Researchers trace common genealogy of 7 Salais
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, October 04 2023: The Mangang Ningthouja was the proper Salai name of three brothers (Kings)-the eldest being Riso (Khongreihung), the second Hiipam (Hungpunghung) and the third son Mahza (Meiteihung), said Boniface Hungshi, Chairman of Hungpung Hungshi Shangva research committee.

Mangang, translated into Tangkhul dialect is Hungshi.

In a press conference held at Relish Restaurant near Naga Gate, Hungpung, today, Boniface Hungshi said after generations of migration from Central Asia, the ancestors of the three kings came to Makhel (Senapati) from Thibungmei (Kohima) .

In Makhel, triplets (all sons) were born to the daughter of the king.

Researchers trace common genealogy of 7 Salais

The eldest son was named Riso (Khongrei-hung), the second son was named Hiipam (Hungpung-hung) and the third son was named Mahza (Meiteihung), said Boniface.

And after some years, the brothers along with their clan members moved to Kojifu village (Senapati).

After a brief stay there, they decided to look for more fertile land.

The mother queen gave them a precious stone and told them to settle at the place where the stone will drop by itself.

After a long search, the precious stone which the eldest carried on his back fell by itself at Khongrei (Khongdei, Senapati).

As instructed by their mother, they settled there.

As the year went by, their numbers grew, so the second and the third brothers wanted to settle in the land of their own choice.

They-the three went a little away from the village and set up three big stone (hearth) for cooking their parting meal.

The stones are still there in Khongrei (Khongdei, Senapati) .

The eldest stayed back but the two younger brothers left Khongrei/Khongdei after some time.

After long years of winding search, they finally came to Hamleikhong, Hungpung Village.

Subsequently, the third brother too decided to settle in the plain of Yaingang-pokpi/Oknaopokpi, Imphal as Meitei.

Proximity allowed the youngest one to visit the second elder brother at Hungpung from time to time.

In Vashimtang, Hungpung there is a springwell, called Meitei Rakhong meaning Meitei springwell.

Just South-East of the well is the Mafarung (a place for keeping Meitei Maharaja's elephant) .

Much later when the seat of administration was passed on to his younger brother from Vashimhung (elder brother-King), the Meitei kings came there and left footprints on the stone slabs.

These can be seen in the courtyard of Hungpung King.

Until recently, the Hungpung King's family or clan was just known as Ahungshi-King's clan.So, a search was made for tracing the ancient root of their ancestors, and it was found that Mangang Ningthouja was the proper Salai name of the three brothers.

Mangang is translated in Tangkhul dialect as Hunsghi.

Legendary story has it that in the very beginning, the Immortal Being (Pakhangba) created seven maidens.

The first one was Leikak Leiyarem.

Pakhangba's spirit came upon Leikak Leiyarem and overshadowed her as a 'Sun' and she conceived and gave birth to a son.

Some wanted to take the 'Sun' name, but the sun was Pakhangba's spirit and the son's name is Mangang Ningthouja.

There are seven Salai.

Salai can be solely colors, not any object.

There has never been any King's family or clan name as Sun in Hungpung (Hundung) history as well as in Meitei Puya (historical record) .

If there should have been anything like that, a name or title, then, as per historical fact, such will be found in Vashimhung clan Hungpung, Hungshi said.

The press meet was also attended by Hungshi history research committee members including Felix Hungshi, Innocent Hungshi, Vareingam Hungshi and Wungkachui Hungshi.

It is further informed that the Hungshi committee has been doing the research work (history) for the last 18 years.