Chayom Thupki (Meetei Philosophy) :: Translated from Meeteilon
- Part 5 -

James Oinam *

'Snake and Kanglasha' : An illustration of 'Chayom Thupki' by James Oinam

Chayom Thupki (Translation): Part 5

Book Title: Chayom Thupki (Meetei Philosophy)
Author: Makar Luwang
Publisher: S. Achauba Khaba Nganba, Khurai Khongam Leikai
Year of Publication: 1995

(37)
Lairamlengi meeramlenni
Epagidamak emagidamak

The land of the men exists because land of the gods exists. Father exists, therefore mother has to exist. Can we exists without the mother who gather the essence of the father?

(38)
Lukokpa yengbada mit nai
Koijomba mawada nakong melli

[Seeing the bald pains the eyes
Close ears listening to the bearded]

The land of Manipur is surrounded by mountains. Because of living in close proximity with various animals since ancient times, the martial art-based army was developed in the land. Hence, the hair is significant for the people. When someone falls in bad times or when someone is convicted, there has been a tradition shaving one's head. The beard is metaphor for tall talks. We are particularly averse to exaggerated claims.

(39)
Ahangbadu lai shannabungni
Aphunbadu tin-gi tungnaphamni

In the expression 'lai-tin', lai is the invisible one (god) and tin is the visible one (humans). Humans inhabit in places of bountiful. The above teaching tells humans that without the permission of the gods, they should not build houses in the open spaces that belong to the gods.

(40) Mitchina yeng-u paiganu
Akonbagi chinnum ngane

[Give a sideways look, but do not touch/It is the fish to fill in later]

Because it (our alimentary canal) is like a tunnel, the food plate (luk) is also called utong-meruk (a plate to fill the tunnel). To keep healthy one needs to fill it properly. The saying is meant to help this. At the beginning, when one is hungry, the food tastes good. It is not the time to eat the fish kept as side dish. There is a saying that the fish cries thinking the last of the morsels have been eaten. The side dish (fish) should be eaten towards the end. Hence it is also called 'chinnum-nga' (the fish meant adjusting/persuading one to eat the last morsels).

(41)
Kangmangna kanglakkani
Libana lirakani

The mountains of the land will become bald. The lake will become shallow. Feeling the final pulse, the young will enter into the battle. Those who have no experience will follow and fill in the battle.

(42)
Ho epu metrokpa nungna hagel
Choina yanbana mashing taredo

Just like paya (bamboo strips used for binding) made from the same branch, the small yeks (family clans) were bound by one god. But those carrying the blood lines of the land (kings?) just because they can burnt the Puyas. This attempt to bind with a decadent has resulted in the split of the hill and the valley.

(43) Nongda lairen chahi chamma kun makhai
Ningthau tonaba chahi mari ta pankhi

Nongda (from nongdambagi khutagi) means from the hands of the fate (or sent by God). Lairen means one that has the charisma of the gods. The saying means, by following the path of the indigenous religion (fated by the god), the rule lasted for a long time (hundred twenty and half). During this time, the weak was not exploited by the strong, and the poor was not despised by the rich. On the other rejecting these resulted in the rule to lasts for only four years.

(44) Chahiga laushinga khutsamna chatli

The age and the wisdom go hand in hand.

(45)
Uyung lawaigi hanuba darida onthare
Darishu kaya mawangde supat mawang-e

The thought in the forehead of the old man suddenly slipped and fell down the dari (foundation floor of the house) unconscious. That too in spite the fact that the dari wasn't high either.

(46)
Mit tangbina lairik parani
Na pangbina eshei tarani

[The blind will read and the deaf will listen to music]

'Oh aunty, why have you closed your shop?'
'I do not have much expenses, just the daily. But I am unable to save anything. Instead of giving money, people are leaving in writing. And I cannot see anything in them (cannot read).'
The choir is singing and the one who is sitting there is praising although she has no idea what note or stanza is being sung. 'Why are you praising then?'
'Oh I was so happy with the offering of the cloth during the ceremony that I could not resist myself.'

(47)
Koithikhang makhut chan koihane leiron chan

Koithi means searching for a dear lost object by 'by upturning every leaf'. In order to know an old information, one will set aside the hand-picked stick taken from the bushes, and ask the old man for the right path. Upon knowing, one is happy and thinking there is plenty of time, bury the information.

(48)
Pat ngaman toklani, kom ngatin pairani

The land of the Meetei is full of lakes. The lakes and the forests, as mother and father, look after the valley and the plain. The saying is reminding the same. That instead of taking care of the huge lake which has become the size of the palm, the effort seems to be digging up drains to bring in foreign fish.

(49)
Machugidamak sanani
Khongthangidamak tamnani

Even though gold cannot be used to make any useful equipment, people admire it. As it is put in the fire, it shines. Hence, staying true to oneself and one's religion is priceless. Although it is not very beautiful, one cannot be satisfied with the voice of 'tamna'. What has been agreed upon and the step that has not crossed the line is the step of tamna.

(50) Yaishkul mapal sharani, khurai mahei yallani

Yaishkul is formed from the words yaisha and khul. Yaisha means king's animal (horse and elephant used by the king) and khul means village or generally speaking a place of human habitation. The place where royalty lived and which had good public facilities like roads used to be called yaishkul. Nowadays, such facilities are available everywhere. Hence, it is said that yaishkul will bloom (mapal sharani).

The path to the indigenous god, because of abandonment, has become narrow as the bushes have overgrown into it (khurai). The focus of the youths seems to be on the alien knowledge. However, there is still hope that the youth the indigenous knowledge is taken up for study, it will bear fruits (mahei yallani).

Cover of 'Chayom Thupki'

To be continued.....