Pakhangba ( mni, , omp, ) is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. He is depicted in the heraldry of

Manipur kingdom The Manipur Kingdom was an ancient independent kingdom at the India–Burma frontier that was in subsidiary alliance with British India from 1824, and became a princely state in 1891. It bordered Assam Province in the west and Brit ...

, which originated in ''paphal'' ( mni, ), the mythical illustrations of the deity belonging to the traditional beliefs of

Sanamahism () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of ...

. Among the

Meiteis The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

, it is believed that the ancestor of one of the clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba. The identity of the deity is often fused with '' Nongda Lairen Pakhangba'', the first ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty. The title ''Pakhangba'' was also used by other kings in the

history of Manipur The history of Manipur (Kangleipak in ancient times) is reflected by archaeological research, mythology and written history. Starting from the origin of Polo ( mni, Sagol Kangjei) in 3100 BC, Manipur became a princely state under British ...

In heraldry

A Pakhangba as a

heraldic Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known bran ...

dragon was present in all the former royal flags and coats of arms of Manipur. The kingdom of Manipur had a set of two flags, a white one and a red one. All featured the Pakhangba dragon in the centre, although not as prominently in the latter flags.

Description

The Pakhangba is the supreme God. He is a man who can change his body to any form, like animals, and others as he is a powerful God. In certain sculptures, known as Kangla-Sa, at the citadel of the

Kangla Palace The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of the bank of the ...

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the f ...

, there is a related type of creature represented with a short body. The sculptures are large and were built of brick, standing at each side of the northern gate. They have a similar head and four sturdy legs, but their body is shorter and bears more of a resemblance to a lion. In 1891, during the Anglo-Manipur War five British officers were executed by Manipuri soldiers below these two Kangla-Sa. The act was a kind of magic ritual in which the blood of the white officers was seen as feeding there in order to weaken British power. For this act Major Maxwell, the Political Agent that was appointed after the war, had destroyed the two kangla-sa with gunpowder following the conquest of Manipur.KanglaSha : The story behind the Legend
/ref> File:Paphal (Musée du Quai Branly) (4489839164).jpg, Poubi Lai Paphal: a mythical form of Pakhangba File:Pakhangba.jpg, Lit Pakhangba statue in Imphal File:Uttra sanglen.jpg, Two standing Kangla-Sa or Nongshaba at the northern gate of

Kangla Fort The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old Fortification, fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of ...

. These massive statues have been rebuilt after they were destroyed at the end of the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891.

References

External links

Paphal: the mythical assumptions of Lord Pakhangba, ruling deity of Manipur
{{Religion topics Abundance deities Abundance gods Animal deities Animal gods Arts deities Arts gods Crafts deities Crafts gods Creator deities Creator gods Culture of Manipur Dragons Earth deities Earth gods Fortune deities Fortune gods Health deities Health gods Horned deities Horned gods Kings in Meitei mythology Life-death-rebirth deities Life-death-rebirth gods Lunar deities Lunar gods Magic deities Magic gods Maintenance deities Maintenance gods Meitei dragons Meitei gods and goddesses Mythological hybrids Names of God in Sanamahism Nature deities Nature gods Ningthou Pakhangba Peace deities Peace gods Savior deities Savior gods Sky and weather deities Sky and weather gods Solar deities Solar gods Time and fate deities Time and fate gods Tutelary deities Tutelary gods

In heraldry

Description

See also

References

External links