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{{short description|Serpentine dragon god in Meitei mythology}}
{{Distinguish|Tangja Leela Pakhangba|Nongda Lairen Pakhangba}}  
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
[[File:Flag of Manipur.svg|thumb|center|God Pakhangba depicted as a serpentine dragon in the flag of [[Manipur]]]]
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
'''Pakhangba''' ({{lang-mni|ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ}}) or '''Pakhangpa''' ({{lang-omp|ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯄ}}) is a primordial God in [[Meitei mythology]], [[Meitei folklore|folklore]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]] ([[Sanamahism]]). He is often depicted in the form of a dragon, a snake or a serpentine dragon.<ref>http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba</ref> He is the youngest son of [[Atingkok]] and the only biological son of goddess [[Leimarel Sidabi]], the supreme mother earth.<ref>http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba</ref>
{{Contains Meitei text}}
'''Pakhangba''' ({{lang-mni|ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ}}) is a primordial serpentine dragon god in [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]].<ref>http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9DqBAAAAMAAJ&q=pakhangba+serpent&dq=pakhangba+serpent&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgs-GjnfbuAhVLAHIKHYHAAicQ6AEwBHoECAEQAw</ref> He is present in the [[heraldry]] of [[Manipur (princely state)|Manipur kingdom]], originated from ''"Paphal"'' (ꯄꯥꯐꯜ), the mythical illustrations of the deity belonging to the traditional beliefs, preceding [[Hinduism]] in [[Manipur]].<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=qo0MAQAAMAAJ&q=pakhangba&dq=pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwik1-fcnPbuAhUKfisKHWkgCyoQ6AEwAnoECAQQAw</ref> Among the [[Meitei people|Meitei]]s, it is believed that the ancestor of one of the clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=izhuAAAAMAAJ&dq=pakhangba&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=pakhangba+universal</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9DqBAAAAMAAJ&q=pakhangba+serpent&dq=pakhangba+serpent&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgs-GjnfbuAhVLAHIKHYHAAicQ6AEwBHoECAEQAw</ref><ref>''Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics'', Volume 11</ref>


{{infobox deity
Legend says he is the forefather of the seven clans of the [[Meitei people]], which are [[Mangang]] (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ), [[Luwang]] (ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ), [[Khuman]] (ꯈꯨꯃꯟ), [[Angom]] (ꯑꯉꯣꯝ), [[Moilang]] (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ), [[Kha Nganpa]] (ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ) and [[Salai Leishangthem]] (ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ).  
| name = Pakhangba
The seven clans are
| affiliation = [[Sanamahism]] ([[Meitei religion]])
{| class="wikitable"
| parents =
!Clan names
| siblings = [[Lainingthou Sanamahi]], [[Nongshaba]] and [[Nongthang Leima]]
!Romanization
| texts = [[PuYa]]s
|-
| weapon =
|ꯃꯉꯥꯡ
| mantra = Hum! Hum! Hum! Um He Khoyum Lainingthou Pakhangba!
|[[Mangang]]  
| deity_of = Primordial serpentine dragon god
|-
| abode =
|ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ
| children = [[Mangang]], [[Luwang]], [[Khuman(Salai)|Khuman]], [[Angom]], [[Salai Leishangthem]], [[Kha Nganpa]] and [[Moilang]].
|[[Luwang]]  
| festivals = [[Lai Haraoba]]
|-
| greek_equivalent = [[Typhon]]
|ꯈꯨꯃꯟ
| consorts = Lai Nura Taret (Seven celestial goddesses)
|[[Khuman]]
| gender = Male
|-
| mother = [[Leimarel Sidabi]]
|ꯑꯉꯣꯝ
| father = [[Sidaba Mapu]]
|[[Angom]]  
| ethnic_group = [[Meitei people|Meitei ethnicity]]
|-
| member_of = [[Meitei deities|Primordial Meitei deities]]
|ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ
| symbol = [[Serpent (symbolism)]]
|[[Moilang]]
| abodes = [[Heaven]] and [[Earth]]
|-
| script = ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ
|ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ
| script_name = Meitei
|[[Kha Nganpa]]  
| other_names = Pakhangpa, Apanba (Apanpa)
|-
| image = Pakhangba.jpg
|ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ
| type = [[Sanamahism]]
|[[Salai Leishangthem]]
| hinduism_equivalent = [[Ananta Shesha]], [[Vasuki]], [[Takshaka]]
|}
}}
The identity of the deity is often fused with ''"Nongda Lairen Pakhangba"'' (33 AD-154 AD), the first ruler of the [[Ningthouja dynasty]], to sit on the throne of the [[Kangla Palace]].<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=hzduAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAIegQIABAC</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=wPjqAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAHegQIARAC</ref> The title ''Pakhangba'' was also used by other royalties in the [[History of Manipur|history of Manipur]].<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=qo0MAQAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHzubH1eTuAhVQfX0KHdBQB2oQ6AEwA3oECAIQAg</ref><ref>[http://themanipurpage.tripod.com/history/puwarimeetei.html A Brief history of the Meeteis of Manipur - The Manipur Page]</ref>


