Meitei confederacy

This article is about an alliance of seven Meitei groups. For the overall Meitei language-speaking populace, see Meitei people. For the similar septet system of other indigenous communities of Manipur, see Yek Salai.

Classical Meitei names of the 7 groups of the Meitei race of Kangleipak in their respective 7 sacred colors

Meitei confederacy, or Meitei confederation, ^{[1] [2]} is the union of the seven Meitei clans (Meitei : yek salai). ^{[3] [4]} The seven clans of the Meitei confederacy are ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

• Mangang (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) or Ningthouja (ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ)
• Luwang (ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ)
• Khuman(ꯈꯨꯃꯟ)
• Angom (ꯑꯉꯣꯝ)
• Moilang (ꯃꯣꯏꯂꯥꯡ) or Moirang (ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ)
• Kha Nganpa (ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ)
• Chenglei, Sarang Leishangthem (ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ), or Salai Leishangthem (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ)

Prior to unification and formation of the "Meitei confederacy," these groups were independent kingdoms ruled by their own kings. The Mangang, defeated the other clans and the Ningthouja king became the supreme ruler. Initially, the name Meitei referred only to the Ningthouja, but by the 15th century, it had come to refer to all seven clans. Over time, the seven groups united to form one nation but remained separate social entities. Today, clans still play an important role in the social structure of Meitei civilisation, especially in determining marriage patterns, as Meitei people do not marry within the same clan. ^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

Historical territories

Yek Salai	States	Romanisation	Note(s)
Mangang	ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ	Imphal Kangla	[13]
Luwang	ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ	Luwangsangbam Kangla
Khuman	ꯃꯌꯥꯡ ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ	Mayang Imphal
Angom	ꯀꯣꯡꯕ	Kongba
Moilang	ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ	Moirang Kangla
Kha Nganpa	ꯋꯥꯡꯆꯤꯡ ꯁꯪꯒꯥꯏ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ	Wangching Sanggai Kangla
Chenglei	ꯋꯥꯡꯒꯣꯏ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ	Wangoi Kangla

Number of families

Main article: Yumnak

Romanisation	Number of families/surnames (according to N. Monihar [14] )	Number of families/surnames (according to Khomdon Lisam [15] )	Number of families/surnames (according to T.C. Hodson [16] )	Number of families/surnames (according to Manipur Mirror)	Number of families/surnames (according to MASTEC) [17]
Ningthouja	256	234	115	254 [18]	125
Luwang	105	93	56	106 [19]	58
Khuman	176	199	103	204 [20]	67
Angom	96	109	50	103 [21]	62
Moilang	100	110	66	99 [22]	67
Kha Nganpa	42	37	17	43 [23]	21
Chenglei	62	45	41	65 [24]	35

Traditional ancestors

Clan	According to Neelbir Sairem [25]		According to Lairenlakpam Bino Devi [26] & N. Tarunkumar Singh [13]
	Traditional ancestors	Romanisation	Traditional ancestors	Romanisation
Mangang	ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ	Pakhangba	ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ	Pakhangba
Luwang	ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ	Poireiton	ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ	Poireiton
Khuman			ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯟ (ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯔꯦꯟ)	Thongalen (Thongaren)
Angom	ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ	Pureiromba	ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ	Pureiromba
Moilang	ꯉꯥꯡꯍꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ & ꯉꯥꯡꯅꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡ	Nganghunthok & Ngangningsing	ꯉꯥꯡꯅꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡ	Ngangningsing
Kha Nganpa	ꯈꯝꯆꯤꯡꯀꯣꯟ	Khamchingkon	—	Khamdingou
Chenglei	ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯧ ꯌꯨꯝꯊꯪꯕ	Nung-ngou Yumthangba	ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯧ ꯌꯨꯝꯊꯪꯕ	Nungngou Yumthangba

Swords

Further information: Meitei traditional weapons

Romanisation	Illustrations of the swords	Names of the swords	Romanisation	Maximum breadth (cm) [27]	Maximum length (cm) [27]	Note(s)
Mangang		ꯆꯛꯊꯥꯡ	Chak Thaang [18]	6.2	59.6	[28] [29]
Luwang		ꯇꯣꯟꯗꯨꯝꯕ	Tondumba [19]	5.7	58.7
Khuman		ꯇꯣꯟꯀꯛꯄ	Tonkakpa [20]	6.6	57.2
Angom		ꯄꯨꯀꯛ ꯊꯥꯡ	Pukak Thaang [21]	6.3	50.1
Moilang		ꯌꯦꯟꯕꯥ ꯃꯇꯣꯛ ꯁꯥꯕ	Yenbaa Matok Saaba/Matok Paanba [22]	7.2	54.2
Kha Nganpa		ꯂꯥꯏꯊꯥꯡ ꯆꯤꯅꯥꯏꯕ	Laithaang Chinaaiba [23]	5.9	58.6
Chenglei		ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯡ ꯊꯥꯡ	Khunthong Thaang/Khunthok Laaithaang [24]	5.9	59.1

