Poubi Lai : The story of a giant python ; Single object exhibition begins at National Museum
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre

New Delhi, July 21 2015 : The Additional Secretary of Ministry of Culture, KK Mittal today inaugurated the single object exhibition entitled 'Poubi Lai-The story of a giant python' at the National Museum here.

The single object exhibition was mounted by Indira Gandhi Manav Sanghralaya (IGRMS), Bhopal in collaboration with National Museum, New Delhi.

Director General of National Museum, Sanjeev Mittal and Director of IGRMS Prof Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri were also present on the occasion.

KK Mittal said that in the recent past, the Government had been emphasising on promoting the cultural heritage of the North East.

With this exhibition, both IGRMS and National Museum had taken a step forward to support this cultural awareness in Delhi.

The fascinating slice of folklore from the country's North East would find depiction in the National capital for the next 42 days, as the pioneering sculpture of Manipur's Poubi Lai, a mythical reptile had been put up in National Museum for temporary exhibition, he added.

The major wooden artwork is only 12 years old but has earned a special place in the history of beliefs related to the 'horned python' that is integral to the age-old tradition of hilly Kangleipak region's Meitei�an ethnic group who speak a Sino-Tibetan language.

Conceived and chiseled by (late) wood-carver Karam Dineshwar Singh, who was one of the successors of the royal family-associated Karigar craftspeople, the 21-foot-long artwork found expression in 2002 from a dream he had of Poubi Lai one night.

Completed in six months, the sculpture had its inaugural exhibition the same year at Manipur State Museum in Imphal, Museum sources said.

Art historians note that this sculpture was the first of its kind to draw the attention of a large audience and watch the live presentations of Poubi Lai about which they have ever heard only in stories.

The work has travelled to France for an exhibition.

According to a Meitei belief, godly king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba lived as a human being at night�and could also transform himself into a divine snake called Paphal.

Details of such spiritual prowess are available in 'Paphal Lambuba'�an illustrated manuscript that contains 364 diagrammatic representations of Pakhangba.

These assumptions are attributed as Umang Lai, the controlling deity.

Till date, 'Paphal' finds place as the divine form of the ruling deity, occupying a significant slot in the socio-religious and political structure of Meitei society.

Some forms symbolize evil and some auspicious sign.

The sacred texts written between 17th and 19th century describe in detail seven aspects of Paphal in accordance with seven Salais or clans.

Python is seen not merely as a living creature but also regarded as one of the greatest life forms on earth by the Meitei people of Manipur.

It has a dominant place in the Meitei culture and the cult traditionally associated with Python has metaphysical and divine origin.

Apart from the association of Pythons with the glorification of imperial power, they are also portrayed as an important cultural entity in the folklores of the people of Manipur.

Stories filled with conflicts, love and romance with human and Python are abundant.

The Kuki, Chothe, Kom, Aimol and Kabui tribe of Manipur have folklores deeply entailed in Python and some of which portrays affairs of love while some depict as demon.

Various myths and lores of Python continue to thrive among the folk and tribal people of Manipur.

They are orally transmitted from generations after generations.

The manifestation of these intangible aspects of culture in a tangible form began to flourish with several forms of expressions of art like theatrical presentations, dance dramas, paintings, wood carvings etc by artistes in the late 20th century.

According to the Meitei Python lore, Poubi Lai is a huge sized mythical form of a Python which live in the core of Loktak Lake.

Incidentally, the spirit was awakened with collective fishing activities held under the patron of the Moirang King.

Out of anger, this giant spirit began to destroy the fishermen's habitat and started killing the people around.

He decided to destroy the Moirang kingdom.

The terror of this giant creature had grieved the surrounding chiefdoms and the Moirang kingdom.

He threatened the King of Moirang to provide one Shangbai (basket) of rice and a person for his daily meal.

This understanding in turn had led the people to live in great despair.

When the turn came for a handsome lad of Moirang called Chauhi Leirong Apanba, he visited the most remembered Shaman called Kabui Salang Maiba to seek his help.

Salang Maiba, who lived in western Salangthel hill ranges of Loktak Lake promised to save Moirang kingdom from the evil act of Poubi Lai.

Under his magical power, Salang Maiba transformed a Tou (an aquatic plant) into the form of a deadly weapon "Long"( a kind of nine headed javelin).

It is said that, this malevolent spirit was tamed and killed by the most revered Shaman called Kabui Salang Maiba. Over the centuries, communities preserve their folk lores and the narratives of which were handed down from one generation to the other by means of oral transmission.

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