Rajarshi Bhagyachandra's Life Sketch : Cultural History of Manipur

Dr. Ch. Jamini Devi *

213th Death Anniversary Celebration of Rajarshi Maharaja Bhagya Chandra Singh :: 28 Sep - 01 Oct 2011 :: Pix - RK Priyojit Singh

Rajarshi Bhagyachandra was born in 1789 at Janmasthan Moirangkhom on Thursday at 10 in the morning on the 13th day of Poinu (Meitei month). He was the second son of Shyamjai Khurailakpa, the beloved son of Meiding-u Pamheiba (Garibniwaj), 1709-1748). His mother was Wahengbam Chanu Chakha Loikhombi.

Rajarshi Bhagyachandra was known by many names. The hill tribes called him Chingthangkhomba. The British and the people of Assam called him Jaysingh. The Vaishnavs called him Karta. He was the fortunate one who was able to facilitate the nirupan of Shri Govinda, and the dedication of the Maharas dance. For this, he was called Bhagyachandra - the fortunate one. He was a devout person, possessing the qualities of a Rishi (Saint), thus the lofty name 'Rajarshi'. He is known to all by a combination of these last two names - Rajarshi Bhagyachandra.

He was the 54th king of Manipur - the brave and skilful warrior, the deeply religious, and the patron of tradition and culture. He ruled Manipur for 40 years (1759-1761 and 1763-1798). There was a agreement between Karta Chingthangkhomba and his elder brother Gourashyam (Meiding-u Meiramba - 1762-1763) that each would take turns ruling the land for five years at a time. Chingthangkhomba ascended the throne first in 1759. It is entered in the Cheitharol Kumbaba. P. 122 as: "The year of Khamaram Chindum, in shak 1681, on Thursday , the 7th day of Sajibu, Meiding-u Chingthangkhomba with Akham Chanu Maharani, ascended the throne. King Maramba stepped down the throne."

When his elder brother Gourashyam died in 1763 (shak 1685), he again became the king of Manipur. Akham Chanu Bhanumati was the queen.

During the reign of Meiding-u Chingthangkhomba, there were frequent invasions on the land from enemies who were envious of the prosperity of Manipur. Himself acting as the General, Chingthangkhomba fought against these invasions, and returned victorious again and again. He defeated the Muwas of the Shan dynasty, and annexed Shamjok. However, in 1764, when king Tengdoi Ratnapur Leimaba of Awa invaded Manipur with a mighty armed force, Manipur had to accept defeat. For some time, Karta Maharaj was in exile in Cachhar.

From there, he went to Tekhao and took refuge under king Swargadev Churenfa Rajeshwar Singh, and spent some time there. A momentous event occurred when Karta Maharaj was in Tekhao, which brought a great change in the artistic and cultural arena of Manipur. Here is a brief detail of what happened at that event.

While Karta Maharaj was in exile, his maternal uncle Khelhei Nongnang Telheiba (Khelemba) was the king of Manipur, which was by then under the rule of Awa. The king tried to forge relationship with Awa by getting his daughter Shamjimani married off to king Tengdoi of Awa. Khelemba wanted to take revenge against Karta Maharaj, prompted by a grudge he had against him. He wrote a letter to the king of Tekhao:
"King Rajeshwar of Tekhao! I, Khelei Nongnang Telheiba, the king of Manipur hereby inform you that the person who is taking refuge under you under the pretext of being a king, is in fact one who is plotting against the true king. He left Manipur because he was forced to do so. If you don't kill him soon, he will be your enemy in the near future."

The letter created a doubt in the mind of the king of Tekhao. He consulted with his advisors and the members of his royal court. They weighed in on what needed to be done. They decided to let loose the palace's wild elephant, and have Karta Maharaj capture it in front of the public. The king of Tekhao thus ordered Karta Maharaj to carry out the decision.

