The ancient legend of Khamba and Thoibi () is a

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...

, as well as one of the epic cycles of incarnations of

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology (or Manipuri mythology) () is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion of Sanam ...

and

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

, that is originated from Ancient Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak (early

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 ...

). It is referred to as the "national romantic legend of Manipur" by Indian scholar Suniti Kumar Chatterjee. Among the countless retelling editions of the epic story, is '' Khamba Thoibi Sheireng'' () an eight-volume, 39,000-line epic poem composed by Hijam Angangha and published in 1940. It was written in Pena Saisak folk ballad style and has been called the

national epic A national epic is an epic poem or a literary work of epic scope which seeks to or is believed to capture and express the essence or spirit of a particular nation—not necessarily a nation state, but at least an ethnic or linguistic group wi ...

of Manipur. The classic tale of Khamba and Thoibi became an Assamese classic as well, after being translated into

Assamese language Assamese () or Asamiya ( ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, where it is an official language. It has long served as a ''lingua franca'' in parts of Northeast India."Axomiya is the major langu ...

as ''Khamba Thoibir Sadhukatha'', by Assamese author and anthropologist Rajanikanta Bordoloi (1869-1939).

Background

According to legend, Keke Moirang was created by the God Thangching. The first King of Moirang was Iwang Fang Fang Ponglenhanba, who was born of Moirang Leima Nangban Chanu Meirapanjenlei. He attacked tribal villages, brought Thanga under his rule, and fixed his boundaries to the north, where the Luwang King bore sway. He brought in captives, and buried the heads of his fallen enemies in the Kangla or Royal enclosure. After some time, the God Thangching began to think that the King and his subjects were so prosperous that they were likely to forget their duties to him, and on the advice of seven gods, the Yakhong Lai, he decided to frighten the King and his people. One night, there were mysterious sounds heard. At first, the King's soldiers found nothing, but when the sounds were heard again, they discovered that the Yakhong Lai, had raised a storm that had destroyed the Khuyal Leikhong. The King's advisors asked him to summon the famous maibi, Santhong Mari Mai Langjeng Langmei Thouba. She was working in the fields, but came running. The King demanded that she restore the Khuyal Leikhong, and threatened to kill her if she failed. The maibi persuaded the seven gods to teach her a hymn that would restore the Khuyal Leikhong, and they ordered her to convey a message to the King. When she went to the Khuyal Leikhong she met the god Pakhangba. She raised the edifice by singing the hymn and delivered message to the King, which directed that all the maibas and maibis of the country should sleep in the temple of Thangching wearing their sacred clothes, which they did. There, in their dreams, they were instructed to divide the people into sections, according to the duties they would perform. Then the village offices were created and their order of precedence fixed. The maibas chanted the name of the god and the maibis rang the bell. Then, when they had told the King about their dreams, they were bidden to do as the god had said. The King then died and was succeeded by his son Telheiba. During his and subsequent reigns,there were raids against tribals and various villages. Then we get into complications, for in the reign of King Laifacheng we are told, the Khumans were wroth with Konthounamba Saphaba and compassed his death. They took him into a wood and fastened him to a tree and left him, but by the aid of the Gods he broke the creeper and made his way to Moirang where he married and had a son. He left Moirang, and went to the land of the Meiteis. The King kept the child, who by favour of the God Thangching grew so strong that the folk of Moirang begged the King to rid himself of the lad, for he would supplant the King. So they put the lad in chains for seven years, and all that time there fell no rain in Moirang. Then the God Thangching appeared to the lad and told him to ask the King to take off his chains. Then the King set the lad free, and the rain fell, but many had died of fever and cholera. The King implored the lad to pardon him for his cruelty and promised him, that when he was dead the kingdom should be his for seven years, even as many years as the years of his bondage. So it fell out, and for seven years the lad reigned as King where he had been in chains. Raids against Luwangs on the west against tribal villages, which the historian observes still pay tribute to Moirang, are all we have for a brief space covering some hundred years. The God Thangching kept his interest in the fortunes of the kingdom, and visited the King in his dreams and instructed him in many matters. The village grew and spread, so much so that in the reign of King Thanga Ipenthaba, the small hill of Thanga was broken and the water let out. Then at the instance of two Khuman women the King slew the King of the Khumans whom he met by chance hunting. In a later reign, Moirang is invaded by the Khumans who assembled a force in boats. This force was defeated, and in return the Khuman villages were fired. In the reign of King Chingkhu Telheiba (skilful archer of the hill village), a Khuman, Aton Puremba, shot nine tigers with his bow and arrows and took their skins to the King, who sought a gift worthy of the hunter's prowess. He would not give him clothes or such things. He had no daughter, so he gave him his wife, and by her the bold hunter had two children Khamnu and