Classical elements

Yek salai	Sacred water	Sacred fire	Note(s)
Mangang	Water of Nungseng (Nungjeng)	7 flames of Meiyei Meithang	[18]	[30] [31]
Luwang	Water of Lamphel	Flame of Khoiju	[19]
Khuman	Water of Pumlen	Flame of Meithang	[20]
Angom	Water of Kongba Meironbi	Flame of Meiba Chingba Mei	[21]
Moilang	Water of Loktak	3 flames of Meithang	[22]
Kha Nganpa	Water of Leitang/Takna Kha Puruk shoubi	Flame of Leikham Waimei	[23]
Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem)	Water of Takna/Takyel	5 flames of Leikham Waimeithang	[24]

Totems

Further information: List of creatures in Meitei culture, Plants in Meitei civilisation, and Animals in Meitei civilization

Romanisation	Sacred mythical creatures	Sacred plants	Sacred fishes	Sacred leaves	Sacred fruits	Sacred flowers	Sacred woods/timbers	Note(s)
Mangang		Urum	Saareng Angaangba/Ngaahei	Thamlaa/Changbilaa	Thamchet/Heijang/Heibi	Thambaal Angaangba	Sayi/Uyung	[18]	[32] [33]
Luwang		Khok U	Saareng Luwaoba/Ngaamu	Laayaai	Kihom/Heiba	Mellei	Heiku/Upal	[19]
Khuman		Pungphai	Saareng Mureinaba/Ngaatin	Changbilaa/Kwaaklaa/Khaanglaa	Heibung/Heiku/Heibong	Leisang/Kwaaklei/Leikhaam	Chaokhong/Sayi/Waa	[20]
Angom		Tairel	Saareng Angouba/Ngaraa	Laarong/Leihoulaa	Heibong/Heiba	Tharo/Thambaal (Angouba)	Upal/Sayi	[21]
Moilang		Nauhing	Saareng Naapu	Khaanglaa	Heiyit	Yerum Lei/Laangthrei	Kuhi/Khanglaa/Tou	[22]
Kha Nganpa		Napu Nasen	Saareng Ngaangna Laangba	Leihoulaa/Laaronglaa	Heiba/Heibung	Haorei/Yerumlei/Mellei/Leisang	Ching Yensin	[23]
Chenglei		Naapi Singbi	Saareng Sangbaannana Laangba/Ngaaren	Changbilaa/Thamlaa	Heijang/Heibung/Heitup	Leisang/Leikham/Sangbrei	Nongleisang	[24]

Sacred colors

Yek Salai 7 Flag, representing the seven sacred colors of the seven groups

Sacred colours [a]	Associated Meitei clans	Romanisation	Note(s)
Red [18]	ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ)	Ningthouja (Mangang)	[34] [35]
Light blue/White [19]	ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ	Luwang
Black [20]	ꯈꯨꯃꯟ	Khuman
White/Yellow [21]	ꯑꯉꯣꯝ	Angom
Yellow/Dark Red [22]	ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ)	Moirang (Moilang)
Green (striped)/Sweet potato colour [23]	ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ	Kha Nganpa
Green/Sky colour [24]	ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ)	Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem)

Related pages

• Mangang Luwang Khuman
• Apokpa
• Apokpa Marup
• Sanamahism

References

1. Variations exist based on different contexts as per different sources

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2. Economic and Political Weekly. India: Sameeksha Trust, 2003. p. 2035
3. Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 1328. ISBN   978-81-269-0705-2.
4. Ghosal, Soma (2003). The Politics of Drugs and India's Northeast. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata. p. 47. ISBN   978-81-7975-065-0.
5. "The People - Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC)". mastec.nic.in. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
6. "The Evolution of The Meetei State By K Manikchand". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
7. "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...
8. "Chieftainship among Meiteis Mizos 5". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
9. Devi, Nunglekpam Premi (2018-04-14). A Glimpse of Manipuri Literary Works. FSP Media Publications. p. 41.
10. North-East India: Interpreting the Sources of Its History. India: Indian Council of Historical Research, 2008. p. 145
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12. Journal of the Assam Research Society. India: Kāmarūpa Anusandhān Samiti, 2007. p. 106
13. Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 10. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
14. Monihar, N. (2000). Sagei Salai Apoklon (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India.
15. "Who are the Indigenous People of Manipur Part 2 By Khomdon Lisam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
16. Hodson, Thomas Callan. The Meitheis. India: D. Nutt, 1908.
17. "The People - Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC)". mastec.nic.in. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
18. "MANGANG YEK SALAI – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
19. "LUWANG SURNAME LIST – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
20. "KHUMAN SURNAME LIST – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
21. "ANGOM SURNAME LIST – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
22. "MOIRANG SURNAME LIST – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
23. "KHABA NGANBA SURNAME LIST – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
24. "SALANG LEISHANGTHEM – Manipur Mirror" . Retrieved 2025-02-16.
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28. Monihar, N. (2000). Sagei Salai Apoklon (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India.
29. Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.
30. Monihar, N. (2000). Sagei Salai Apoklon (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India.
31. Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.
32. Monihar, N. (2000). Sagei Salai Apoklon (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India.
33. Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.
34. Monihar, N. (2000). Sagei Salai Apoklon (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India.
35. Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.