Epic cycles of incarnations

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This article is about a collection of stories from the Meitei mythology. For the Greek mythology, see Epic cycle.
Epic cycles of incarnations
KHAMBA THOIBI EPIC - THE DANCE BEFORE THE KING.jpg
Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi dancing before the King of Moirang
Folk tale
NameEpic cycles of incarnations
Also known as
Data
MythologyMeitei mythology (Manipuri mythology)
Country
RegionMoirang, Manipur
RelatedMeitei folklore (Manipuri folklore),
Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)
Part of a series on
Meitei mythology
A tableau depicting Meitei divine mythical beings, like Hiyang Hiren and Pakhangba.
Deities
Heroes and heroines
Mythical creatures
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In Meitei mythology and folklore, the epic cycles of incarnations (Old Manipuri: Moilang Saion, Moilang Shaion, Meitei: Moirang Sayon, Moirang Shayon) refer to the epic of seven incarnations (nine in some versions) of two divine lovers in the kingdom of Moirang[lower-alpha 1] in the realm of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[1][2][3][4][5]

Contents[edit]

Position[lower-alpha 2] Title
(in Ancient Meitei) 		English translation Title
(in Modern Meitei) 		English translation Era Description Notes (if any)
1st ꯑꯀꯣꯡꯆꯥꯝꯄ - ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯄꯤ transl. Akongchampa and Phouoipi ꯑꯀꯣꯡꯖꯥꯝꯕ - ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤ transl. Akongjamba and Phouoibi During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Kaba Purang (917-981 AD) Akongjamba, an already married handsome nobleman of Moirang, was captivated by goddess Phouoibi, who loved him so much. Due to Akongjamba's failure to keep his words and the simultaneous cruel hospitality of Akongjamba's wife, goddess Phouoibi decided to leave her lover Akongjamba as well as the human world. [6][1][7]
2nd ꯍꯦꯟꯁꯨꯅꯍꯥ - ꯂꯥꯏꯂꯧꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ transl. Hensunaha and Lailoulempi ꯍꯦꯟꯖꯨꯅꯍꯥ - ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯧꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ transl. Henjunaha and Lairoulembi During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Telheiba (28-78 AD) Henjunaha Yangleingamba (Old Manipuri: Hensunaha Yangleingampa), a fatherless lad, was brought up by a poor widowed mother. Thongnang Lairoulembi (Old Manipuri: Thongnang Lailoulempi), a beautiful lady, was brought up by a rich father. Henjunaha got murdered by the evil spirits. Defying all the odds, Lairoulembi followed her lover by committing suicide, after which she faced troubles and adventures in the underworld. [6][1][8]
3rd ꯈꯨꯌꯣꯜ ꯍꯥꯎꯄ - ꯌꯥꯏꯊꯤꯡ ꯀꯣꯅꯨ transl. Khuyol Haupa and Yaithing Konu ꯈꯨꯌꯣꯜ ꯍꯥꯎꯕ - ꯌꯥꯏꯊꯤꯡ ꯀꯣꯅꯨ transl. Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Sana Lakhwa (185-236 AD) 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. During escaping from the attempts to be killed by enemies, Khuyol Haoba fell in love with Yaithing Konu. Konu got married to another men but fate permitted Konu to unite with Haoba in the end. [6][1][9]
4th ꯀꯇꯦꯡ ꯊꯥꯡꯆꯍꯟꯄ - ꯇꯣꯅꯨ ꯂꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ transl. Kateng Thangchahanpa and Tonu Laichinglempi ꯀꯗꯦꯡ ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯍꯟꯕ - ꯇꯣꯅꯨ ꯂꯥꯏꯖꯤꯡꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ transl. Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD) Kadeng Thangjahanba (Old Manipuri: Kateng Thangchahanpa) was a highly talented and skilful royal chief metalsmith appointed by King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba (Old Manipuri: Laiching Ningthou Punsipa) of Moirang. Tonu Laijinglembi (Old Manipuri: Tonu Laichinglempi) was the only daughter of Laijing Lakpa (Old Manipuri: Laiching Lakpa), a favourite nobleman of the King of Moirang. During the absence of Thangjahanba, his ladylove Tonu was married to the King of Moirang, who was unaware of the relationship between the two lovers. Once the king found out the truth, he generously returned the lady to her true lover. [6][1][10]
5th ꯈꯣꯡꯆꯣꯝꯄ - ꯄꯤꯇꯣꯡꯅꯨ transl. Khongchompa and Pitongnu ꯎꯔꯥ ꯅꯍꯥ ꯈꯣꯡꯖꯣꯝꯕ - ꯄꯤꯗꯣꯅꯨ transl. Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD) Khongjomba (1210-1263 AD) was the biological son of King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba (1138-1210 AD) of Moirang and Lady Tonu Laijinglembi, but he was born in the house of his foster father Kadeng Thangjahanba, the second husband of Tonu Laijinglembi. Pidonnu (also spelled as "Pidonu" or "Pidongnu") was the daughter of a nobleman of Moirang. Born as a legitimate but unrecognized royal offspring, Khongjomba faced many atrocities from the heir apparent (adopted son of the king) for having love affairs with lady Pidonnu. Once the king of Moirang discovered that Khongjomba was his true son, the former immediately coronated the latter, thereby twisting the cruel heir apparent's fate. [6][1][11]
6th ꯋꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯄꯨꯡꯇꯤꯟꯍꯟꯄ - ꯆꯛꯄ ꯌꯥꯏꯅꯨ ꯐꯤꯁꯥꯍꯩꯄꯤ transl. Wanglen Pungtinhanpa and Chakpa Yainu Phisaheipi ꯋꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯄꯨꯡꯗꯤꯡꯍꯩꯕ - ꯁꯥꯞꯄ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯁꯤꯜꯍꯩꯕꯤ transl. Wanglen Pungdingheiba and Sappa Chanu Silheibi During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Ura Khongyamba (533-574 AD) Wanglen Pungdingheiba (Old Manipuri: Wanglen Pungtinhanpa) was a skilled craftsman known for making musical instrument pung. Lady Sappa Chanu Silheibi (Old Manipuri: Chakpa Yainu Phisaheipi) was a skilful weaving artisan. When the two talented young lovers had a competition of crafting their respective skills, due to some misunderstandings, Lady Silheibi got embarrassed and committed suicide. Upon discovering his lover's corpse in the pool of blood, Pungdingheiba followed her in a similar manner. [6][1][12]
7th ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯈꯝꯄ - ꯃꯣꯏꯂꯥꯡ ꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ transl. Khuman Khampa and Moilang Thoipi ꯈꯝꯕ - ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ transl. Khamba and Thoibi During the reign of Moilang King Iwang Puriklai Chingkhu Telheiba (1083-1138 AD) Brought up by his elder sister, Khuman Khamba, an orphan man, and Thoibi, the only princess of Moirang, fell in love with each other. After facing different adventures, conspiracies, cruelties, threats and even murder attempts, the two lovers succeeded to unite in the end. [6][1][13]

