The story of Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu | |
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![]() Meitei and Latin transliterations of "Khuyol Haoba" and "Yaithing Konu" | |
Folk tale | |
Name | The story of Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu |
Also known as | Meitei: Haoba Konu |
Aarne–Thompson grouping | no |
Mythology | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) |
Country | ![]() ![]() |
Region | Moirang, Manipur |
Origin Date | During the reign of King Iwang Puriklai Sana Lakhwa (185-236) |
Related | Meitei folklore (Manipuri folklore), Meitei literature (Manipuri literature) |
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Meitei mythology |
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The ancient legend of Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu (Meitei : Haoba-Konu) is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang kingdom [lower-alpha 1] of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). It concerns the fateful love of Khuyol Haoba (Old Manipuri : Khuyol Haopa), [lower-alpha 2] an orphan man, for the beautiful Yaithing Konu. [1] [2] [3] [4] Khuyol Haoba was the son of late Khundouremba (Old Manipuri : Khuntoulempa), a court official of Moirang. Yaithing Konu was the daughter of Luwang Huiningsumba (Old Manipuri : Luwang Huiningsumpa), an influential nobleman of Moirang. [5] [6] [7]
Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu were historical figures who lived during the reign of Moilang King Sana Lakhwa (185-236) in Moirang kingdom, as stated in the text named the Kanglei Lamthon Puya. The story was later crafted into a legendary account by adding mythological elements such as the divine intervention of God Thangching who wished Yaithing Konu to seek help from Khuyol Haoba, thereby making the two fell in love with each other. [8]
Orphan young Khuyol Haoba was brought up by his elder sister. His late father Khundouremba used to hold the court office to look after the royal religious rites and rituals, to take care of a rare sacred bamboo species called Tesa, to remove the creepers of the Tayan (also spelled as "Tayal") species and to burnish the divine metal mask. After the demise of Khundouremba, God Thangching (Thangjing) made the king, the friends and the relatives of Khundouremba to be heedless of the two children, Khuyol Haoba and his elder sister. Hence, the two children live in a poor way of life. [9] [10]
As time passed, Khuyol Haoba grew up into a handsome lad. However, he used to hide among the phumdis of the Loktak lake to save himself from the human sacrifice as demanded by the presiding deity of Moirang in accordance to an oracle. [11] In reality, the prophecy of the oracle was a barbaric brutal conspiracy devised by a nobleman named Thangarakpa (Old Manipuri : Thangkalakpa), who was jealous of the late Khundouremba, and so, he wanted to eliminate the latter's young son Khuyol Haoba. Thangarakpa took the opportunity in the occurrence of drought and famine in Moirang, and bribed a fake god-man to declare that only the offering of an orphan man could please God Thangching (Thangjing) to diminish the sufferings of the people. [12] [13] [14]
During one of his hiding occasions, Khuyol Haoba met Lady Yaithing Konu. All the unmarried ladies of Moirang came together at the Loktak lake for fishing as a part of the celebration of a festive occasion. On that particular day, no men were allowed to enter the waters of the Loktak. En passant, Lady Yaithing Konu's wooden frame of fishing net get broken. As it could be fixed only by men and as no man was available around, Konu was upset. In the meantime, Khuyol Haoba, who was hiding around the lake, came to her help for fixing the net's frame. The two fell in love at the first sight. As time passed on, fortunately, the king of Moirang got to know about Khuyol Haoba's identity and reinstated him to his late father's official position. The two lovers had enjoyed their life of love for some time. They submitted themselves to each other though not married to each other. [15] [16]
Once Huiningsumba (Yaithing Konu's father), went out for a hunt in the woods, as per the royal orders. Unable to find any prey, he burned the bushes of the forest to drive out the hiding animals. Within a few moments, the forest fire turned into a big firestorm and spread fastly to the neighbouring kingdom of the Khumans, burning the resident and the barn of a fierce Khuman warrior named Kaoba Hingamba. Witnessing the incident, Kaoba Hingamba's fury knew no bounds. He captured Huiningsumba and his men and demanded the captive's daughter as the ransom. Reluctant but having no other way, Huiningsumba agreed. Thus, Yaithing Konu and Kaoba Hingamba got married. During the wedding, Yaithing Konu was already conceived with Khuyol Haoba's child, for three months. She was distressed. [17] [18]
Yaithing Konu's marriage to Kaoba Hingamba did not end her connection with Khuyol Haoba. Khuyol Haoba used to visit Yaithing Konu, impersonating himself as a man from the hills, working for Kaoba Hingamba. They continued their romantic affairs even at the house of Kaoba Hingamba. Very soon, the relationship was noticed by Kaoba Hingamba, who kicked Yaithing Konu out of his house. The husband's dismissal of his wife turned into a fortune to the latter. Thus, Yaithing Konu and Khuyol Haoba got united and lived happily ever after. [19] [20]
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ignored (help)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.
Meitei, officially known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur, as well as one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic, included in the 8th Schedule to the Indian Constitution. It is one of the advanced literary languages, recognised by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. It serves as one of the recognised educational and literary languages in Assam and Tripura. Native to the Meitei people, it has around 3 million total speakers, and is used as L1 by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, and as L2 by different ethnic groups, in different parts of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It was used as a court language in the historic Manipur Kingdom, in accordance to the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947.