==In heraldry==
The [[Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya]] ({{lang-omp|ꯋꯥꯀꯣꯛꯂꯣꯟ ꯍꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯊꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯁꯥꯂꯥꯢ ꯑꯃꯥꯢꯂꯣꯟ ꯄꯨꯀꯣꯛ ꯄꯨꯌꯥ}}; {{lang-mni|ꯋꯥꯀꯣꯛꯂꯣꯟ ꯍꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯊꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯑꯃꯥꯏꯂꯣꯟ ꯄꯨꯀꯣꯛ ꯄꯨꯌꯥ}}), one of the oldest known [[Meitei scriptures]], mentions the God. It was written in 1398 BC. So, it is clearly evident that his pantheon existed right from the 15th century BC (3500 years ago) in [[Antique Kangleipak]] ([[Ancient Manipur]]).
A Pakhangba as a [[Heraldry|heraldic]] [[dragon]] was present in all the former royal flags and coats of arms of Manipur.  
The kingdom of Manipur had a set of two flags, a white one and a red one. All featured the Pakhangba dragon in the centre, although not as prominently in the latter flags.<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-mu.html FOTW - Manipur, Indian Princely State]</ref>


==Description==
Many rulers of different ruling dynasties in [[Ancient Manipur]], [[Medieval Manipur]] and [[History of modern Manipur|Modern Manipur]] claimed themselves to be the descendants of the so called deity. There were many chiefs, kings and emperors of different chiefdoms, kingdoms and empires of different eras, who used the term "Pakhangba" as their own names or as a part of their names.
{{Main|Nongshaba}}
One of the most popular example is King [[Nongda Lairen Pakhangba]] (33 AD-154 AD), the first ruler of the [[Ningthouja dynasty]] to sit on the throne of the [[Kangla]] in [[Ancient Manipur]] ([[Antique Kangleipak]]).<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=wQlDAAAAYAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAJegQICRAC</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Ws4BAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATACegQIBhAC</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZlgaAAAAYAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAFegQIAxAC</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=hzduAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAIegQIABAC</ref>
The Pakhangba is the supreme God. He is a man who can change his body to any form, like animals, and others as he is a powerful God. In certain sculptures, known as Kangla-Sa, at the citadel of the [[Kangla Palace]] in [[Imphal]], there is a related type of creature represented with a short body. The sculptures are large and were built of brick, standing at each side of the northern gate. They have a similar head and four sturdy legs, but their body is shorter and bears more of a resemblance to a [[Asiatic lion|lion]].


