Event and Achievement :: Part 2
Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing :: Part 11

Hemamcha Shobha *

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

Event and Achievement

LAIYU PUNSHIBA (236-297)

The long felt-grudge and enmity of Luwangs against Moirang grew stronger and stronger. Laiyu Punshiba, the king of Moirang in defence of the country put two of his courtiers as military in-charges known locally as Yethang Khanba and Oithang Khanba on the northen and southern sectors of the kingdom. The sourthern was under the control of Maichou (Pandit) Khumu Leirijamba who lived in the Khambi Leikai of the present Thameikon field site; while the northern sector was under the incharge of Khuyol Kappi Kaklen Nongdam Suja - a worrier living at Chingnungsoi of Ngangkha Leikai of the kingdom.

Some heartfelt events, so to say, and tragic stories took place during the period. One was the murder of Haonu Keishitombi, wife of Kaklen Nongdam during his absence by the seven Lallois -army of Luwang king in a revenge of the past invasion and devastation of Luwang kingdom by Moirang and Khuman kings. It was for the reason that the two kings specially Moirang did not support and help Luwang against Khuman.

But finally, the worrier husband - Nongdam revenged by beheading upon all the Lallois – at Kakna Samki Lamdai. Then, a place named after the longhairs of Lallois were tied together and beheaded by Kaklen Nongdam Suja.

In other incident Khuchup Cheimayang, son of Kaklen Nongdam Suja and Keishitombi who survived from the hands of seven Lalloi by divine providence was brought up by Khumu Leirijamba. When grown up as youth his adopted father asked him to desist seven Cheklas (divine birds) at Khumjamba Pung (in the present Churachandpur) from entering into the kingdom of Moirang. While he was performing his duty assigned to him by his adopted father local people of Thingkangphai killed him at a place where he was in romance and making love with a tribal girl.

Lastly, the king for the first time introduced Yakashang - a big house used as court for joint meeting and discussion with the king and the subjects relating to the country's matter and affairs, and for keeping good relationship between the king and the people, and among the people themselves. Such were some of the epoch making events during the reign of the king.

KONGDING HANBA (337-387)

Puriklai Iwang Kongding Hanba and his wife, queen Leima Thamoirembi were too shocked at the missing, that is, abortion and blown off as storm of their first pregnant child at three months. But in due course, the sad queen was, one night, blessed by Awang Nong Ningthou Pakhang Yoirenba - the Supreme Sky God that a son would be given to birth shortly to them.

So, the son, being the descendents of god, should be sent back to the heaven before having any love relation or marriage with any of the earthly girls. After about a year, the king and the queen got a son in time and named as Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba. And hence the 4th love story of Moirang Sheisaklon - "Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba-Leima Sunurembi" took place as to testify the trial and triumph of the true love story of them during the 5th king of Moirang.

THIKRI NACHAOBA (387-447)

By dint of his power and strength, Iwang Puriklai Thikri Nachaoba could extend the territorial boundary of Moirang kingdom at the maximum reaching as far as Sugnu to the southeast; Koireng hills, Chothe village to the south and southwest; and even upto Koubru to the north west. Such mode of elongated extension of boundary might be one of the reasons for calling or naming as Moirang Shangba Yai in the puya.

The inclusion of Koubru in Moirang kingdom and their proximity to the origin is shown by an episode. That, the meeting and introduction of one Koubarel Angangnga from Koubru with one Khuyol Yoithokchao Thokchao Ahanba from Moirang had happened at a place named thereafter as "Keke Oknare-Moirang Thangnare" which means they all belonged to Moirang Salai and met themselves and understood each other at the present Ningthoukhong. During his period the love story of Haosinamoinu of Moirang Kangleirol series, a sub-branch of Sheisaklon took place.

NUNGNANG TOMBA (447-496)

During the period of Iwang Puriklai Nungnang Tomba, the 17th king of Moirang - the 5th romantic story 'Samba Lamganba-Khamnung Yaiding Konu - a langwon by Goddess Emureima, wife of Khamnung Thongngarel (Yama Maharaj in Hindu philosophy) as Yaiding Konu occurred and traced back the origin of a much adorn flower, Kombirei.

It is said that Kombirei was a symbolic flower brought by Emureima before her incarnation to a human girl on promise that she would return to Khamnung, the abode of Thongngarel within a stipulated time. The flower was planted at Kombirei Houbi Kom, a ditch name after the flower which is situated (today) around the hillock of Okshulakpa Khoudem Ching situated on the south east of Takmu Lake, Moirang.

