Keke Kangla
Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing :: Part 3

Hemamcha Shobha *

RKCS Painting at Ibudhou Thangjing, Moirang, Manipur - Pix :: Recky Maibram

Location

Keke Kangla; now situated at and standing as a small dome-liked-temple in the I.N.A. Matyrs' Memorial Complex, is a sacred and pious place where people of Moirang used to pray with ritual offerings annually. It is thought to be the palace of ancient kings of Moirang with a big layout comprising the surrounding areas of the present Moirang Bazar- Awoon Keithel and Khamnu Bazar.

A homestead liked building with seven storied called 'Kangla Thon Taret Tholangmei' was used for various purposes like conference hall of the king and his 64 Phamdon meaning courtiers or knights; a coronation site for the kings; a spot or site where Yaipung (a big drum) was kept; a place for punishment and hanging of convicted persons; a spot for Nungoibi Lalu Chanpham which means a place where promise and punishment for slain of attackers, enemies are prayed and chanted, and enemy's head-lalu are offered there; an indoor liked small play ground etc. –– are all expected to be existed inside the Kangla Campus.

Through the ages Kangla mang (dream) changba which is meant for hearing Eputhou's Laipao-messages foretelling or foretold by Amaiba and Amaibi are said to be conducted whenever the king, the kingdom and the people are in trouble and face griefs and sorrows either by natural calamities or by other acts etc.

In ancient Manipur, Kanglas meant palaces for each and every Salai Kingdoms were the first target for conquering and dethroning any king and kingdom. Likewise, with the decline and downfall of the independent Moirang kingdom started and set in with the death of Iwang Puriklai Sanahongba in 1432 AD- during the reign of Meitenggoo Ningthou- Khomba.

However the interference and domination to Moirang administration by the Ningthouja kings were fulfilled in 1767 AD when Moirang king Khellei Nungnang Telheiba, the maternal uncle of Chingthangkhomba- Bheigyachandra was killed on the bank of Ningthee river in conspiracy with the men of Meitei king.

Since Moirang lost her independence, Keke Kangla was destroyed and devastated; henceforth, the exact site or real spot or passage had been untraced for many years. The domination period was so serious that even during the reign of Meitengoo Chandrakirti the offerings and any rituals to their own gods were completely banned.

For example, two Amaibas of Moirang for Praying Karang Then Kaba were punished by the Meitei king. As such a long period, Moirang Kangla was not for preserved and prayed at the exact site in the true religions manner-except that of a small hut house built for preservation and worshipped by Late Shri Kumam Kanglen Singh and his family members on a naturally mounted plateform existed inside the present INA complex.

Moirang Kangla inside INA complex

Reconstruction

Recently, it was in 1968 when the digging work for the construction of the present INA complex was started , the sacred spot i.e. passage and hole of Keke Kangla was found out and identified by Amaibas. But the holy vent of Kangla was closed by an eartherned plate locally called Kekam with small holes in the central part which was being kept in up set down position.

It is presumed that the destruction of Kangla would have been done in a marauding way in the late night as is proved by the finding of Charcol of weeds and litoral plants; hairs, gold pieces, beads etc. found during earth works of the said complex construction.

The Keke Kangla Waphongba means declaration and recognition or the reconstruction ceremony, a kind of rituals with prayers and offerings took place on Friday, the 20th September, 1968 being organized and arranged by the then King of Moirang, Shree Konjengbam Kamal Singh, who was also the president of Moirang Thangjing Yageirel Marup, Moirang, and his Phamnaiba Loishang (council) and assisted by the said Yageirel Marup. In the ceremony of ritualistic function dignitaries present were the then Chief Commissioner, Chief Minister , Education Minister of Manipur and others.

The ritual works and items so to say, were performed by the then Sanglakpa-Shree Moirangthem Chaoval Singh, Amaiba Hanba- Shree Maibram Sekho Singh, Aseihanba -Shree Moirangthem Ibomcha Singh; with two other maibas namely Naran Singh and Bonomali Singh. Thus from that day onwards, Keke Kangla had been restored and rejuvenated and handed over to the people for praying and worshipping. In fact, it proved that institution of coronation was in vogue in the kingdom of Moirang.

FIRST CORONATION

The first Coronated King of ancient Moirang was Phang Phang Ponglenhanba, the 8th King of Moirang counted from Ngang Ningsinga following Moirang genealogy - who after reconstructing, expanding the former Kangla complex, building and other apartments in a big way and with full decoration introduced the system of Coronation by himself on Keke Kangla for the first time in the ancient Moirang kingdom.

He was none other than Ewang Puriklai Phang Phang Ponglenhanba who ruled independently as the first human King in between 52 BC to 28 AD. It was prevalent during ancient Moirang kingdom that a newly coronated king, before and after his coronation had to take up expansionist work of the Kingdom by invading the neighbouring kingdoms and villages. Here is a short description of the newly expanded and reconstructed Keke Kangla building as written in the Puya and on concise explanation herewith furnished.

DESCRIPTION IN THE PUYA

"Ura Shanglangmei,
Ateng Shangkhutsa,
Hekmai Shangnungngol Phrosat Shangkhutsaayang Lamthungpham,
Yanglei Taoba Huisanmang Yairou Chiren Mang;
Shamu Khongna Thoibadi Loiokpung Shamu Khongna Thinbadi Luruk Pung,
Charei Phirok Pung,
Khalei Lourokpung,
Tayum Nairok Pung ......
Kangla Mathon Taret Thollang Meine ......
Thamna Lakoi Luroi Loitapana Hemoiba Shang ......
Malem Leikhalongi Khonglencha Eram Taret Makana Khonglen Ephaoram Tubina Paklei Yamna Yek,
Tubi Ngouna Olli Ngeidi Nungou Pakteinba Shang;
Lairenna Ngangna Ollingegi dadi Angangbana Hion,
Tubi munna Ollingeidi Mutam Koija Yekpa Shangk hoiyum laisaktam,
Namu Pongshak sem Pombi chekla pemma eyektam ......
Chinglai Shaba Liyetpa,
Tamlai Shaba Chindinna,
Pakhang Shayeng Kanbana Khoisang Lamdam Hun......
Chingda Laoba Chammana Kangla Shangchi Mathanei
Tamda Laoba Chammasu Kangla Sangchi Mathane Kangla Thon Taret ......;
Thollangmei.
Thoutu Ngungoukumna Tana Chengcha Nungmukumna Sidaba Shanglenyaine Kuchu Thoudaphamne "

A big and symbolic home
In the name and style of Utra Shanglangmei
A handsome and erectly built traditional house;
A destination of all
For win, for defeat, for Pleasure and Promise
Just like a victory stand
Where awarded prizes and promotions
Of cloth, of land and higher promotion.
A seven storeyed house of old design
Swinging and shining in the sun,
A well designed roof and decorated
As if a hanging down lotus leave rounded in shape
A building enlightened by the sun
An outlet of seven underground streams,
The walls prettily painted and designed
On a side a dragon liked portrait.
When in white-whitened the whole house.
When in red-convert a complete red
Or when in black––a blackish house appears.
Again, other facets of the wall
There engraved creative pictures of all kinds
Of godly shapes, of human structures.
While other faces are painted well
Of birds-wilds and domestic ones
Dragons of the wild- all twisted,
Dragons of the plains-mingling and reunited
And depicting human pictures again
Of rowing boats, of fishing scene lovely,
A seven storeyed Keke Kangla,
A painted and pairless building
And praised by hundred and hundred.
From the hills, from the plain;
It's old as stone––shining pure white
A sacred place––of Birth and Death
A destiny of all––
Keke Kangla stands forever.