In 1891, during the [[Anglo-Manipur War]] five British officers were executed by Manipuri soldiers below these two Kangla-Sa. The act was a kind of magic ritual in which the blood of the white officers was seen as feeding there in order to weaken British power. For this act Major Maxwell, the Political Agent that was appointed after the war, had  destroyed the two kangla-sa with gunpowder following the conquest of Manipur.<ref>[http://manipurtalks.com/index.php?threads/kanglasha-the-story-behind-the-legend.5906/page-4 KanglaSha : The story behind the Legend]</ref>
Another popular instance is King '''Tangja Leela Pakhangba''' ({{lang-mni|ꯇꯥꯡꯖ ꯂꯤꯜ ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ}}), originally '''Tang Cha Lee La Pakhangpa''' ({{lang-omp|ꯇꯥꯡ ꯆꯥ ꯂꯤ ꯂ ꯄꯥ ꯈꯪꯄ|Taang Chaa Lee La Paa Khangpa}}; (1445 BC-1405 BC), who is regarded as the first king of [[Ancient Manipur]] ([[Antique Kangleipak]]) civilization.<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&dq=1445%E2%80%931405+Manipur&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=1445%E2%80%931405+taangja+leelaa+paakhangba</ref> He is the father of King [[Ningthou Kangba]] (1405 BC-1359 BC) and the grandfather of King [[Maliyapham Palcha]] ([[Maliyapham Palcha|Koi Koi]]) (1359 BC-1329 BC).<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Taangja+Leela+Paakhangba&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Taangja+Leela+Paakhangba+kaangba</ref><ref>https://themanipurpage.tripod.com/history/meiteikings.html#The%20Chronicle%20of%20the%20Meitei%20Kings%20of%20Manipur:</ref> He is the consort of Queen [[Sinbee Leima]], the daughter of the chief of the Leihou tribe.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="165" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%">
The [[history of Manipur]] accounts for many kings with the name "Pakhangba", more or less having reference to God "Pakhangba", among which [[Tangja Leela Pakhangba]] is one.<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=tangja+leela+pakhangba&dq=tangja+leela+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsnou96Z7xAhWE5nMBHeShAnIQ6AEwA3oECAkQAw</ref><ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=tangja+leela+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsnou96Z7xAhWE5nMBHeShAnIQ6AEwAHoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=tangja%20leela%20pakhangba&f=false</ref>
File:Paphal (Musée du Quai Branly) (4489839164).jpg|Poubi Lai Paphal: a mythical form of Pakhangba
File:Pakhangba.jpg|Lit Pakhangba statue in Imphal
File:Uttra sanglen.jpg|Two standing Kangla-Sa at the northern gate of [[Kangla Fort]]. These massive statues have been rebuilt after they were destroyed at the end of the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891.
</gallery>
 
==See also==
* [[Lists of deities in Sanamahism]]
* [[Dragons in Manipuri mythology]]
*[[History of Manipur]]
*[[Kangla Palace]]
*[[Ningthouja dynasty]]


==Other websites==
* http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Evolution_of_Meitei_State_Nongda_Lairen_Pakhangba_Part_1_By_Priyadarshni_Gangte
* http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Evolution_of_Meitei_State_Nongda_Lairen_Pakhangba_Part_2_By_Priyadarshni_Gangte
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
==External links==
[[Category:Meitei folklore]]
*{{commons category-inline}}
[[Category:Meitei literature]]
*[http://shakmachanongmaithem.blogspot.com/2012/04/paphal-mythical-assumptions-of-lord.html Paphal: the mythical assumptions of Lord Pakhangba, ruling deity of Manipur]
[[Category:Meitei mythology]]
 
[[Category:Meitei religion]]
[[Category:Mythological hybrids]]
[[Category:Dragons]]
[[Category:Culture of Manipur]]
[[Category:Gods and goddesses of Kanglei mythology]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
{{Sanamahi1|state=expanded}}
{{Religion topics}}

Latest revision as of 19:48, 4 August 2021

Not to be confused with Tangja Leela Pakhangba or Nongda Lairen Pakhangba.
God Pakhangba depicted as a serpentine dragon in the flag of Manipur

Pakhangba (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ) or Pakhangpa (Old Manipuri: ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯄ) is a primordial God in Meitei mythology, folklore and religion (Sanamahism). He is often depicted in the form of a dragon, a snake or a serpentine dragon.[1] He is the youngest son of Atingkok and the only biological son of goddess Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme mother earth.[2]