It changed its colour from white to Kombirei machu as Yaiding Konu, the incarnate of Emureima fell in love with Somba Lamganba symbolising the breach of promise made by her to her husband, Khamnung Thongngarel.

URA KONGYAMBA (533-574)

After his coronation, Iwang Purklai Ura Kongyamba followed the system of expansionist policy by invading the western hill region of Nungsai village and defeated the king - Langmaiba. Hence forth he was known as Kabui Nungsai Lanthaba. His reign witnessed some historic events like-the first was the revenge to Heirem Thapanba by the son of Moirang Konmaba for the murder of his father on the King's way back from a dinner hosted by Iwang Ura Kongyamba.

The second episode was the story of Khongyang Cheisu ––bamboo stick of Haonu Kasalnu who brought it from Chairel Aina to Moirang. For this reason, the stick was known and noted for - 'Aina Leima Kongyang Cheisu' in the history of Moirang.

The story is all about the amazing deeds done by the divine stick at Moirang in which every living being - man or animal or others if happens to touch with the stick got panic and curse; and sometimes the stick vanished on all a sudden but finally the stick was united with Loidam Thaja-Pakhang Yoirangchal - hence might be given divinity to the Aina-Leima Cheisu. During the Ura Kongyamba's period, another occurrence of Salwon-Langwon love story of Wanglen Pungding Heiba and Chakpa Yainu Phisaheiba (weaver) was seen as continuation of Sheisaklon.

THIYANG MEECHAOBA (514-614)

By defeating and conquering king Senpu of Kharam village of the southern hilly region and of Thouman of Kabo-Senbi Pantha to the east, he tried to keep the expansion of Moirang kingdom more than ever before. Among his main achievements, the priority was to establish various fishing grounds around the Loktak lake and collection and preservation of wild animals and birds etc, for gaining prosperity in the country. Thiyang Meechaoba was indeed noted in the history of Moirang for his wills and cleverness while preserving, conserving and protecting wild life in and around the kingdom.

THANGGA EPHEN LANTHABA (698-733)

Iwang Lanthaba was also known as Tangkhul Loutei Lanthaba for defeating the western Tangkhul Loutei regions. He was bold enough to solve the internal problems of the people and places of Moirang. Due to rapid growth of population in the kingdom, lack of cultivable land and land for human settlement were the main grievances faced by the people.

In order to solve the problems, the king with all the Thangwurels meaning cultivators in an old Moirang language, started digging of canals connecting Keke Khoritak Moirang Nongkangkhong with Loktak lake. The work enabled to drain water for reclaiming cultivable land and for settlement, and the pioneer king who did the work of E means 'water', Phen means 'drain' of the logged water; hence he got the tittle of Thangga Ephen Lanthaba.

KABA PURANG (917-982)

He was the second of the three sons of Iwang Purklai Masemba. The eldest brother Koirel Ningthouba had no sons; so he ascended the throne of Moirang and ruled for several years. But later he handed over the throne to his younger brother Ethai Kairemba as he (Kaba Purang) left Moirang to spend his life in worshipping at Thanga Lingpi hill.

Some of the remarkable events happened during the period of Kaba Purang was the fleeing and seeking of shelter at Moirang of Haoram Nunggoi Yaima, the second son of Khuman king Yoithongngai consequent upon an accident of royal necklace in which his eldest brother - Haoramhal -king of Khuman was killed by the youngest brother Haoramton Louthiba while attempting to cut the necklace adorned by his eldest brother.

Fearing attack on him too by his younger brother Haoram Nungoi Yaima fled from Khuman and took shelter at Moirang and became the forefathers of Adon Khamba. It is found in the Puya that during his period there occurred the romantic love story of tragedy Phouoibi-Akongjamba - the 6th in the series of Salwon and Langwon of Moirang Kangleirol.

To be continued....



About the Book:

Source Author: Hemamcha Shobha (b.1941), President of Moirang Thangjing Yageirel Marup [Register No: 1025/1972] and Chief Editor of 'Yageirol'.
Reproduced from Chapter - 2 of his book 'Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing'
for public reading by: Shanjoy Mairembam, London (UK), shanjoym (at) gmail (dot) com