Ancient Meitei literature explained

Ancient Meitei literature (Old Manipuri literature)
Cultural Origins:	Meitei culture
Related1:	Meitei folklore
Related2:	Meitei folktales
Related3:	Meitei mythology
Related5:	traditional Meitei religion

Ancient Meitei literature, also termed as Old Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Old Manipuri language from the earliest texts until the time of King mni|[[Pamheiba]]|[[Gharib Nawaz (Manipur)|Garib Niwaj]]. All the ancient Meitei literary works are written in the traditional Meitei script.^[1] The ancient Meitei language texts, written in Meitei script, are conventionally termed as "the puyas".^[2]

Many of the ancient Meitei literary works need transliteration and translation, as the language used is often "obscure and unintelligible" to the modern Manipuri.^[3]

Overview

Ougri, an Old Manipuri ritual song, was composed during the 1st century CE, and was sung mostly for the "destruction and ruination and also for prosperity" of the ancient Meitei society.^[4] Many scholars commented that this musical work existed even before the beginning of the Common Era.

The Poireiton Khunthok is a 3rd-century ancient Meitei language literary work, which is a narrative of a historical colonisation of the valley by a group of people, led by Poireiton, in an area between the Langgol Hills and the Koubru mountains.^[5]

The Khencho (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ), another poetic work, was composed before the end of the 7th century CE.

Traditionally attributed to author Akoijam Tombi,^[6] during the reign of Meitei King Khongtekcha Yoiremba in c. 763 CE,^[7] the Pānthoibī Khōnggūl ^{[8] [9]} narrates the adventures of lady Panthoibi and her lover Nongpok Ningthou.^{[10] [11]}

In 1100 CE, the Loyumba Shinyen, a written constitution was finalised and under the patronage of Meitei King Loiyumba (1074 CE-1112 CE) of the Ancient Kangleipak. It was a formal declaration of the proto-constitution which was first drafted in 429 CE by King Naophangba.^{[12] [13]}

Notable literary works

Literary and poetic works

• Chengleiron . Legend of Chingjen Nāran Pānganbā, king of the Chengleis
• Hijan Hirao, a long narrative poem.
• Khongchomnupi Nongkalol . An allegorical description of how the Pleiades and Orion took their places in the sky and how Khurkhul was named. ^[14]
• Numit Kappa . An epic in which the hero, Khwai Nungjeng Piba, shoots Taothuireng, one of the two Sun gods, in order to create the night.
• Nungpan Ponpi Luwaopa, . An epic in which Nungpan Ponpi Luwaopa, prince of the Luwang, wins the back the life of his wife Koubaron Namoinu from Thongalen, the God of death.
• Panthoibi Naheirol . the story of the passion of thegoddess Panthoibi for her lover Nongpok Ningthou.
• Poireiton Khunthok . Story of the settlement of a valley near Langol Hill by a band of people from the land of Death led by Poireiton.^[15]
• Salkao . Records of seven fights between bulls owned by members of the elite.
• Tharon, apoetic account of the twelve lunar months of a year.
• Yakeiron, a poetry collection.

Government and administration

• Laisra Pham (}, a treatise on administration and social conduct.^[16]
• Loyumba Sinyen Constitution of King Loyumbā (1074–1112CE). it defines rules and regulations for the King, his nobles, and the people codified from traditional systems.

Natural science

• Leiron, a rhythmic and musical descriptions of 100 flowers known to the Meitei people.
• Yenlon, a description of 66 herbs used by the Meiteis in foods and medicine.

