Many mni|'''Ching'''s|[[hills]] and [[mountains]] play significant role in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) of mni|Kangleipak|[[Manipur]].
| Translation(s) | Notes/References | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ching" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯤꯡ) | either a hill or a mountain | [1] | |
| "Cingjāo" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯤꯡꯖꯥꯎ) | a high mountain | ||
| "Cingdum" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯤꯡꯗꯨꯝ) | a hillock; mound | ||
| "Cingsāng" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯥꯡ) | the range of a hill or mountain |
See main article: Heingang Ching. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), the Heingang Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯩꯉꯥꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ) is a sacred mountain and the home of God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of mni|Sagol Kangjei|[[polo]], mni|[[Khong Kangjei]]|[[hockey]] and Meitei horse (Manipuri pony).[2] [3]
The Government of Manipur developed Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest equestrian statue of a player of mni|Sagol Kangjei|[[polo]] game, riding a Meitei horse (Manipuri pony),[4] [2] standing inside the Marjing Polo Complex, the sacred sports site dedicated to God Marjing, which is on the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, being historically, mythologically and religiously associated with the game of polo (Manipuri: Sagol Kangjei).[5] [6] It is built to commemorate the game of "modern polo" being originated from mni|Kangleipak|[[Manipur]].[7]
The Koupalu Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ), also known as the Koubaru Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯧꯕꯔꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ) or the Koubru Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ), in the Northwest of Kangleipak, is a sacred mountain and a divine abode of Koupalu (Koubru), the ancient Meitei deity, who protects the Northwest direction.Innumerable shrines and holy sites dedicated to Him are located in its mountainous realms, where Meitei people regularly visit and worship Him. Many ancient Meitei language texts including but not limited to the Chinglon Laihui, the Chinggoirol, the Chingsatlon, the Nunglon mentioned about the Koupalu Ching (Koubru Ching).[8]
The "Kounu Ching" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯧꯅꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ), located in the Senapati district of Manipur, is a sacred mountain as well as a divine abode of ancient Meitei goddess Kounu, the consort of God Koupalu (Koubru). Numerous shrines and sacred sites dedicated to her are found scattered across the mountain. Meitei people regularly visit and worship her in her holy sanctuaries.[9]
The Langkol Chingkoipa (Langgol Chinggoiba) is an ancient Meitei language text which is a description for the Langkol Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯡꯀꯣꯜ ꯆꯤꯡ), also called the Langgol Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯡꯒꯣꯜ ꯆꯤꯡ), a hill situated in the north of Imphal. According to the text, the Langkol Ching is the first perfect creation of seven goddesses and eighteen gods.[10]
See main article: Nongmaiching Ching.
The Nongmaiching Chingkoipa (also called, "Nongmaijing Chinggoiba") is an ancient Meitei language text. It describes the sprawling branches of the Nongmaiching mountain (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ), which extends from the North to the South of the Imphal Valley of Kangleipak.[11] The opening lines of the text describes the Nongmaiching to a king as follows:Following these lines, the author describes on many cliffs, slopes and its peripheral areas of the Nongmaiching mountain.[12]
The "Panthoibi Naheirol" (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯅꯥꯍꯩꯔꯣꯜ) is an ancient Meitei language text. According to it, ancient Meitei goddess Panthoibi pretended to be unwell in front of her mother, just to make her mother call physician Nongpok Ningthou (her secret paramour) for the treatment of her fake illness.[13] While telling her mother about Nongpok Ningthou, princess Panthoibi mentioned the Nongmaiching (aka Langmai Ching) as follows:
The Thangching Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯊꯥꯡꯆꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ), also known as the Thangjing Ching (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ), located in the Southwest of Kangleipak, is the divine abode of ancient Meitei god Thangching (Thangjing), the guardian deity of the southwestern direction.[14] Shrines dedicated to Him are built in the Thangching ching, where his devotees visit and worship Him regularly.[15]