Legend says he is the forefather of the seven clans of the Meitei people, which are Mangang (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ), Luwang (ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ), Khuman (ꯈꯨꯃꯟ), Angom (ꯑꯉꯣꯝ), Moilang (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ), Kha Nganpa (ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ) and Salai Leishangthem (ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ). The seven clans are

Clan names Romanization
ꯃꯉꯥꯡ Mangang
ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ Luwang
ꯈꯨꯃꯟ Khuman
ꯑꯉꯣꯝ Angom
ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ Moilang
ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ Kha Nganpa
ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ Salai Leishangthem

The Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya (Old Manipuri: ꯋꯥꯀꯣꯛꯂꯣꯟ ꯍꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯊꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯁꯥꯂꯥꯢ ꯑꯃꯥꯢꯂꯣꯟ ꯄꯨꯀꯣꯛ ꯄꯨꯌꯥ; Meitei: ꯋꯥꯀꯣꯛꯂꯣꯟ ꯍꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯊꯤꯂꯦꯜ ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯑꯃꯥꯏꯂꯣꯟ ꯄꯨꯀꯣꯛ ꯄꯨꯌꯥ), one of the oldest known Meitei scriptures, mentions the God. It was written in 1398 BC. So, it is clearly evident that his pantheon existed right from the 15th century BC (3500 years ago) in Antique Kangleipak (Ancient Manipur).

Many rulers of different ruling dynasties in Ancient Manipur, Medieval Manipur and Modern Manipur claimed themselves to be the descendants of the so called deity. There were many chiefs, kings and emperors of different chiefdoms, kingdoms and empires of different eras, who used the term "Pakhangba" as their own names or as a part of their names. One of the most popular example is King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33 AD-154 AD), the first ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty to sit on the throne of the Kangla in Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak).[3][4][5][6]

Another popular instance is King Tangja Leela Pakhangba (Meitei: ꯇꯥꯡꯖ ꯂꯤꯜ ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ), originally Tang Cha Lee La Pakhangpa (Old Manipuri: ꯇꯥꯡ ꯆꯥ ꯂꯤ ꯂ ꯄꯥ ꯈꯪꯄ, romanized: Taang Chaa Lee La Paa Khangpa; (1445 BC-1405 BC), who is regarded as the first king of Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak) civilization.[7] He is the father of King Ningthou Kangba (1405 BC-1359 BC) and the grandfather of King Maliyapham Palcha (Koi Koi) (1359 BC-1329 BC).[8][9] He is the consort of Queen Sinbee Leima, the daughter of the chief of the Leihou tribe. The history of Manipur accounts for many kings with the name "Pakhangba", more or less having reference to God "Pakhangba", among which Tangja Leela Pakhangba is one.[10][11]

Other websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba
  2. ↑ http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba
  3. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=wQlDAAAAYAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAJegQICRAC
  4. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Ws4BAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATACegQIBhAC
  5. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZlgaAAAAYAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAFegQIAxAC
  6. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=hzduAAAAMAAJ&q=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhou2L1uTuAhVMyYsBHYzUBI44ChDoATAIegQIABAC
  7. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&dq=1445%E2%80%931405+Manipur&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=1445%E2%80%931405+taangja+leelaa+paakhangba
  8. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Taangja+Leela+Paakhangba&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Taangja+Leela+Paakhangba+kaangba
  9. ↑ https://themanipurpage.tripod.com/history/meiteikings.html#The%20Chronicle%20of%20the%20Meitei%20Kings%20of%20Manipur:
  10. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=tangja+leela+pakhangba&dq=tangja+leela+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsnou96Z7xAhWE5nMBHeShAnIQ6AEwA3oECAkQAw
  11. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=tangja+leela+pakhangba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsnou96Z7xAhWE5nMBHeShAnIQ6AEwAHoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=tangja%20leela%20pakhangba&f=false
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