The Nirupan of Shri Govinda : Cultural History Of Manipur

Dr. Ch. Jamini Devi *

Heikru Hidongba Festival at Bijoy Govinda Thangapat on 08 September 2011 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

Out of the Theibong tree grown on the Kaina Hill, the nirupan of Shri Govinda was carried out. The king commissioned Sapam Lokhon to sculpt the icon out of the Theibong. It is referred in the Cheitharol Kumbaba that Shri Govinda's nirupan occurred in shak 1698, on the morning of Friday at 1 pm in the month of Hiyangei.

In a book entitled Shri Govinda Nirupan, the following is stated:
At the time of Heisnam Khongam in shak 1698, on Friday, the 12th day of Hiyang-gei, by royal order of Meidung-u Chingthangkhomba Maharaj, Wangkhei Pandit Gopiram Singh Patchahanba performed the nirupan of Shri Govinda. At the conclusion of the performance, Pandit Gopiram Patchahanba was awarded gifts of gold bracelets, seven pari of land at Samang Lairou across across the Iril, an attendant, a buffalo, a horse.

Nirupan of Raseshwari

Raseshwari's idol did not accompany Shri Govinda's at its nirupan. Since her idol was not in existence at the time, Rajarshi's daughter Lakshmipriya took the role of Shrimati Radhika and performed at the inauguration. Raseshwari's nirupan soon followed.

About this matter, it has been suggested that initially the process of sculpting the idol of Raseshwari, despite careful efforts, failed again and again. The deeply concerned Karta Maharaj held a meeting with pundits and officials of the court. Those present at the meeting were Bachaspati Bhaskar Sharma and Khumbong Sidhanta.

What everyone was in consensus was that since princess Bimbabati had given her heart and soul to Shri Govinda and had become Radhika, there could not be an icon replacing her. They concluded that Raseshwari's nirupan would only be possible if nail clippings from all ten fingers and toes of Bimbabati, and a strand of her hair, be cast into metal. Accordingly, after the cast was made, the making of the idol was successfully completed.

According to Kumbaba Chronicles, "Raseshwari nirupan was carried out by Khetri Panem, Nandasingh Konsaba, Chakrapani Konsaba, Anindram Konsaba, Khelemba Konsaba, Haujou Konsaba, Samurok Konsaba – these seven made the icon………………. to each of the seven people three pari of paddy field, an attendant, a buffalo were given."

Nirupan of Shri Bijoy Govinda

Six more idols were made out of the same Theibong tree after the nirupan of Shri Govinda. They are: Shri Bijoy Govinda at Sagolband, Shri Nityaynanda Prabhu at Arambam Leikai, Shri Madan Mohan at Oinam Thingel (previously at Uripok), Shri Anuprabhu at Nabadweep, Shri Gopinath at Ningthoukhong, and Shri Abdeitya Prabhu at Langmeidong.

It turned out that the idol commissioned out of the first stump of the Theibong tree did not resemble the image that Karta Maharaj saw in his dream. The second idol made from the second piece of the wood was of Shri Govinda. The first idol became Shri Bijoy Govinda. On the 12th day of Hiyang-gei, in the Meitei calendar year 1701, Shri Anantsai Mantri, the king's uncle received the idol in his care. On this day, the idol left the palace at Langthabal and travelled to the temple at Sagolband.

Before Shri Govinda proceeded to the temple, the Heikru Hidongba ceremony was performed at the Thangapat. The idol then entered the temple, and began to be worshipped there. Today, the Mantrimayum Sagei is in the service of Shri Govinda, attending to his Ashtakal seva as well as other important ceremonies similar to Shri Govinda seva.

(Extracted from the book 'Cultural History of Manipur' by Dr. Ch. Jamini Devi)