Hiyangthang | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Coordinates: 24°43′5″N93°54′2″E / 24.71806°N 93.90056°E Coordinates: 24°43′5″N93°54′2″E / 24.71806°N 93.90056°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Manipur |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Indian Standard Time) |
| Pin Code | 795009 |
Hiyangthang is a town in Indian state of Manipur. It is best known for the Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple, a Meitei shrine dedicated to ancient Meitei goddess Irai Leima (aka Hiyangthang Lairembi). It is located in Imphal West district. [1]
The legend of ancient Meitei goddess Irai Leima (later known as Hiyangthang Lairembi) and her dedicated shrine Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple revolves around the region of Hiyangthang. In the legend, she was an exceptionally beautiful princess of Heibok Ching ( Meitei for 'Heibok mountains'). King Heibok Ningthou, her father was a master of wizards and black magicians. One day, King Kwakpa (Kokpa) of Khuman dynasty saw Irai Leima fishing and sporting in the Liwa river. He fell in love at first sight with her beauty. He proposed her. However, she told him that her parents' wish will be her wish. So, King Kwakpa and his subjects gave beautiful and precious gifts to King Heibok Ningthou to please him. [2] King Kwakpa decided to marry Irai Leima whether her father reject or accept the gifts. Seeing the immodesty of King Khuman Kwakpa, King Heibok Ningthou rejected all the presents and turned then into stones using his magic. King Kwakpa returned home disappointed. [3]
One day, King Kwakpa got drunk with a juice of the roots of Tera plant ( Bombax malabaricum ) and went to meet Irai Leima, riding on a Hiyang boat. Seeing him coming, Irai Leima fled to Pakhra Ching ( Meitei for 'Pakhra mountains'). King Kwakpa chased her. Seeing all these, King Heibok Ningthou turned the Hiyang boat into stone and the oar into a tree using his magic. [3] Getting furious, Kwakpa tried to kill Heibok Ningthou, which forced Heibok Ningthou to turn Khuman Kwakpa also into a stone. Irai Leima was frightened seeing everything and ran away from her own father, passing through the Pakhra Ching, crossing through the Liwa river and hiding herself inside the granary storehouse of Lord Sarangthem Luwangba of Luwang dynasty. When Lord Luwangba and his good lady Thoidingjam Chanu Amurei left the house for paddy fields, Irai Leima came out from her hideout and completed all the household works for them. Before the couple returned home, she went back to her hideout again. [3] The couple were surprised at this but it happened daily. So, one day, the man returned home earlier than normal timing and discovered the truth behind the mystery. But when he came near Irai Leima, she was gone below the grain storehouse. He saw nothing under the granary. He was confused at this. So, he discussed the matter with his clan members, searching her everywhere but didn't find her anymore. [3]
Irai Leima came to the dream of Lord Sarangthem Luwangba and told him that she merged herself into the Luwang clan and spiritually became his daughter. Luwangba narrated his dream's story to King Senbi Kiyamba of Ningthouja dynasty. The Ningthouja King sent maibas and maibis, who performed investigations and finally verified that the strange lady was be a goddess and she should be worshipped. King Kiyaamba ordered Luwangba to worship her. From that very year onwards, princess Irai Leima was deified and worshipped as a Meitei goddess. [4]
The first day on which Luwangba saw Irai Leima was the first Monday of the Meitei lunar month of Lamta (Lamda). And the day on which the maibas and maibis examine the case was the first Tuesday of Lamta (Lamda), the next day. Still in present times, right from the reign of King Senbi Kiyamba (1467-1508 AD), the Sarangthem family members of Luwang clan annually organise a grand feast (Meitei : Chaklen Katpa) in honor of goddess Irai Leima. [4]
Luwang is one of the seven clans of the Meitei people. Luwang consists of several Yumnaks which are native peoples of ancient Kangleipak, one of the States of India.
Panthoibi, also known as Nongpok Leima, is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is a consort of the God Nongpok Ningthou. She is considered to be one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi and is also identified as a form of Goddess Nongthang Leima. She is worshipped mainly by the Meitei people in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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.
The Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple is an ancient temple of Goddess Hiyangthang Lairembi of Meitei religion (Sanamahism). The sacred building is situated on the hilltop of Heibok Ching in the Hiyangthang, Manipur. Thousands of devotees thronged at the holy site during the festival time of Lai Haraoba of Sanamahism as well as Durga Puja of Hinduism.
Panthoibi Iratpa or Panthoibi Iraat Thouni or Panthoibi Eratpa is a religious festival of the Meitei people dedicated to Panthoibi, the ancient Meitei goddess of civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom of Sanamahism. Panthoibi Iratpa festival, which is based on the Meitei calendar, usually, though not always, coincides with the day of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja. So, both the festival are often celebrated together in Manipur, despite their religious differences. Goddess Panthoibi is syncretised with Hindu goddess Durga since 1714 AD during the reign of emperor Pamheiba when he made Hinduism as the official religion of the Kingdom of Manipur.
Irai Leima or Ireima is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the goddess and the divine female personification of water and aquatic life. She is also considered to be the incharge of the diseases.
Khoriphaba is a God in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the son of Sky God Salailen and Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi. He came down from heaven to earth to search for his mother and then for a bride. He is best known for wrestling with Loyalakpa in the Lai Haraoba festival. He is also a polo playing God.
The dragons play a significant role in the legendary accounts of Meitei folklore, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Kangleipak, Medieval Kangleipak and Modern Kangleipak.
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.
Khamlangba, also spelt as Khamlangpa, is a deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the God of iron, mining, metallurgy, steel manufacturing, hunting and war. His occupation is the extraction of the iron ores and the manufacture of steel. The Khamlangba Thenlon text mentions about his skills of iron metallurgy and blacksmith in ancient Kakching kingdom.
Panam Ningthou is a God in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the protector of crops, especially paddy from hailstorm and thunder. According to legends, He ignited fire for the first time by rubbing flints. He is one of the Umang Lai deities.
Ichum Lairembi or Echum Lairembi or Eechum Lairembi is a Lairembi (goddess) in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. Her major cult centre of worship is located in Khurkhul region, present day Manipur.
The Pakhangba Temple, also known as the Pakhangba Laishang, is a Meitei temple dedicated to the God Pakhangba of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion, located beside the Nungseng Eekon, to the left side of the Kangla Sanathong, the western gate of the Kangla Fort in the Imphal West district of Manipur.
In Meitei mythology and religion, Kangla Sa, also spelled as Kangla Sha, is a guardian dragon lion. It has a lion's body and a dragon's head, with two horns. It is considered sacred to the Meitei heritage. It is a royal symbol of the Meitei royalties . The most remarkable statues dedicated to "Kangla Sa" stand inside the Kangla.
The ancient legend of Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the fateful love of Kadeng Thangjahanba, a skilled blacksmith, for the beautiful Tonu Laijinglembi. Kadeng Thangjahanba was a highly talented and skilful royal chief metalsmith appointed by King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba of Moirang. Tonu Laijinglembi was the only daughter of Laijing Lakpa, a favourite nobleman of the King of Moirang.
The ancient legend of Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the love and the adventures of Ura Naha Khongjomba, a forgotten prince, for the beautiful Pidonnu. Khongjomba was the biological son of King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba of Moirang 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.
Luwang Ningthou Punshiba, shortly known as Luwang Punshiba, is a king of the Luwang dynasty of Ancient Manipur civilization. He is best known for his long life and outstanding wisdom in Manipuri folklore and history of Manipur.
Jagoi refers to the arts of dance in Meitei culture.
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