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{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
|name=Thongalel
|name=Thongalel
|deity_of=God of the death and the king of the hell
|deity_of=King of the Underworld<br />God of the dead
|other_names=[[Thongaren]], [[Thongarel]], [[Thongalen]]
|other_names=
|script_name=Meitei
* Thongalen
|script=ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ
* Thongaren
|affiliation=[[Meitei religion]] ([[Sanamahism]])
* Thongarel
|abode=[[Underworld]]
|affiliation=[[Meitei mythology]] ([[Manipuri mythology]]) and [[Meitei religion]] ([[Sanamahism]])
|texts=[[Poireiton Khunthok]], [[Nongban Pombi Luwaoba]]
|abode=[[Underworld]] ({{lang-mni|Khamnung}})
|texts=
* [[Poireiton Khunthok]]
* [[Nongban Pombi Luwaoba]]
|gender=Male
|gender=Male
|ethnic_group=[[Meitei ethnicity]]
|ethnic_group=[[Meitei ethnicity]]
|siblings=[[Poireiton]]
|siblings=[[Poireiton]]
|consorts=[[Laikhurembi]], [[Thongak Lairembi]], [[Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi]] and [[Lainaotabi]]
|consorts=
* [[Laikhurembi]]
* [[Lainaotabi]]
* [[Thongak Lairembi]]
* [[Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi]]
|greek_equivalent=[[Hades]]
|greek_equivalent=[[Hades]]
|roman_equivalent=[[Pluto]]
|roman_equivalent=[[Pluto]]
|hinduism_equivalent=[[Yama]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Elangbam Nilakanta |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=f1puAAAAMAAJ&dq=Thongaren&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Thongaren+yama |title=Aspects of Indian Culture |date=1982 |publisher=Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy |language=en}}</ref>}}
|hinduism_equivalent=[[Yama]]<ref>Elangbam Nilakanta (1982). Aspects of Indian Culture. Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.</ref><ref>Glimpses of Manipuri Language, Literature, and Culture - Page 19 - 1970</ref>
|type=Meitei
|member_of=[[Lainingthou]]s
|image_size=300px
|caption="Thongalel", the [[Ancient Meitei language|Ancient Meitei]] ([[Old Manipuri]]) name of the God, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida
|region=[[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]])
}}
'''Thongalel''' (Thongalen) or '''Thongaren''' (Thongarel) is the [[Death (personification)|god of the dead]] and the king of the [[underworld]] ({{lang-mni|Khamnung}}) in [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]]. He is worshipped by the people in [[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]]).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466636/page/n174/mode/2up|title=Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul|last=Neelabi|first=sairem|date=2006|pages=174|language=mni}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w577ssi6CTAC&q=thongaren+death&pg=PT39|title=Burning Bright Irom Sharmila|last=Mehrotra|first=Deepti Priya|date=2009-07-08|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-153-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9t47AAAAIAAJ&q=thongarel+death|title=The North Eastern Geographer|date=1980|publisher=North East India Geographical Society|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&q=thongarel+death|title=Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology|date=1997|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|pages=385|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TPiAAAAAMAAJ&q=Thongaren+land+death|title=Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography|date=1982|publisher=Board of Editors, Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=thongaren|title=The History of Manipur: An early period|last=Singh|first=Wahengbam Ibohal|date=1986|publisher=Manipur Commercial Company|language=en}}</ref><ref>Commission, India Indian Historical Records (1976). Proceedings of the Meetings of the Session. Manager of Publications.</ref>
He is the Guardian God of the [[nadir]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466636/page/n181/mode/2up|title=Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul|last=Neelabi|first=sairem|date=2006|pages=181|language=mni}}</ref>
He is the ancestor-God of the [[Khuman dynasty|Khuman clan]] of [[Meitei people]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&q=thongaren&pg=PA10|title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization|last=Sanajaoba|first=Naorem|date=1988|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-853-2|language=en}}</ref> [[Laikhurembi]] and [[Lainaotabi]] are his wives.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjkBM3qyZ00C&q=thongaren+thongarel+Laikhurembi+lainaotabi+husbands+chief+queen&pg=PA79|title=Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray|last1=Ray|first1=Asok Kumar|last2=Chakraborty|first2=Satyabrata|date=2008|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-572-8|language=en}}</ref>