History and geography

• Langkol Chingkoipa, description and praise of the extensive Langgol hills.^[17]
• Naothingkhong Phambal Kaba, a historical tragedy based on the life of life of Prince Hongnemyoi Khunjāo until his accession to the Meitei throne as Nāothingkhong in 663 A.D.
• Nongmaiching Chingkoipa, a description of a number of cliffs, slopes and adjacent locations in the Nongmaiching Ching.
• Chainarol, a collection of 27 stories of warfare among the clans.
• Tutenglon, a heroic account of two Meitei royal brothers, Yoimongbā and Tāothingmāng, who take on the colossal task of dredging the channels of the rivers in Manipur, the Iril and the Imphal.
• Toreirol Lambuba - describes how places, particularly those located on the banks of meandering rivers, got their names.
• Thawanthaba Hiran a historical tragedy of crime of passion in the court of King Thawānthābā, (1195–1231).

Royal chronicles

• Khuman Kangleirol, ā royal chronicle of Khuman Salai.
• Ningthourol Lambuba
• Chada Laihui, a matrilineal genealogy of the Meitei kings, beginning with Chākhā Nuron Piron Yāmbi, mother of Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangba^[18]
• Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba, a poetic account of the Moirāng kings.

Scripture and religious works

• Sanamahi Laihui
  • Panthoibi Khonggul Pakhangba Laihui
• Nongsaba Laihui

Songs

• Ahonglon, joyous ritual song of Royal festivals dating back to at least the 11th century. Mentioned in the Loyumbā Sinyen.
• Anoirol, a long song accompanied by the penā in that describes the evolution of dance.
• Apoklon hymns to the creator, Apopka.
• Khencho religious song or poem.
• Kumdamsei ritual song that ushers in a new season.
• Lairemma Paosa, religious song or poem.
• Loutā Eesei, hymn sung before ploughing begins, prayer for a bountiful harvest.
• Langmeilon, sung to celebrate a King's victory or coronation. connected with the celebration of the king's victory or of his coronation.
• Mei hymn to the fire god.
• Ougri, very old ritual song, sung at the coronation of Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangbā in 33 A.D.
• Pakhangba Langyensei, ritual song, coronation ceremonial poetry, philosophical riddles.
• Phoukouron, hymn to Phouoibi, goddess of crops.
• Sana, Lamok, ā hymn to Pākhangbā, one of the presiding deities of the Meitei community.
• Yakeiba ritual song.

Translations and literary adaptations to modern Meitei

Many scholars and writers, including but not limited to M. Chandra Singh,^[19] Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra^[20] and O. Bogheswor,^[21] have dedicated their long lives in the translations, literary adaptations and restorations of ancient Meitei literary works. The contributions of these group of people make the new generations of readers aware of the essence and values of the old literature. In addition to them, the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad published books of old literature along with the modern versions.^{[22] [23]}

Significance in modern times

The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), for the recruitment of the bureaucrat civil services of the Government of India, offers its aspirant candidates across the entire country an optional subject of Meitei literature.

See also

• Ancient Greek literature
• Meitei classical language movement
• Meitei culture
• Meitei folklore
• Meitei folktales
• Meitei inscriptions
• Meitei linguistic purism movement
• Meitei mythology
• Meitei proverbs
• Meitei religion

Notes and References

1. Book: Datta, Amaresh . Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo . . 1987 . 978-81-260-1803-1 . 142 . en . Amaresh Datta.
2. Book: Walter . Mariko Namba . Shamanism [2 volumes]

   An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices, and Culture [2 volumes] ]

