Khamba and Thoibi

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Khamba and Thoibi, Manipur
Khamba and Thoibi (The Capture of the Wild Bull).jpg
The capture the wild bull
Folk tale
NameKhamba and Thoibi, Manipur
Also known asKhampa Thoipi (Ancient Meitei Language)
Aarne–Thompson groupingno
Mythology Meitei mythology
CountryIndia
Region Manipur
Origin Date11th-12th century CE
Published in Khamba Thoibi Sheireng and many others
Related Meitei folklore (Manipuri folklore),
Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)

The ancient legend of Khamba and Thoibi (Meitei : Khamba Thoibi) is a classic, [1] as well as one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Ancient Moirang kingdom [lower-alpha 1] of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). [2] It is referred to as the "national romantic legend of Manipur" by Indian scholar Suniti Kumar Chatterjee. [3]

Contents

Among the countless retelling editions of the epic story, is Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Meitei : ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ) an eight-volume, 39,000-line epic poem composed by Hijam Angangha and published in 1940. It was written in Pena Saisak folk ballad style and has been called the national epic of Manipur. [4] [5] [6] [7]

The classic tale of Khamba and Thoibi became an Assamese classic as well, after being translated into Assamese language as Khamba Thoibir Sadhukatha, by Assamese author and anthropologist Rajanikanta Bordoloi (1869-1939). [8] [9] [10]

Background

According to legend, Keke Moirang was created by the God Thangching. The first King of Moirang was Iwang Fang Fang Ponglenhanba, who was born of Moirang Leima Nangban Chanu Meirapanjenlei. He attacked tribal villages, brought Thanga under his rule, and fixed his boundaries to the north, where the Luwang King bore sway. He brought in captives, and buried the heads of his fallen enemies in the Kangla or Royal enclosure. [11]

After some time, the God Thangching began to think that the King and his subjects were so prosperous that they were likely to forget their duties to him, and on the advice of seven gods, the Yakhong Lai, he decided to frighten the King and his people. One night, there were mysterious sounds heard. At first, the King's soldiers found nothing, but when the sounds were heard again, they discovered that the Yakhong Lai, had raised a storm that had destroyed the Khuyal Leikhong.

The King's advisors asked him to summon the famous maibi, Santhong Mari Mai Langjeng Langmei Thouba. She was working in the fields, but came running. The King demanded that she restore the Khuyal Leikhong, and threatened to kill her if she failed. The maibi persuaded the seven gods to teach her a hymn that would restore the Khuyal Leikhong, and they ordered her to convey a message to the King. When she went to the Khuyal Leikhong she met the god Pakhangba. She raised the edifice by singing the hymn and delivered message to the King, which directed that all the maibas and maibis of the country should sleep in the temple of Thangching wearing their sacred clothes, which they did. There, in their dreams, they were instructed to divide the people into sections, according to the duties they would perform. Then the village offices were created and their order of precedence fixed. The maibas chanted the name of the god and the maibis rang the bell. Then, when they had told the King about their dreams, they were bidden to do as the god had said.

The King then died and was succeeded by his son Telheiba. During his and subsequent reigns,there were raids against tribals and various villages. [11] : 131  Then we get into complications, for in the reign of King Laifacheng we are told, the Khumans were wroth with Konthounamba Saphaba and compassed his death. They took him into a wood and fastened him to a tree and left him, but by the aid of the Gods he broke the creeper and made his way to Moirang where he married and had a son. He left Moirang, and went to the land of the Meiteis. The King kept the child, who by favour of the God Thangching grew so strong that the folk of Moirang begged the King to rid himself of the lad, for he would supplant the King. So they put the lad in chains for seven years, and all that time there fell no rain in Moirang. Then the God Thangching appeared to the lad and told him to ask the King to take off his chains. Then the King set the lad free, and the rain fell, but many had died of fever and cholera. The King implored the lad to pardon him for his cruelty and promised him, that when he was dead the kingdom should be his for seven years, even as many years as the years of his bondage. So it fell out, and for seven years the lad reigned as King where he had been in chains. [11] : 132 

Raids against Luwangs on the west against tribal villages, which the historian observes still pay tribute to Moirang, are all we have for a brief space covering some hundred years. The God Thangching kept his interest in the fortunes of the kingdom, and visited the King in his dreams and instructed him in many matters. The village grew and spread, so much so that in the reign of King Thanga Ipenthaba, the small hill of Thanga was broken and the water let out. Then at the instance of two Khuman women the King slew the King of the Khumans whom he met by chance hunting. In a later reign, Moirang is invaded by the Khumans who assembled a force in boats. This force was defeated, and in return the Khuman villages were fired. In the reign of King Chingkhu Telheiba (skilful archer of the hill village), a Khuman, Aton Puremba, shot nine tigers with his bow and arrows and took their skins to the King, who sought a gift worthy of the hunter's prowess. He would not give him clothes or such things. He had no daughter, so he gave him his wife, and by her the bold hunter had two children