On receiving the order, Karta Maharaj felt hurt and disappointed, but kept his feelings to himself. He agreed to carry out the order given by the king of Tekhao. Feeling deeply hurt and betrayed, Karta Maharaj returned to his living quarters. At sunset, he burnt Dhoop, lit lamps and offered prayers to Brinda Devi. He kept Shri Govinda in his heart, and fasted and prayed to him all night. He dozed off for a while at dawn, and Shri Govinda appeared to him and gave him a Darshan.

Dressed in natabar besh, with flute in hand, and equipped with looks that swore to conquer the world, Shri Govinda addressed his devotee: "Karta Maharaj! Don't be sad and forlorn. I will make sure that the elephant does not harm you. The elephant will raise you on its back, and my devotee's name and glory will be broadcast for all to see. You will have the pleasure of returning to your land after a few days."

Karta fell on his knees in obeisance to his Lord, and pleaded with Him: "Lord! Please be the king of Manipur. I, your servant, will spend the rest of my life in your service". On hearing his devotee's words, Shri Govinda said: "Karta! Look at me and see how I look. When you return to your land and get back on the throne, I will be found as a Theibong (Jackfruit) tree at the Kaina hill. Make an idol of me out of the Theibong tree, and have a Rasa Dance dedicated to me." Shri Govinda showed the Rasa Dance in Karta Maharaj's dream.

Upon waking, the king summoned Pandit Gopiram Singh Patchahanba, and related the dream to him. He made Patchahanba recreate the vision of Shri Govinda that he had witnessed in his dream, in pictures.

On the order of the king of Tekhao, the preparation of the arena where the elephant was going to be captured was under way. The place was cordoned off, and scaffolds were constructed. News spread all over Tekhao. Citizens and officials alike sat on the scaffolds, ready to witness the spectacle of the king of Manipur wrestling with the wild elephant.

Karta Maharaj washed himself. He put on chandan, and performed the Puja. He put on the Khamen Chatpa pheijom and Lamthang Khuthat ningkham samjin. He was decorated with arm and leg adornments in gold. Wangkhei Pandit Gopiram Patchahanba and Rasmon Keirungba were his attendants.

On receiving orders from the king of Tekhao, Karta Maharaj entered the arena where the elephant was kept. Keeping Shri Govinda deep in his heart, and reciting his name, Karta approached the elephant. On sensing the approach of a human being, the wild elephant that did not allow even a sparrow to fly above it, charged with ferocity towards Karta Maharaj. Strangely- it had to be by God's grace - the wild elephant charged his demeanor. The elephant kneeled on his fore-legs, the tusks deeply embedded in the ground. When Karta Maharaj stepped on the tusks of the elephant, Wangkhei Pandit and Ayekpa Keirungba assisted him on getting up on the elephant.

The elephant stood up. Keeping Karta Maharaj on its back, it traipsed on a parade in front of the assembled citizens. The crowd shouted victory to the king of Manipur. When Bhagyachandra Maharaj finally dismounted the elephant, the king of Tekhao received him humbly. He requested Bhagyachandra to rest on the throne of Tekhao. The king of Tekhao, along with his ministers and officials, paid respects to Karta Maharaj and proclaimed that the devout king of Manipur was victorious, and thus bestowed on him the name Jaysingh.

The story of Karta Maharaja's encounter with the elephant is fully accounted in a book published in Bengali entitled 'Gouranga Sundar', as well as in 'Shri Govinda Nirupan' by Rajkumar Sanahal Singh.

From these two sources, what we know is that Bhagyachandra's encpounter with the elephant occurred in 1763-64. Even though nothing is recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba regarding this, there is enough evidence to suggest that this momentous event might have occurred in 1765-66. According to the Cheitharol Kumbaba, after Bhagyachandra fled to Tekhao, in 1765 (Shak 1687) Maharani Akha and the princes went to the foreign land. Also from another entry of the Cheitharol Kumbaba, we learn that in Shak 1689 (1767), at the time of Bamon Harinanda, Meiding-u Chingthangkhomba returned to manipur with 80,000 Tekhao soldiers. (refer to Satjal, by Rajkumar Sanahal Singh, p. 102)

There are many opinions on the Shamu Phaba episode of Karta Maharaj. Manipuri Pandits claim that the mad elephant of Tekhao is the same elephant named Rajballabh, which had been in existence since the time of king Garibniwaj.