In popular culture[edit]

In popular culture, the epic cycles of incarnations appear in arts, books, movies, theatres and many others.

Manmohan Singh, the then prime minister of India, being presented a memento of a painting depicting Khuman Khamba capturing the Kao (bull), by Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu, the then Governor of Manipur and Okram Ibobi Singh, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of three projects, National Academy of Sports, Convention Center and Manipur Institute of Technology, in the Kangla in Manipur on 2 December 2006

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ Moirang was an independent kingdom in early times, though later became a province of a unified kingdom, called Manipur Kingdom.
  2. ↑ This position is just for mythological perspectives only. It is not corresponding to the historical datings.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (2018-05-11). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. pp. 236, 237. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0. 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 age.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 349. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1. The epic ballad cycle of the incarnations of Moirang which is nine in number according to some and only seven according to others is a grand majestic saga of the eternal triangle in which generations after generations would find reflections of the various hopes, ideals and aspirations of each age.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ↑ Kaushal, Molly; Arts, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the (2001). Chanted Narratives: The Living "katha-vachana" Tradition. India: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-246-0182-2.
  4. ↑ Pattanayak, Debi Prasanna; Claus, Peter J. (1981). Indian Folklore. Original from:Indiana University. India: Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ↑ Jādava, Kiśora (1998). Folklore and Its Motifs in Modern Literature. India: Manas Publications. pp. 69, 142. ISBN 978-81-7049-086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Salwons And Langwons Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 9". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  7. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 62, 63. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 63, 64, 65. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 65, 66. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  10. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 66, 67. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 67, 68. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 68, 69. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  13. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 69, 70. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. ↑ "KAO - A Glimpse of Manipuri Opera". e-pao.net.
  15. ↑ ""Kao - the sacred bull" by Laihui on 6 March 2011". e-pao.net.
  16. ↑ Press, Imphal Free. "MDU drama festival from March 21 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  17. ↑ NEWS, NE NOW (2018-03-26). "Manipur Folk Drama Festival kicks off in Imphal". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  18. ↑ "Literary books in Meitei Mayek released : 29th apr18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  19. ↑ "Literary books in Meitei Mayek released – Manipur News". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  20. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". e-pao.net.
  21. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". www.thesangaiexpress.com.
  22. ↑ "Kao Faba displayed". thesangaiexpress.com.

External links[edit]

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