Khuman Khamba Khuman Khamba or Moirang Khamba is a hero in Meitei folklore. He belongs to the Khuman dynasty, Khuman clan (). He is the hero as well as the protagonist of the Meitei epic poetry, epic poem ''Khamba Thoibi'' of the Moirang Shayon legends in t ...

. Both their parents died, and by dint of begging from door to door, Khamnu got food for herself and her baby brother. Day by day the lad grew in strength and courage. So swift was he that none could race against him. So strong was he that he and he alone dared to seize a mad bull that was raging in the land. Then Chingkhuba Akhuba, brother of King Chingkhuba Telhaiba, ordered his men to seize Khamba and have him trampled to death by the elephant. His sin was that Thoibi had made a coat which she gave to Khamba, for she loved him. The God Thangching warned Thoibi of the peril in which her lover was, and she arose and threatened to kill her father so that Khamba escaped. Then it befell a hunting party that a tiger killed a man in full sight of the King, but Khamba killed the tiger single- handed, and as a reward the King gave him the Princess Thoibi in marriage.

Editions

*
The Story of Khamba and Thoibi
', an 1877 English language prose version written by G. H. Damant, published in ''The Indian Antiquary''. *
Khamba and Thoibi
', an English language prose version, that appears in T. C. Hodsn's 1908 book ''The Meitheis''. * '' Khamba Thoibi Sheireng'', a 1940 Meitei language epic poem by Hijam Anganghal *
Khamba Thoibi and Poems on Manipur
', a 1963 English language poetry work, by Vimala Raina. *
Khamba and Thoibi: The Unscaled Height of Love
', a 1976 English language prose by N. Tombi Singh * ''Khamba Thoibigi Wari Amasung Mahakavya'', a Meitei-language prose version by Khwairakpam Chaoba.

In popular culture

, being presented a memento of a painting depicting Khuman Khamba capturing the Bull, by Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu, the then Governor of Manipur and Okram Ibobi Singh, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of three projects, National Sports University,

Convention Center A convention center (American and British English spelling differences, American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a Convention (meeting), convention, where individuals and groups ...

and Manipur Institute of Technology, 2 December 2006 * ''Kao Faba'' () is a 2020 Meitei language

Shumang Kumhei Shumang Kumhei (), also known as , is a Meitei traditional form of theatre, usually performed in Manipur, North East India. The theatre is arranged in the form of open air from four sides. The roles are all played by male actors, some dressed as ...

, based on the story of the capture of bull by Khuman Khamba, produced by Western Cultural Association in

. * ''Kao, the sacred bull]'' is a 2011 Meitei opera produced by the Laihui Ensemble, based on the story of the capture of the bull by Khuman Khamba. *

Khambana Kao Phaba (painting) The is a 2001 oil canvas painting by Manipuri artists, ''M Betombi Singh'' and ''Gopal Sharma''. The painting shows the capture of powerful Kao bull by hero Khamba. It is one of the most well known museum series "Exhibit of the Month" of th ...

(), an oil painting by Manipuri artists, M Betombi Singh and Gopal Sharma. * ''Khamba Khamnu'' () is a 1995 Meitei language feature film, produced by Chandam Shyamacharan for C.S.Films Imphal Productions, written by Th. Nodia and directed by Ch. Shyamacharan. * ''Khamba Thoibi'' () is a 1997 Meitei language feature film, based on the epic story by Hijam Anganghal, produced by Moirangthem Nilamani Singh for Anjana Films, and directed by M. Nilamani Singh. * ''Langon'' () is a Meitei language feature film, based on the epic of Khamba and Thoibi. * '' Moirang Sai'' () is a traditional form Meitei performance that tellss the story of Khamba and Thoibi in song and dance. * Festival of Moirang Shai () is a cultural event that aims to popularize the unique culture of the

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei 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." are a Ti ...

at grassroots level, particularly in preserving and promoting '' Moirang Sai''.

Notes

References

External links