'''Leinung Thongalel''' ({{lang-omp|ꯂꯩꯅꯨꯡ ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ}}), also spelt as '''Khamnung Thongaren''' ({{lang-mni|ꯈꯝꯅꯨꯡ ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯔꯦꯟ}}), is the god of the death and the ruler of the underworld ([[Khamnung]]) in [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Wahengbam Ibohal |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=thongaren&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0tr727_XuAhWDc30KHTvbDkMQ6AEwAHoECAMQAw |title=The History of Manipur: An early period |date=1986 |publisher=Manipur Commercial Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mehrotra |first=Deepti Priya |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=w577ssi6CTAC&pg=PT39&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPmOao8PXuAhVUU30KHYGDD_U4ChDoATADegQICBAD#v=onepage&q=thongaren%2520death&f=false |title=Burning Bright Irom Sharmila |date=2009-07-08 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-153-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mehrotra |first=Deepti Priya |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9t47AAAAIAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death |title=The North Eastern Geographer |date=1980 |publisher=North East India Geographical Society |isbn=978-81-8475-153-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mehrotra |first=Deepti Priya |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death |title=Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-8475-153-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=India Indian Historical Records |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=LvRtAAAAMAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death |title=Proceedings of the Meetings of the Session |date=1976 |publisher=Manager of Publications. |isbn=978-81-8475-153-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=India Indian Historical Records |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TPiAAAAAMAAJ&dq=Thongaren&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Thongaren+land+death |title=Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography |date=1982 |publisher=Board of Editors, Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography |isbn=978-81-8475-153-6 |language=en}}</ref>
The ''Pakhangba Nonggarol'' ({{lang-omp|Pakhangpa Nongkalol}}) says the God of death is called ''"Leinung Thongarel"'' ({{lang-omp|Leinung Thongalel}}).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12897/page/n401/mode/2up?q=Leinung+Thongarel+God+death+Pakhangba+Nongkarol|title=MEDIEVAL INDIAN LITERATURE AN ANTHOLOGY VOL. 3|last=N.A|date=1959|publisher=SAHITYA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI|pages=401}}</ref>
He is the consort of [[Laikhurembi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Asok Kumar |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=bjkBM3qyZ00C&pg=PA79&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTtLST563pAhWDc30KHfQVCT0Q6AEIHzAD#v=onepage&q=thongaren%2520laikhurembi&f=false |title=Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Satyabrata |date=2008 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-572-8 |language=en}}</ref>
He is equivalent to [[Yama]] of Hindu mythology.<ref name=":0" />


==Sources==
== Mythology ==
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&q=thongaren&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0tr727_XuAhWDc30KHTvbDkMQ6AEwBHoECAQQAw |title=Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |language=en}}
=== In the Poireiton Khunthok ===
==References==
{{Main|Poireiton Khunthok}}
King Thongaren ({{lang-omp|[[Thongalen]]}}) asked his highest ranked Queen Laikhurembi ({{lang-omp|Laikhulempi}}) to go with his brother [[Poireiton]] on a long trip. Poireiton was a [[:en:wikt:widower|widower]]; his wife had died, and he had six children to raise and also had to go to the ''[[Ancient Kangleipak|Tai Pang Pan]]''. King Thongalel thought his brother needed a wife to go with him on their trip.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463276/page/n245/mode/2up?q=Thongaren+Laikhurembi|title=The History Of Manipur|last=Singh|first=Wahengbam Ibohal|pages=245}}</ref> However, Queen Laikhurembi did not want to go. She said she was already the king's wife. Trees had already been planted in her honor because she and the king had lived together for a very long time. So, instead of Queen Laikhurembi, King Thongalel sent his second wife, [[Leinaotabi]], to go with Poireiton and be his wife.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463276/page/n246/mode/2up?q=Thongarel+Laikhurembi|title=The History Of Manipur|last=Singh|first=Wahengbam Ibohal|pages=246}}</ref>
 
