Khamlangba is a deity in

Sanamahism Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of ...

, the indigenous religion of

Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...

. He is the God of iron, mining, metallurgy, steel manufacturing, hunting and war. His occupation is the extraction of the iron ores and the manufacture of steel. The ''Khamlangba Thenlon'' text mentions about his skills of iron metallurgy and blacksmith in ancient

Kakching Kakching ( Meitei pronunciation:/kək.ciŋ/) is a town in the southeastern part of the Indian state of Manipur. It serves as the headquarters of Kakching district and is a major commercial hub in the state. In 2018, Kakching was declared as the ...

kingdom.

Description

God Khamlangba is the miner of

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

ores and the manufacturer of

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

. He is worshipped for peace and prosperity in the kingdom. He is revered for protecting people from diseases and death. He drives away the evil spirits from the state. He belongs to the class of Sylvan Gods (

Umang Lai Umang Lai () refers to a group of ancient Meitei deities of the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) who are worshipped as the local guardians of particular areas, especially sacred groves. These deities are worshipped annually. Their Sac ...

s). The Kangjeirol text says that God Khamlangba was one of the divine polo players who played the divine polo match of the gods.

Mythology

In the creation myth, God Khamlangba was grown out of Atiya Sidaba. He was a great hunter, warrior and miner. He lived with Goddess Huimu Leima and a son named Amudon was born to them. After this, Khamlangba left Ancient Kangleipak ( Antique Manipur) for

Tripura Tripura () is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a populat ...

() in search of iron ores. When he returned to Ancient Kangleipak ( Antique Manipur), he settled in

. The people of

worshipped Him. Later, "Kakching Haraoba", a new form of

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...

was developed. This account is evident in the ''Khamlangba Khunggumlon'' text. In another legend, God Khamlangba stayed for some time at a place named ''Khuman Heiyel Loubuk''. Later, he came to Kheraching. Nganba Tekcha Pamba Laihat Thouba beheaded Irum Lai Tubi Kokling Lengba. So, the place where God Khamlangba stayed was later known as Kakching Khullen and Kakching Wairi. God Khamlangba participated in the divine polo match played among the gods. The divine polo match took place during the reign of the deified Meetei King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba as described in the Kangjeirol text. He was one of the seven polo players in the team led by Marjing. His opponents were led by

Thangjing Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Loktak lake. He is one of the four cardinal U ...

Cults and shrines

God Khamlangba holds a special position for the Kakching Haraoba. Kakching Haraoba is one of the four types of

festival. During the era of King Samuroiba Ningthou, the temple of Khamlangba was built in Kakching Khullen. The Naorem family also built a temple of Khamlangba at Kakching Wairi. The temple of Khamlangba in Kakching Khullen was maintained by the Mayanglambam clan while the one at Kakching Wairi was maintained by Naorem family.

Gallery

File:Ibudhou-khamlangba-laikon.jpg, A shrine dedicated to Khamlangba File:Lai Lamthokpa.jpg, A religious festival dedicated to Khamlangba File:Plate_10-1_Folk-Lore,_vol._24.jpg, Litter with the emblem of Khamlangba File:Plate_10-2_Folk-Lore,_vol._24.jpg, Maiden dancers at the religious festival of Lai Haraoba dedicated to Khamlangba File:Plate_11-2_Folk-Lore,_vol._24.jpg, Khamlangba's orchestras (with penas) and the married dancers

References

{{Reflist Abundance gods Arts gods Knowledge gods Magic gods Smithing gods Time and fate gods War gods Wisdom gods