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Ucheks ( Meitei for 'Birds') have significant roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei cuisine, Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, etc.
In Meitei mythology and religion, Khunu Leima (Meitei : ꯈꯨꯅꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ, romanized: /khoo-noo lei-ma/), also known as Khunureima (Meitei : ꯈꯨꯅꯨꯔꯩꯃ, romanized: /khoo-noo-rei-ma/), is a goddess associated with pigeons and doves. She is one of the three dearest daughters of the sky god. Along with her two sisters, Nganu Leima and Shapi Leima, she got married the same person, who is a mortal. [1]
In the Meitei folktale of Sandrembi and Chaisra, Lady Sandrembi, after being killed by her stepsister and stepmother, transformed herself into a pigeon and flew into the Royal Garden of the king, her husband. She perched on a tree branch and told the Royal Gardener, about the forgetfulness of the King about his wife Queen Sandrembi, the animal epidemic happened in the kingdom, the grievances of the Prince (Sandrembi's son) and the loss of the gardener's own sickle in a recent past. Sandrembi told him to report these words to the King. The king, on hearing the news, came by himself, to the pigeon in the garden. Holding some grains of paddy in his hands, the King brought and kept the supernatural bird (Sandrembi's bird form) in his custody. Even as a pigeon, she took care of the Prince. During the King's absence, Chaisra (the imposter and Sandrembi's stepsister) slaughtered the pigeon and cooked a nice meal from the meat. [2] Upon knowing that the food was made of the very pigeon, the king refused to dine it and buried the pigeon's remains in the ground behind the Royal Kitchen. [2]
The Meitei folktale of Uchek Langmeitong (Uchek Langmeidong), also known as Chekla Langmeitong (Chekla Langmeidong), of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur), [3] [4] narrates the tragic story of a mortal girl named "Hayainu" (alias Nongdam Atombi), who turned herself into a Langmeitong ( Meitei for ' hornbill bird') as she was unable to suffer the ill treatments of her cruel and selfish stepmother, in her father's absence. [5] [3] [4] [6]
In a Meitei folktale of a Sanagi Tenawa ( Meitei for 'golden parrot'), a divine golden parrot used to live in a land of rocks. It possessed magical spells, due to which it made all the trees of the land able to talk and move like animals. The parrot was famous far and wide. In a far away kingdom, a courageous and clever prince got the news of the parrot, which he wanted to be brought to his kingdom. Henceforth, in the dead of the night, the prince and his friend, who was a minister's son, proceeded to find the parrot, without informing his father, the king. For three full moons of phase, they travelled until they finally reached the land of rocks. Surprised to see the rocks and the talking trees, and wandering around, they found out a door way to go inside a cave. When the prince was about to go inside the cave, he heard a loud sound. The voice from unknown source asked him to stop going inside the cave for the parrot. Upon investigated, they found the voice was from a tree monster at the door. [7]
The monster warned them of asking them three questions before they enter. If answered incorrectly, they would turn into stones. The first question was 'Who is the happiest man alive?' The prince's answer was 'One who owes no debt to anyone and who is healthy and free from any illness.' The second question was 'What are the main qualities of a king?' The prince's answer was 'A king should conduct according to the wishes of the people, should take care of the poor and destitute, and should treat everyone equally.' The final question was 'Name the gods one can see one's own eyes?' The final answer was 'One's birth parents are one's gods that they can see with their eyes.' [7]
The tree monster was satisfied with all the correct answers and it praised the prince for his wisdom and intelligence. It allowed the prince for entry and was vanished from the spot as it was waiting for someone who could answer all the questions correctly before he leave. Inside the cave, the golden parrot was found sitting on a golden plate, as was once being under captivity of the tree monster. The prince was told by the parrot about the way to change the stones into princes. He had to sprinkle water of the golden pond on them. The prince did and undo the spells/curses of the stones, bringing them back to life. The princes thanked the prince and went back to their respective kingdoms. Finally, the parrot was brought by the prince and his friend to their kingdom. [7]
In Meitei mythology and religion, Nganu Leima (Meitei : ꯉꯥꯅꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ, romanized: /ngaa-noo lei-ma/), also known as Nganureima (Meitei : ꯉꯥꯅꯨꯔꯩꯃ, romanized: /ngaa-noo-rei-ma/), is a goddess associated with ducks and other water birds . She is one of the three dearest daughters of the sky god. Along with her two sisters, Khunu Leima and Shapi Leima, she married to the same person. [8]
Nongshaba, also spelled as Nongsaba, is a Lion God in Meitei religion (Sanamahism) and mythology. He is also regarded as a king of the gods. He is credited with producing light in the primordial universe and is regarded as the maker of the sun. He is worshipped by the people of both the Ningthouja clans as well as the Moirang clans. God Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of God Thangching (Thangjing). He is the greatest of the Umang Lais in Ancient Kangleipak but he made his only son Thangching (Thangjing) the chief deity of Moirang.