=== In the Pombi Luwaoba ===
{{Main|Nongban Pombi Luwaoba}}
Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was a prince in the [[Luwang dynasty]]. A dynasty is a line of kings or queens who are all related to each other in the same family. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba and his wife Namoinu were happy. Then she died suddenly. She died because of the God Thongalel. Prince Pombi Luwaoba refused to perform the [[Meitei death ceremony|funeral]] of her dead body. He hoped the God Thongalel would send her [[soul]] back into her body so she would be alive again. God Thongalel received a message from the prince through a [[pheasant]] bird. The message said that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was ready to fight God Thongalel if he did not send Namoinu's soul back. This made the God Thongalel angry. He sent two of his brothers, but Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba beat them both.  He took them prisoner. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba sent the pheasant bird with another message to God Thongalel. The message said that if the God wanted to get back his brothers alive, then he had to sent back the soul of Namoinu to her body.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xf_2DwAAQBAJ&q=thongarel&pg=PA7|title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 )|last=Delhi|first=All India Radio (AIR), New|date=1968-03-17|publisher=All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi|language=en}}</ref>
 
Finally, God Thongalel came to meet Prince Pombi Luwaoba himself. But instead of fighting, the prince prayed to the God Himself. God Thongalel was happy that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba showed him respect. Thongalel brought Namoinu back to life. He also gave her a gift: She would live for 100 years and have 100 sons.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xf_2DwAAQBAJ&q=thongarel&pg=PA7|title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 )|last=Delhi|first=All India Radio (AIR), New|date=1968-03-17|publisher=All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi|language=en}}</ref>
 
== Association with other deities ==
God Thongalel is sometimes identified as God [[Wangbren|Wangpurel]] ({{lang-omp|Wangpulel}}). Thongalel is the King of underworld. Wangpurel reigns over the direction south. Some [[Meitei people|Meiteis]] believe that the direction south is the land of death. So, when the [[Meitei people|Meiteis]] got converted into [[Hinduism]], both Thongalel and Wangpulel became counterparts of Hindu God [[Yama]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.461915/page/n109/mode/2up?q=Thongarel|title=A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy|last=Singh|first=L. Bhagyachandra|date=1991|pages=109}}</ref>
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
== Other websites ==
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WdEjAQAAIAAJ&q=thongaren|title=Encyclopaedia of South-Asian Tribes: The Orakzi - The Rongmeis|last=Kumar|first=Satinder|date=2000|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=978-81-261-0517-5|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&q=thongaren|title=Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology|date=1997|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|pages=388|language=en}}
* Proceedings of North East India History Association - North East India History Association. Session · 1995
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7E2EAAAQBAJ&q=thongarel%2F&pg=PA25|title=The Sound of Pena in Manipur|last=Meitei|first=Mayanglambam Mangangsana|date=2021-06-06|publisher=Marjing Mayanglambam|isbn=978-93-5473-655-1|language=en}}
[[Category:Meitei gods and goddesses]]
[[Category:Meitei gods and goddesses]]
{{simple-Wikipedia}}
{{simple-Wikipedia}}

Revision as of 17:04, 26 March 2022

Thongalel
King of the Underworld
God of the dead
Member of Lainingthous
Other names
  • Thongalen
  • Thongaren
  • Thongarel
AffiliationMeitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
AbodeUnderworld (Meitei: Khamnung)
Texts
GenderMale
RegionAncient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur)
Ethnic groupMeitei ethnicity
Personal information
SiblingsPoireiton
Consorts
Equivalents
Greek equivalentHades
Roman equivalentPluto
Hinduism equivalentYama[1][2]