Khamnu and Khuman Khamba. Both their parents died, and by dint of begging from door to door, Khamnu got food for herself and her baby brother. Day by day the lad grew in strength and courage. So swift was he that none could race against him. So strong was he that he and he alone dared to seize a mad bull that was raging in the land. Then Chingkhuba Akhuba, brother of King Chingkhuba Telhaiba, ordered his men to seize Khamba and have him trampled to death by the elephant. His sin was that Thoibi had made a coat which she gave to Khamba, for she loved him. The God Thangching warned Thoibi of the peril in which her lover was, and she arose and threatened to kill her father so that Khamba escaped. Then it befell a hunting party that a tiger killed a man in full sight of the King, but Khamba killed the tiger single- handed, and as a reward the King gave him the Princess Thoibi in marriage. [11] : 133 

Editions

Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh being presented a memento by the Governor of Manipur, Dr. S.S. Sidhu at the foundation stone laying ceremony of three projects the National Academy of Sports.jpg
Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India

, being presented a memento of a painting depicting Khuman Khamba capturing the Bull, by Dr. 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 Sports University, Convention Center and Manipur Institute of Technology, 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.

Related Research Articles

Indian epic poetry is the epic poetry written in the Indian subcontinent, traditionally called Kavya. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which were originally composed in Sanskrit and later translated into many other Indian languages, and the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature and Sangam literature are some of the oldest surviving epic poems ever written.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

Meitei also known as Manipuri, 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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, Manipuri people, is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Republic of India and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moirang</span> Town in Manipur, India

Moirang is a town in the Indian state of Manipur, best known for the tentatively listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area (KLCA), covering Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), the world's only floating national park, the buffer of Loktak Lake and Pumlen Pat. It is best known for the being the place of origin of the ancient epic legend of Khamba and Thoibi, one of the seven epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore. Nationwide, it is also famous for the INA War Museum in the INA Martyrs' Memorial Complex, where Colonel Shaukat Malik of the Indian National Army hoisted the Tricolour for the first time on Indian soil on 14 April 1944. It is situated approximately 45 km (28 mi) south of the state capital Imphal. It has an area of 269 km2 (104 sq mi) with a population of 62,187 in 67 villages. There are 12 Panchayats in this block.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajanikanta Bordoloi</span> Indian writer

Rajanikanta Bordoloi was a noted writer, journalist and tea planter from Assam, India. Some critics called him the Walter Scott of Assam. He was President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1925 which was held at Nagaon.

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, also spelled as the Khamba Thoibi Seireng, is a Classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It is the magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris. It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature, with 39,000 verses, thereby being the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thangching</span>

Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Loktak lake. He is one of the four cardinal Umang Lais. The guardianship of the south western direction is alluded to Thangjing and the other directions to Koubru, Marjing and Wangbren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuman Khamba</span> Hero in Meitei folklore

Khuman Khamba or Moirang Khamba is a hero in Meitei folklore. He belongs to the Khuman clan. He is the hero as well as the protagonist of the Meitei epic poem Khamba Thoibi of the Moirang Shayon legends in the Moirang Kangleirol genres from Ancient Moirang. He is the son of nobleman Puremba, the then prime minister of the ancient Moirang Kingdom. He became an orphan at a very young age when his parents died. He was raised in poverty by his elder sister Khamnu. Later, he married princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kao (bull)</span> Bull in Meitei folklore

Kao is a legendary divine bull captured by Khuman Khamba in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Moirang realm. It appears in the legend of Kao Phaba, also known as Khambana Kao Phaba of the Khamba Thoibi epic.

<i>Khambana Kao Phaba</i> (painting) A Manipuri oil painting by M Betombi Singh

The Khambana Kao Phaba is a 2001 oil canvas painting by Manipuri artists, M Betombi Singh and Gopal Sharma. The painting shows the capture of powerful Kao bull by hero Khamba. It is one of the most well known museum series "Exhibit of the Month" of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya in India. It was exhibited for a whole month of July, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moirang Shayon</span> Old Meitei epic tales of seven cycles of incarnations of two divine lovers

In Meitei mythology and folklore, the epic cycles of incarnations in Moirang is a cyclic epic of seven incarnations of two divine lovers in the kingdom of Moirang in the realm of Ancient Kangleipak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu</span> Ancient Meitei legend

The ancient legend of Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu 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 Khuyol Haoba, an orphan man, for the beautiful Yaithing Konu. Khuyol Haoba was the son of late Khundouremba, a court official of Moirang. Yaithing Konu was the daughter of Luwang Huiningsumba, an influential nobleman of Moirang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu</span> Old Meitei historical tale of Moirang kingdom

The ancient legend of Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu is an epic cycle of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore from the Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the love and adventures of the forgotten prince Ura Naha Khongjomba for the beautiful woman Pidonnu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamnu</span> Figure in Metei legend and folklore

Khamnu (/kʰəm.nu/) is a figure in Metei legend and folklore. She appears in the epic poem Khamba Thoibi. She is the daughter of prime minister Khuman Puremba of Ancient Moirang. Biologically, she is a daughter of King Chingkhu Telheiba of Ancient Moirang. She is the older sister of Khuman Khamba. She is best known for raising her younger brother when he was a child. The two siblings became orphans during their infancy. Khamnu feared evil plots, she took her younger brother and fled her home town. They took refuge in the village of the Kabui chief in the hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoibi</span> Fictional character

