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{{Short description|First historical king of Moirang and the introducer of the worship of Lord Thangjing}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Ponglen Hanba
| title = Iwang Puriklai / Moirang Ningthou
| succession = [[List of rulers of Moirang|King of Moirang]]
| reign = 52 BC – 28 AD
| predecessor = [[Iwang Puriklai Sunacha]]
| successor = [[Iwang Puriklai Telheiba]]
| religion = [[Sanamahism]]
| house = [[Moirang dynasty]]
| occupation = FIrst historical ruler of the Moirang Kingdom
| spouse = Memtomnu of Khuman{{sfnp|Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur|p=181}}<br/>Nganba Thongraiba of Nganba{{sfnp|Moyon, The Lost Kingdom of Moyon (Bujuur)|2023|p=127}}
| full name = Iwang Puriklai Phang Phang Ponglen Hanba
| reign-type = [[Monarch]]
}}

'''Iwang Puriklai Phang Phang Ponglen Hanba''', shortly known as '''Phang Phang Ponglen Hanba''' ({{Langx|mni|ꯐꯪ ꯐꯪ ꯄꯣꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯍꯟꯕꯥ}}) was an early king of the [[Moirang kingdom|Moirang Kingdom]], an ancient kingdom of [[Kangleipak]] (early [[Manipur]]). He ruled from 52 BC to 28 AD.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Moirang Ningthourol Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 6 |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Moirang_Kangleirol.Moirang_Ningthourol_Moirang_and_Ebuthou_Thangjing_Part_6 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>

He is traditionally recognized as the first human king of Moirang.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=E. Ishwarjit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GP9_AAAAMAAJ |title=Manipur, a Tourist Paradise |date=2005 |publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7646-506-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=E. Ishwarjit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GP9_AAAAMAAJ |title=Manipur, a Tourist Paradise |date=2005 |publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7646-506-9 |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfnp|Lisam|2011|p=678}}{{Sfnp|Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur||p=179}} His reign is widely regarded as the beginning of Moirang's chronological royal history.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=History of Moirang Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 5 |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Moirang_Kangleirol.History_of_Moirang_Moirang_and_Ebuthou_Thangjing_Part_5 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=manipur channel >>Moirang Kangleirol ~ E-Pao! News About Manipur |url=https://e-pao.net/epPrinter.asp?src=manipur.Moirang_Kangleirol.Lai_Haraoba_Moirang_Haraoba_Moirang_and_Ebuthou_Thangjing_Part_13 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>{{Sfnp|Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur||p=181}}

== Historical context ==
According to the royal chronicle known as the ''[[Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba]]'', seven rulers are listed before Phang Phang Ponglen Hanba, though their reigns are undated and regarded as mythological or semi-legendary in nature.<ref name=":1" />{{Sfnp|Moyon, The Lost Kingdom of Moyons (Bujuur)|2023|p=126}} The accession of Ponglen Hanba in 52 BC is generally accepted by scholars as marking the commencement of Moirang's recorded dynastic chronology.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />{{Sfnp|Goshwami, History of the People of Manipur||p=181}}

== Worship of Lord Thangjing ==
An odd thing happened during his rule. The young girls and boys did not grin. The kids didn't cry. The cocks did not crow, and the dogs did not bark. Thangyai Leihoubi, the King's daughter, asked about this strange occurrence. Following a divination, the priest Thingkol Miribacha disclosed that the King had neglected to carry out the ceremonies and offerings to [[Thangching|Ibudhou Thangjing]]. Normalcy was restored as soon as the rites were carried out in accordance with Ibudhou Thangjing's instructions.{{Sfnp|Lisam|2011|p=678}}

Ibudhou Thangjing was to be worshipped by the fifteen thoyas (Leikais). However, only eight Leikais were requested to gather in front of Moirang Kangla Utra. The Moirang Thangjing Lai Haraoba was thus started.{{Sfnp|Lisam|2011|p=677-678}}<ref name=":0" /> Ngangkha, Khoyol, Nganglou, Khambi, Higa, Okchin, Chenglei, and Yaoshu were the eight leikais. Khori, Ngangkha, Nongkhrangpokpi, Aaun, Okchil, Higa, Chenglei, and Yaos were the nine markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eight Leikais And Nine Market Places Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 7 |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Moirang_Kangleirol.Eight_Leikais_And_Nine_Market_Places_Moirang_and_Ebuthou_Thangjing_Part_7 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Reign ==
Ponglen Hanba's reign is noted for several foundational reforms and cultural developments in the Moirang polity:

* He institutionalized the tradition of royal coronation ceremonies held at [[Keke Kangla]], the sacred capital and spiritual seat of Moirang.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfnp|Moyon, The Lost Kingdom of Moyons (Bujuur)|2023|p=127-128}}
* He introduced the practice of a symbolic ritual known as the "coronation war", conducted near the [[Loktak Lake]], meant to assert territorial dominion and divine legitimacy.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfnp|Moyon, The Lost Kingdom of Moyons (Bujuur)|2023|p=128}}
* A monumental seven-tiered palace was constructed under his reign at Keke Kangla, which served as both a royal residence and a center for administrative and ritual affairs.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Salwons And Langwons Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 9 |url=https://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Moirang_Kangleirol.Salwons_And_Langwons_Moirang_and_Ebuthou_Thangjing_Part_9 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* He introduced a system of territorial administration by dividing the kingdom into eight leikais (wards), each containing nine market zones, indicating a sophisticated model of governance.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==

* [[Moirang Shayon]]
* [[Codrus]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Meitei royalty]]
[[Category:Keke Moirang]]

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book |last=Lisam |first=Khoidom Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6d-IyINtk4C |title=Encyclopaedia of Manipur (3 Vol.) |date=2011 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=9788178358642 |ref={{SfnRef|Lisam, Encyclopaedia of Manipur|2011}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Goshwami |first=Hareshwar |url=https://archive.org/details/hareshwar-goshwami-history-of-the-people-of-manipur |title=History of the People of Manipur}}
* {{Cite book |last=Moyon |first=Rev Dr Koningthung Ngoru |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nn3jEAAAQBAJ |title=The Lost Kingdom of Moyon (Bujuur): Iruwng (King) Kuurkam Ngoruw Moyon & The People of Manipur |date=2023 |publisher=Shashwat Publication |isbn=9788119517312 |ref={{SfnRef|Moyon, The Lost Kingdom of Moyons (Bujuur)|2023}}}}

{{Authority control}}

Ponglen Hanba - Revision history

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