Thongalel (Thongalen) or Thongaren (Thongarel) is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld (Meitei: Khamnung) in Meitei mythology and religion. He is worshipped by the people in Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur).[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] He is the Guardian God of the nadir.[10] He is the ancestor-God of the Khuman clan of Meitei people.[11] Laikhurembi and Lainaotabi are his wives.[12]

The Pakhangba Nonggarol (Old Manipuri: Pakhangpa Nongkalol) says the God of death is called "Leinung Thongarel" (Old Manipuri: Leinung Thongalel).[13]

Mythology

In the Poireiton Khunthok

Main article: Poireiton Khunthok

King Thongaren (Old Manipuri: Thongalen) asked his highest ranked Queen Laikhurembi (Old Manipuri: Laikhulempi) to go with his brother Poireiton on a long trip. Poireiton was a widower; his wife had died, and he had six children to raise and also had to go to the Tai Pang Pan. King Thongalel thought his brother needed a wife to go with him on their trip.[14] However, Queen Laikhurembi did not want to go. She said she was already the king's wife. Trees had already been planted in her honor because she and the king had lived together for a very long time. So, instead of Queen Laikhurembi, King Thongalel sent his second wife, Leinaotabi, to go with Poireiton and be his wife.[15]

In the Pombi Luwaoba

Main article: Nongban Pombi Luwaoba

Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was a prince in the Luwang dynasty. A dynasty is a line of kings or queens who are all related to each other in the same family. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba and his wife Namoinu were happy. Then she died suddenly. She died because of the God Thongalel. Prince Pombi Luwaoba refused to perform the funeral of her dead body. He hoped the God Thongalel would send her soul back into her body so she would be alive again. God Thongalel received a message from the prince through a pheasant bird. The message said that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was ready to fight God Thongalel if he did not send Namoinu's soul back. This made the God Thongalel angry. He sent two of his brothers, but Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba beat them both. He took them prisoner. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba sent the pheasant bird with another message to God Thongalel. The message said that if the God wanted to get back his brothers alive, then he had to sent back the soul of Namoinu to her body.[16]

Finally, God Thongalel came to meet Prince Pombi Luwaoba himself. But instead of fighting, the prince prayed to the God Himself. God Thongalel was happy that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba showed him respect. Thongalel brought Namoinu back to life. He also gave her a gift: She would live for 100 years and have 100 sons.[17]

Association with other deities

God Thongalel is sometimes identified as God Wangpurel (Old Manipuri: Wangpulel). Thongalel is the King of underworld. Wangpurel reigns over the direction south. Some Meiteis believe that the direction south is the land of death. So, when the Meiteis got converted into Hinduism, both Thongalel and Wangpulel became counterparts of Hindu God Yama.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Elangbam Nilakanta (1982). Aspects of Indian Culture. Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.
  2. ↑ Glimpses of Manipuri Language, Literature, and Culture - Page 19 - 1970
  3. ↑ Neelabi, sairem (2006). Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul (in ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). p. 174.
  4. ↑ Mehrotra, Deepti Priya (2009-07-08). Burning Bright Irom Sharmila. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-153-6.
  5. ↑ The North Eastern Geographer. North East India Geographical Society. 1980.
  6. ↑ Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. 1997. p. 385.
  7. ↑ Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography. Board of Editors, Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography. 1982.
  8. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal (1986). The History of Manipur: An early period. Manipur Commercial Company.
  9. ↑ Commission, India Indian Historical Records (1976). Proceedings of the Meetings of the Session. Manager of Publications.
  10. ↑ Neelabi, sairem (2006). Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul (in ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). p. 181.
  11. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  12. ↑ Ray, Asok Kumar; Chakraborty, Satyabrata (2008). Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-572-8.
  13. ↑ N.A (1959). MEDIEVAL INDIAN LITERATURE AN ANTHOLOGY VOL. 3. SAHITYA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI. p. 401.
  14. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. p. 245.
  15. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. p. 246.
  16. ↑ Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (1968-03-17). AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (1968-03-17). AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Singh, L. Bhagyachandra (1991). A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. p. 109.

Other websites


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