In Meitei mythology and religion, Nongthang Leima is the goddess of seduction, thunder, and lightning. She was created by Atingkok to attract Haraba (Pakhangba). She mastered thunder and lightning in the chaos in the early world. She predicted the first rain. She limits the chaos and helps creation.
Haoreima or Haoleima is a goddess of tragic love and separation in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. According to some legends, she was a woman from the hills, who was killed while arranging to meet her lover, and turned into a tortured spirit. She is regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Panthoibi. She is also identified with goddess Nongthang Leima.
Keibu Keioiba, also known as Kabui Keioiba, is a mythical creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a human in the Meitei mythology and folklore of Manipur. He is often described as half man and half tiger.
Yumjao Leima or Yumjao Lairembi or Yumjao Lairemma is the mother goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power in Meitei mythology and religion. She is designated as the all time ruling Queen Mother. Legend says she assumes a human form in white clothes and blesses kings. She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.
Laikhurembi is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the goddess of justice, good counsel, divine law, order and secrecy. She is the chief Queen of God Thongaren . She is the daughter of Lairen Humchouba. She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi. She is one of the most important Umang Lais. Her pantheon is maintained particularly by the Taibungjam clan of Meitei ethnicity.
Leima Lainaotabi or Leinaotabi is a goddess in ancient Meitei mythology and religion. She is the youngest wife of God Thongalel of the underworld kingdom. Thongalel sent her to be the wife of Poireiton, her brother-in-law. Lainaotabi gave birth to a son with Poireiton. Her legend says she made the first clay pot. She was worshipped by the people of Ashangbam clan.
Loyalakpa, also spelt as Loyarakpa, is a God in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is best known for wrestling with Khoriphaba during the Lai Haraoba festival. He is the consort of goddess Thoudu Nungthel Leima. He is one of the ten kingly gods in Meitei religion.
Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism). Meitei myths are a part of Meitei culture and explain various natural phenomena, how the human civilization developed, and the reasons of many things happening. Most of the Meitei legends are found in the Meitei language texts.
Khunu Leima or Khunureima (/khoo-noo-rei-ma) is the goddess of pigeons and doves in Meitei mythology and religion. She is a sister of goddesses Nganu Leima and Shapi Leima. Legend says that all three sisters married the same mortal man.
Lok Ningthou is the God associated with brooks, gorges, ravines, rills, rivulets, runnels and streams in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the Guardian God of the Southern direction. He is a son of Wangpulen, the God of water.
Nganu Leima or Nganureima (/ngaa-noo-rei-ma) is the goddess of ducks and other water birds in Meitei mythology and religion. She is a sister of goddesses Khunu Leima and Shapi Leima. Legend says that all three sisters married to the same mortal man.
Shapi Leima or Sapi Leima is the goddess of rodents in Meitei mythology and religion. She is a sister of goddesses Khunu Leima and Nganu Leima. Legend says that all three sisters married the same mortal man.
The Meitei folktales, also sometimes referred to as the Manipuri folktales, are the large collections of folk stories developed from the Meitei culture since Ancient Kangleipak. Folktales are called "funga wari", literally meaning "stories of kitchen furnace or stove" in Meitei language. In early times, in the Meitei households, children must have gathered around the kitchen fire, listening to the stories narrated by the elders. Generally, Meitei folktales were developed from the creativity of the old folks, especially the grandparents, who narrated the children the diverse sagas of varying genres.
The old legend of Sandrembi and Chaisra or Sanarembi and Chaisra is a folktale of the Meitei ethnicity of Ancient Kangleipak. It is a story of the clash between two stepsisters, Sandrembi (Sanarembi), the elder, and Chaisra, the younger, born to the same father but different mothers. Sandrembi, the protagonist, is a young lady, living in forsaken environment and in dire circumstances that are changed into a remarkable fortune. She is portrayed as a person having the nature of God like mind.
Haosi Namoinu is a character in Meitei mythology and folklore of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the only daughter of lady Pokmabi Laoshigam Chanu and lord Senbi Loikenba. She is the apple of their eyes. Her father was a minister of the then Ancient Moirang kingdom, in charge of collecting tributes from the land of Kabo.
The story of Uchek Langmeitong or Chekla Langmeitong is a Meitei folktale of Ancient Kangleipak. It is the story of a girl named "Hayainu" who turned herself into a Langmeitong as she was unable to suffer the ill treatments of her cruel stepmother.
Animals have significant roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei cuisine, Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei religion, etc.
Yairipok Thambalnu, originally known as Sanoujam Chanu Thambalnu or simply as Thambalnu, was a Meitei lady native to Yairipok region of Kangleipak. She was a victim of intrigues and was forced to meet a tragic death in drowning in a flooding river.