Charairongba - Old manipuri "Chalai-Longpa" also known as "Eningthou Ningthem Charairongba" was the Meitei king and the ruler of Kangleipak from 1697 to 1709.
Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the Luwang Nonghumsang, later known as the Pandit Loishang, collected sources of indigenous Meitei knowledge and philosophy until the 18th century. Writing by Meiteis is assumed to go back to the Kingdom of Kangleipak in the early 12th century. The Meitei script is a Brahmic abugida. It is known only from the Puya manuscripts discovered in the first half of the 20th century. Manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries were written using the Bengali alphabet. The existence of the Meitei script in the 15th-century hinges on the authenticity of an inscription dated to the reign of Senbi Kiyamba. The first printed Manipuri book, Manipurer Itihas, appeared in 1890 from the Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta. Though the kings of Manipur had established contact with the British from the middle of the eighteenth century onward the real impact of the contact came much later. Johnstone Middle English School, based on the western system of education, was started in 1885 at Imphal, and in 1891 Manipur lost its independence to the British. British domination facilitated the introduction of new systems in the civil, political and educational spheres, which hastened the process of modernization in Manipur, exposed as it was to new ideas and influences.
Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh l was a poet, essayist, prose-writer and novelist. He was born in 1895 in Uripok Sorbon Thingen leikai, Imphal.He was influenced by Sanskrit tradition and is regarded as one of the best-known writers of modern Meitei literature. He founded the Manipuri Sahitya Sammelini of Meitei literature along with Dr. Lamabam Kamal Singh, Hijam Irabot and Hijam Anganghal.
Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi was an Indian classical dancer and musician, known for her expertise in the Manipuri Dance forms of Lai Haraoba and Raas. In 2010, the Government of India awarded Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
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 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.
The Henjunaha Lairoulembi, also known as the Henjunaha Lairuklembi, shortly known as the Henjunaha, is a legendary epic love story of Henjunaha Yangleingamba and Thongnang Lairoulembi. It is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang province of Ancient Kangleipak.
Nongpok Ningthou, also known as Sovereign of the East or King of the East, is a deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi got united in the Nongmaiching mountains. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in Meitei religion.
Akongjamba was a nobleman of a king in Ancient Moirang in Meitei mythology and folklore. He was a lover of the harvest Goddess Phouoibi. According to mythology, fate did not permit the lovers to unite, so they reincarnated. The lives of the two legendary lovers were believed to be enacted by Thangjing as a part of the epic cycles of incarnations.
Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty of Ancient Moirang. 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.
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.
The ancient legend of Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi is an epic cycle of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the fateful love of Kadeng Thangjahanba, a skilled blacksmith, for the beautiful Tonu Laijinglembi.
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.
The ancient legend of Wanglen Pungdingheiba and Sappa Chanu Silheibi 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 tragedic romantic adventures of Wanglen Pungdingheiba for his ladylove Sappa Chanu Silheibi . Wanglen Pungdingheiba was a skilled craftsman known for making musical instrument pung. Lady Sappa Chanu Silheibi was a skilful weaving artisan. Both the lovers are equally noted for their talents and good looks, thereby becoming the matters of envy of many young men and women in the kingdom of Moirang.
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Ancient Meitei literature, also termed as Old Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Ancient Meitei language from the earliest texts until the time of King Pamheiba of Kangleipak. All the ancient Meitei literary works are written in the traditional Meitei script. The ancient Meitei language texts, written in Meitei script, are conventionally termed as "the Puyas".
Apart from several other works based on the theme of love, mention may be made of the literature coming from the Moirang region of Manipur. A civilization situated on the magnificent Loktak Lake, the culture of the Moirang clan has been noted. Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or ages. The seven cycles are Akongjamba (hero) and Phouoibi (heroine); Henjunaha (hero) and Leima Lairuklembi (heroine); Khuyol Haoba (hero) and Yaithing Konu (heroine); Kadeng Thangjahanba (hero) and Tonu Laijinglembi (heroine); Ura Naha ...
The legend of the immortal love between Khoyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu, believed to have taken place several generations ago, was still fresh to Khamba's generation . It inspired young lovers to unscaled heights of love .
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)SANA LAKHWA (185-236) During Sana Lakhwa's regime the 3rd romantic love story of 'Haoba-Konu' as stated in Kanglei Lamthon Puya took place with the key role in the story divinely steered by Lord Thangching. In the episode, Lord Eputhou Thangching wished Konu to call upon Khuyol Haoba from his hiding shelter in the Loktak Lake and ask him to repair her fishing net (Een in local language). Accordingly, Khuyol Haoba came out and repaired her fishing net. It was a divine incident for both Khuyol Haoba and Konu to fall in love each other thereby Haoba-Konu story or Seishaklon was continued to be narrated in verse form in Moirang Kangleirol.
Khuyol Haoba, the hero of the epic was forced to lead the life of a fugitive to save the Khuyol tribe. Haoba grew up in amidst of phumdis and hides his youthful days in the Loktak Lake to stay away from the merciless King.
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ignored (help)The most notable achievements of Rupmahal are its renderings of Manipuri folk legends in the form of plays . The first genuine folk play, Yaithing Konu, an agonising tragedy by H. Anganghal Singh, was produced by Rupmahal some time in 1948.
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: CS1 maint: others (link)Rupmahal Theatre's Yaithing Konu (1949)dramatized by Meitram Bira et al from Angahal's work-stole stellar honours.
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