poireiton [8] through his two grandsons, Aalong and Pamingnaba. Aalong was elder and founded the Khuman dynasty meanwhile, the younger Pamingnaba founded the Luwang dynasty. [16] [17] The Luwang dynasty maintained political independence until 8th century when they were subdued by the Ningthouja dynasty. [18]

The Khuman dynasty maintained political independence until 14th century when they were subdued by the Meitei king Kongyamba, which resulted in the Khuman kingdom being merged into the Ningthouja dynasty. [19] [20]

However, according to some other historians, the ancestor of Luwang and Khuman was Poireiton and Thongaren respectively.

Angom

The Angom clan traces its ancestry to Pureiromba, the founder and the first king of the Angom dynasty. [8] [21] They firstly lived at Kongba Maru and later lived with the Ningthoujas. They later fled to Kontha and a section of the clan moved to Nongmaiching Ching. [9] [22] The capital of the Angom clan was at Kongba. [23]

Pureiromba was a senior contemporary of the Meitei king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba. [24]

Moirang

The Moirang clan traces its ancestry to Ngangningsing Atengba, and Nganghunthok. [8] They were the sons of the same mother but different fathers. [18] As per the Moirang Ningthourol, Ngangningsing is listed as the first king of Moirang, while his elder brother, Nganghunthok ruled at Koubru. [25]

Ngangningsing and Nganghunthok were the sons of Leinung Ngangsabi, the daughter of Nganba Khamchingkon Haiheiba (Urenhanba). According to Indramani, Ngangningsing was the progenitor of Moirang Ariba (old), while Nganghunthok was the progenitor of Moirang Anouba (new). [18]

Khaba-Nganba

The Khaba-Nganba clan was originally two separate clans, Khaba, and Nganba. The Khabas were once powerful group, having ruled Kangla before the ascension of Meitei king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba although they had already declined. [26] According to Hareshwar Goshwami, as well as the ancient Meitei text Chengleiron, Nongda Lairen Pakhangba subjugated the powers of Sorarel Ariba Ahum, who were the chiefs of three clans, viz. Chengleis, Luwangs and Nganbas. [27] After Nongda Lairen Pakhangba became king, the Khaba and Nganba clan lost its independence. [28] [29]

According to Irom Amubi Singh, King Naokhamba, having learnt that Khabas were the enemies of his forefather, Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, decided to kill all the Khabas. The Khabas then scattered in different places and merged into other tribes. [30] So, the ancestor of Khaba-Nganba clan is taken as Nganba Khamchingkon. [8]

According to some scholars, Khaba and Nganba descended from the Supreme God. [26] It seems that during the time of Khaba Tulumba and Nganba Khamchingkon, the merger of the two groups took place. [31]

Sarang-Leishangthem (Chenglei)

The founder and first king of the Chenglei clan was Nungou Yumthangba. His elder brother, Lamlekshang became went up to the hills and became Kabui. [32] [33] Nungou Yumthangba's younger brother, Lokpa (Thengkoipa) founded the Haorok-Konthou lineage. [32] [30]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Yek" (ꯌꯦꯛ) means "lineage"; "Salai" (ꯁꯂꯥꯢ) means "clan"; and "Taret" (ꯇꯔꯦꯠ) means "seven"

References

  1. ↑ "The People - Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC)". mastec.nic.in. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  2. ↑ "Evolution of Meitei Society". www.ijaresm.com. Retrieved 2024-10-27. The confederacy was formed by the union of seven clans viz; Ningthouja, Angom, Khuman, Luwang, Kha-nganba, Moirang and Sarang-Leishanthem...
  3. ↑ "Evolution of Meitei Society". www.ijaresm.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  4. ↑ "The Manipuri Lais". manipuri.itgo.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  5. ↑ "Origin of the Meiteis 2". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  6. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clan"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 419–421.
  7. ↑ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1998). Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy. Parimal Publications. p. 64.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.
  9. 1 2 3 Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 406. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  10. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 4. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  11. ↑ Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015-10-16). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. pp. 231–232. ISBN   978-1-317-27066-9.
  12. ↑ "manipur channel >>History of Manipur ~ E-Pao! News About Manipur". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  13. ↑ A Glimpse of the State formation of Ancient Manipur (PDF). p. 4.
  14. ↑ Kabui, Gangmumei (2004). The History of the Zeliangrong Nagas: From Makhel to Rani Gaidinliu. Spectrum Publications. p. 48. ISBN   978-81-87502-76-0.
  15. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. p. 334.
  16. ↑ Khelchandra Singh, Ningthoukhongjam (1980). Khuman Kangleirol. pp. 1–7.
  17. ↑ Kullachandra Sharma, b (1998). Khuman Ningthouron Lambuba. pp. 1–13.
  18. 1 2 3 Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 174.
  19. ↑ A Glimpse of the State formation of Ancient Manipur (PDF). p. 5.
  20. ↑ Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 178.
  21. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  22. ↑ DEVI, KSH CHITRABHANU (2024-01-06). "Introducing a Holistic Approach to Preserve Kongba River of Manipur Will Enhance its Religious and Cultural Values » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics". imphalreviews.in. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  23. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  24. ↑ Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 96.
  25. ↑ "History of Moirang Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 5". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  26. 1 2 Session, North East India History Association (1988). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association. pp. 35, 38–39.
  27. ↑ Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 84-85.
  28. ↑ Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2014-06-02). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink. p. 28. ISBN   978-93-84318-00-0. Quoting 'Pakhangba Laihui, "Panthoibi Khongul" etc., scholar Khelchandra stated in his article "Sources of the History of Manipur" at page 37 stated that the Khaba dynasty ruled in Manipur before 1st Century AD before Nongda-Lairen Pakhangba, the 1st recognized King of Kangla, ascended the throne in 33 AD.
  29. ↑ Tarapot, Phanjoubam (2003). Bleeding Manipur. Har-Anand Publications. p. 92. ISBN   978-81-241-0902-1.
  30. 1 2 Singh, Sanjenbam Jugeshwor (2023-06-29). "Relation between Meitei and other Ethnic Communities of Manipur as per old Books". News from Manipur - Imphal Times. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  31. ↑ Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 165.
  32. 1 2 Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur (2019), p. 163, 233.
  33. ↑ Hemchandra, Chanam (2010). Leithak Leikharol. Digital Library of India. pp. 106, 130 – via Archive.org.

Bibliography

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