Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, consisting of the modern day Manipur, India which is still known to some residents as Kangleipak, and other neighbouring regions.[1] [2] [3] [4] The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of this realm from the 15th century BCE, up to medieval times.[5]
See also: Prehistory of Manipur.
The territory of this realm is mountainous and thereby, ancient Kangleipak consists of several smaller region each with its own dialect, cultural peculiarities, and identity.[6] At one time during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba the territory of Kangleipak(Manipur) stretched upto the present Yunan Province of modern day China.[7] Kabaw valley in Mayanmar was also a part of Manipur until the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru India gifted it to Myanmar on his visit to Manipur in 1952.[8] Thibomei(now Kohima) was also once annexed by the then King Gambhir Singh.
In fact, there were seven independent kingdoms ruled by the seven clan dynasties in this realm. These seven principalities had their own capital cities.
| Capital cities | Latin transliteration | Respective kingdoms | Latin transliteration | Ruling dynasties | Latin transliteration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Imphal Kangla | ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ | Imphal | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) | |
| ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Luwangsangbam Kangla | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ | Luwangsangbam | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang | |
| ꯅꯣꯡꯌꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯀꯣꯢꯄꯨꯡ | Nongyai Leikoipung | ꯃꯌꯥꯡ ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ | Mayang Imphal | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman | |
| ꯀꯣꯡꯕ ꯃꯔꯨ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Kongba Maru Kangla | ꯀꯣꯡꯕ ꯃꯔꯨ | Kongba Maru | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom | |
| ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Moirang Kangla | ꯀꯦꯀꯦ ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ | Keke Moirang | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ | Moirang Salai | |
| ꯇꯥꯛꯅꯈꯥ ꯄꯨꯔꯨꯛ ꯁꯧꯄꯤ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Taknakha Puruk Soupi Kangla | ꯇꯥꯛꯅꯈꯥ ꯄꯨꯔꯨꯛ ꯁꯧꯄꯤ | Taknakha Puruk Soupi | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa | |
| ꯂꯩꯁꯪꯈꯣꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Leishangkhong Kangla | ꯂꯩꯁꯪꯈꯣꯡ | Leishangkhong | ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ | Salai Leishangthem |
See main article: Ancient Meitei language. The Ancient Meitei language (early form of the modern Meitei language) had a wide array of Meitei scriptures (Puya (Meitei texts)), of numerous topics, written in the archaic Meitei script.[9] [10] One of the oldest scriptures is the Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, written in 1398 BC (verified by the National Archives of India, New Delhi).[11]
See main article: Meitei culture.
Most people of ancient Kangleipak were farmers tied to their lands. Their dwellings were restricted to immediate family members.
See main article: Meitei architecture. The ancient architectural designs of common houses were believed to be sustainable, eco friendly and affordable. It gives a cooling effect during hot summer and a warming effect during chilling winter.[12]
See main article: Sanamahism and Meiteism. The ancient religion of the indigenous ethnicities of the hills and the plains is the Sanamahism. The abstract concept of the space time entity is the ultimate God creator of the universe.[13] Beliefs in the divine and in the afterlife were ingrained in ancient Kangleipak from its inception. The ancient rulers were based on the divine right of kings.
The Ancient Meitei military ran in the Lallup system. Lal-lup system (literally, Lal means war; lup means club or association or organization) was a predominant system in ancient Kangleipak. According to the system, every men of indigenous ethnicity of above 16 years of age was a member.