   . Fridman . Eva Jane Neumann . 2004-12-15 . . 978-1-57607-646-0 . 573 . en.
3. Book: Assam (India) . Report on the Administration of the Province of Assam . . 1899 . 20 . en.
4. Book: Paniker, Ayyappa . Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections . 1997 . . 978-81-260-0365-5 . 326 . en . Ayyappa Paniker.
5. Book: Singh, Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam . Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra . History Of Old Manipuri Literature . . India . 121, 122 . en, mni . Poireiton Khunthokpa . The Poireiton Khunthokpa, is the most conspicuous one of all pre-Garibniwaz manuscripts. From a linguistic point of view, it seems to be much earlier than any of the books yet come under our view. Circumstantial and other incidental evidences would confirm that the book might have been of the time of the third century A. D. It describes the colonization of the valley by a band of people from the land of Death under Poireiton. They first established their colony near the Langol Hill; probably the vast area between the Koubru Hill and the Langol Hill was their kingdom. --Report on the Archaeological studies in Manipur Bulletin No. 1-by W. Yumjao Singh, pp 18-19. . https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater.
6. Web site: The relationship between Thang-Ta & Meitei Pung maintained by our Ancient ... . ccrtindia.gov.in . . 4.
7. Book: Mukherjee, Sujit . A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 . . 1998 . 978-81-250-1453-9 . 280 . en . Sujit Mukherjee.
8. Book: Society and Economy in North-East India . Regency Publications . 2004 . 978-81-87498-83-4.
9. Book: Zama, Margaret Ch . Emerging Literatures from Northeast India: The Dynamics of Culture, Society and Identity . SAGE Publishing India . 2013 . 978-81-321-1746-9 . 79.
10. Book: North East India History Association. Session . Proceedings of North East India History Association . The Association . 2003 .
11. Book: Ray . Asok Kumar . Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray . Chakraborty . Satyabrata . Concept Publishing Company . 2008 . 978-81-8069-572-8 . 88.
12. Book: Sanajaoba, Naorem . Manipur: Treatise & Documents . 1993 . Mittal Publications . 978-81-7099-399-5 . 2 . en . Manipur, known as 'Meetei Leipak' or 'Kangleipak' in the two millennia old Meetei manuscripts had experienced some form of constitutional government under a proto-Constitution in 429 A.D. which was reduced to a final format in 1110 A.D. Constitution entitled 'Loiyamba Shinyen' during the regime of King Loyumba..
13. Book: Sanajaoba, Naorem . Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001 . 1991 . Mittal Publications . 978-81-7099-271-4 . 304 . en . The constitutionalism had developed with the adoption of a prototype of a constitution in 429 A.D. which was finally moulded into the written constitution in 1110 A.D., called 'Loyumba Shinyen' till it was substituted by Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 which operated till Manipur's merger with India on October 15, 1949..
14. Book: Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino . The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai . Mittal Publications . 2002 . 978-81-7099-849-5 . India . 16 . en.
15. Book: Singh, Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam . https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater . History Of Old Manipuri Literature . . India . 121, 122 . en, mni . Poireiton Khunthokpa . Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra.
16. Book: Himalaya Today - Volume 4, Issue 1 - Volume 5, Issue 1 . Himalaya Today Publications . 1992 . 49 . en.
17. Book: Singh, Ch Manihar . A History of Manipuri Literature . . 1996 . 978-81-260-0086-9 . India . en, mni.
18. Book: Datta, Amaresh . Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo . . 1987 . 978-81-260-1803-1 . India . 605 . en.
19. Book: Singh, Moirangthem Kirti . Folk Culture of Manipur . Manas Publications . 1993 . 978-81-7049-063-0 . 115 . en . Late Pandit M. Chandra Singh, Thaynagi Meitei Sahitya (Old Literature of Manipur), included in the speech collection of 1952 published by Manipur Sahitya Parishad, ....
20. Book: Ahluwalia, B. K. . Social Change in Manipur . 1984 . Cultural Publishing House . India . 58 . en . Literature . Exploring in the field of ancient Manipuri literature, N. Khelachandra Singh has brought out 'Manipuri Shahityagi ....
21. Book: George, K. M. . Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose . . 1992 . 978-81-7201-783-5 . India . 427, 431, 432 . en.
22. Book: Meitei . Sanjenbam Yaiphaba . The Cultural Heritage of Manipur . Chaudhuri . Sarit K. . Arunkumar . M. C. . 2020-11-25 . . 978-1-000-29637-2 . 139 . en.
23. Book: Roy, Jyotirmoy . History of Manipur . Eastlight Book House . 1973 . India . 176, 178, 182 . en . Literature; Religion, Literature and Dance.