Moirang Thoibi or Ewanglon Thoibi is the main character of the Khamba Thoibi story from ancient Moirang Kangleirol legends. She is a princess of the Ancient Moirang kingdom. She is not the king's daughter. Rather, she is the daughter of the King's younger brother Chingkhu Akhuba and therefore the fraternal niece of King Chingkhu Telheiba of Moirang. Khuman Khamba, a poor orphan prince, fell in love with Thoibi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamba Thoibi Jagoi</span>

Khamba Thoibi Jagoi, also known as Khamba Thoibi classical dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet, is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form, which is usually enacted as a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances, dedicated to God Thangching, the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm. Notably, it is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nongban</span>

Angom Nongban Kongyamba, known by just one name as Nongban, is a nobleman in Ancient Moirang. He is a rich man of Angom clan. He is the main villain in the Khamba Thoibi epic legend. He was a polygamist. He wanted to marry Princess Thoibi in addition to his other wives. Prince Chingkhuba, Thoibi's father, agreed to give him the princess' hand in marriage. However, Thoibi was in love with Khuman Khamba. So, he and Chingkhuba thought of many ways to stop Khuman Khamba. But none of their plans worked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumcha Lempi</span> Character in Meitei folklore

Kumcha Lempi, also known as Kumja Lembi, is a woman in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Kangleipak. She is known for being a victim of an attack by a tiger in Khoirentak. Her tragedy is frequently mentioned, narrated and retold in the Moirang Kangleirol legends, usually by the Pena playing balladeers till present times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classicism in Meitei culture</span> Art and cultural movement

The cultural heritages of Meitei civilization has classicism in diverse traditions of cinemas, dances, language, literature, music, theatre, etc.

References

  1. ↑ — "Some Classics of Manipur". Akashvani: Vol. XXXIII, No. 12 (17 March 1968). India: All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. 17 March 1968. pp. 7, 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    —KanglaOnline (4 April 2011). "The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline" . Retrieved 12 November 2023. ... The folklore of Emoinu Celebration from the story "Washak Ngakpa" meaning Keeping the Promise, written by Late Shri Ningombam Angouton Meetei and the classical love story "Khamba -Thoibi" are classical examples of successful reconciliation process of the old Meitei factions...
    — Bond, Ruskin (14 October 2000). "The Story of Khamba and Thoibi". The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics. Penguin UK. pp. 3, 4. ISBN   978-93-5118-814-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    —Dalby, Andrew (28 October 2015). Dictionary of Languages: The definitive reference to more than 400 languages. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 399. ISBN   978-1-4081-0214-5.
  2. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. ISBN   978-81-260-0086-9.
  3. ↑ Chatterji, Suniti Kumar (1951). Kirata-Jana-Krti the Indo-Mongoloids: Their Contribution to the History and Culture of India (April 1998 ed.). Calcutta: The Asiatic Society; Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. p. 189.
  4. ↑ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 258. ISBN   978-81-7201-324-0.
  5. ↑ Das, Sisir Kumar (2005). A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. p. 190. ISBN   978-81-7201-798-9.
  6. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1573. ISBN   978-81-260-1194-0.
  7. ↑ Akashvani: Vol. XL. No. 35 (31 August 1975). All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. 1975. p. 1582.
  8. ↑ Dalby, Andrew (28 October 2015). Dictionary of Languages: The definitive reference to more than 400 languages. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 399. ISBN   978-1-4081-0214-5.
  9. ↑ Bardoloi Nirmalprabhya (1995). Rajani Kanta Bardoloi. Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 14. His tale of Khamba and Thoibi entitled Khamba-Thoibir sadhukatha, a love story of a Manipuri youth named Khamba and a Manipuri maiden named Thoibi, appeared in 1932.
  10. ↑ Bardoloi Nirmalprabhya (1995). Rajani Kanta Bardoloi. Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 32, 33, 34. Bardoloi's novel Khamba-Thoibir Sadhukatha (The tale of Khamba and Thoibi) is an adaptation of a Manipuri legend entitled 'Khamba-Thoibi-Givari'.
  11. 1 2 3 4 T.C. Hodson (1908). The Meitheis. London: David Nutt. p. 130.
  12. ↑ Singh, Rajkumar Mani (2002). Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN   978-81-260-1519-1.
  13. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". e-pao.net.
  14. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". www.thesangaiexpress.com.
  15. ↑ "KAO - A Glimpse of Manipuri Opera". e-pao.net.
  16. ↑ ""Kao - the sacred bull" by Laihui on 6 March 2011". e-pao.net.
  17. ↑ "Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel". 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "খম্বা খমনু" (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
  19. ↑ Khamba Khamnu (1995) - KLMDb , retrieved 31 December 2022
  20. ↑ "Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel". 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  21. ↑ Khamba Thoibi (1997) - IMDb , retrieved 1 January 2023


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