In shak 1686 (1764), in the war with Awa, the land was in chaos. There was no one to take care of the elephant that was kept either in Takyel, Lamphel or Pukhao. The elephant escaped the facility and headed north, reaching Rangapur, near Sivasagar, the palace of Tekhao. Since it was a domesticated animal, the people of Tekhao were able to capture it easily, kept it as the palace elephant. By nature, elephants live to be 200 years old. Since the said elephant had lived since the time of Garibniwaj, it recognized Karta Maharaj. With its keen sense of smell, the elephant Karta Maharaj, and was thus able to be easily tamed.

In 1767, Swargadev, the king of Tekhao, helped Karta to defeat Awa. Karta regained the throne to the kingdom of Manipur once again. The king built a palace in Sangaithel, and started ruling the land. In 1768, in the month of Sajibu, the king shifted his palace to Sangaiprou. In appreciation for the help extended to him at the time of war, Karta Maharaj sealed relationship with the King of Tekhao by giving him in marriage, his elder brother Gourashyam's daughter Sija Phongdalokpi (Kuranga Nayani).

It is entered in the Cheitharol Kumbaba, p. 125 as: "Ibungsija Khwairakpam Macha Biramani, Haobam Bishnuram, Loktongba Keirungba - the three of them set off to take princess Phongdalokpi, daughter of Meiding-u Maramba, to her in-laws place. The time of Langmaithem Kiyong (shak 1691). Prince Biramani arrived after seeing Tekhao Leima home. The king of Tekhao presented six elephants. The king moves to Chajing."

The king of Tekhao named Sija Phongdalokpi as 'Kuranganayani' for her doe-eyes and good looks. Kuranganayani has occupied an important place in the history of Assam. With her wits and courage, she was able to save the throne of Tekhao from the hands of the enemy.

While Karta Maharaj was ruling the land from his palace in Chajing in 1769, Awa invaded Manipur again. Due to lack of sufficient army, the king went on exile again. In his absence, Haobam Keibiram took over the throne. In 1770, Karta younger brother Bhabananda took the help of Awa and invaded Manipur. When Keibiram was killed at the war, Bhabananda placed his younger brother Kokilananda on the throne, and returned to Awa.

At that time, Karta Maharaja waged a war from his exile. Kokilananda returned the throne to his elder brother. Karta Bhagyachandra thus became the king of Manipur for some time. However, Awa once again invaded Manipur in 1772. Karta once again went on exile in Tekhao. During that period, Pukhrambamcha Binidram took charge of the kingdom of Manipur, which was under the rule of Awa, and ruled it from his palace in Wangkhei Leikai.

Soon after, Karta returned from Takhel, and after gathering an army consisting entirely of hill-tribes, he invaded the land of the meiteis. He was victorious at the war, and in 1775 on Saturday, the 19th day of Phairen, Karta Maharaj established his palace in Lamangdong. He started ruling from there. The reason behind his decision to rule from Lamangdong was that he would be in a better position to see approaching enemy forces from the vintage point on top of Lamangdong hill. There are still landmarks available today near C.I college that bear witness to the palace of Bhagyachandra.

Time and time again, the king used his strength and bravery, and famously fought the Awa forces, thereby rescuing his land from the hands of the enemies. After a period of ruling from his palace in Lamangdong, the political situation in the land was gradually becoming stabilized. This allowed him to focus on important developmental activities for the land.

He started preparing for the task that had eluded him for a long time - the nirupan of Shri Govinda.

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