Nongpok Ningthou , also known as the Sovereign of the East or King of the East, 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 ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and his consort

Panthoibi Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Non ...

were united in the

Nongmaiching Ching Nongmaiching Hill or Nongmaijing Hill, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a hill in the Imphal Valley in Manipur, India. It rises to the east of the Imphal City with a peak at an elevation of above sea level. It is a holy pilg ...

mountains. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in

Meitei religion 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 ...

. Nongpok Ningthou is one of the principal

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. He was originally known as ''Langmai Ningthou'' (Lord of the Langmai people).

History

The

Nongmaiching Hill Nongmaiching Hill or Nongmaijing Hill, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a hill in the Imphal Valley in Manipur, India. It rises to the east of the Imphal City with a peak at an elevation of above sea level. It is a holy pilgr ...

(also known as Selloi Langmai Hills) was the ancestral territory of the Selloi Langmai people. This zone has the strongest worship of God Langmai Ningthou (Nongpok Ningthou). According to the Nongmaiching Chingkoipa (AKA Nongmaijing Chingoiba) text, the mountain in the east and beyond the rivers (Imphal R., Iril R. and Kongba R.) is the abode of God Keinou Chingsompa (another name of Nongpok Ningthou). According to the Thalon ( Tharon) text, Selloi Langmai Hill had 5 divisions. Each division was occupied by different ethnic groups. Each groups had different ancestral deities. These were later described as the 5 pillars of the Selloi Langmai country. Later, in the course of time, these 5 gods belonging to 5 different places of the Selloi Langmai Hill were integrated into a single God with the name "Langmai Ningthou". The personal names became the aliases or various forms of the God. With this, the tribal society of the Selloi Langmai people evolved into a chiefdom. This chiefdom later rose to the Angom dynasty. According to the Naothingkhong Phambal Kaba

PuYa The Puyas are archaic Manipuri manuscripts. They encompass a wide spectrum of themes including genealogy, literature, history, royalties, administration, creation and cosmology, philosophy, poetry, religious beliefs, etc. Saroj Parratt noted ...

, the position of the Langmai Ningthou (lit. ''Langmai King'') rose to the highest level of the

God. He acquired a new title "Nongpok Ningthou". It took place after the uprooting of the Selloi Langmai people by the Meetei King

Ura Konthouba Meidingu Ura Konthouba () or Wura Konthouba () was a Meetei ruler of Ningthouja dynasty of Ancient Manipur ( Antique Kangleipak). He is the successor of Sameirang and the predecessor of Naothingkhong. In 568 AD, he issued coins for the first t ...

in the 6-7th century AD. With the end of the ethnic conflict, the Selloi Langmai people merged into the

Meitei ethnicity 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 ...

. Their deity "Langmai Ningthou" got renamed as "Nongpok Ningthou" (lit. ''Sovereign of the East''). The name of the God was given by the Meiteis. The God originally belonged to the Selloi Langmai people. These group of people lived in the East of the Kangla, the capital of the Meitei kingdom. The

Cheitharol Kumbaba ''Cheitharol Kumbaba'' or ''Cheithalon Kumpapa'' (''Ch. K.''), the "Royal Chronicle of Manipur", is a court chronicle of the kings of Manipur, which claims to start from 33 CE and to cover the rule of 76 Kings until 1955. The work of chroniclin ...

mentioned the God for the first time during the reign of King

Khagemba King Khagemba (Conqueror of the Chinese; 1597–1654), was a monarch from the Kingdom of Kangleipak. He also introduced a new form of polo and new apparel styles. Under his regime he focused on a new form of Manipur and built many markets ...

(1597 AD-1652 AD).

Mythology

God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess

are true lovers. They first met when the goddess was wandering in the open meadows, bathing and sporting in the cool waters of the running river. She was captivated by the handsome looks and towering personality of Nongpok Ningthou (alias Angoupa Kainou Chingsangsompa). They fell in love at first sight. He proposed her to elope with him. But the already married goddess didn't accept the instant proposal very soon because it was not even five days passed after her wedding. She insisted him to spend some time. The two lovers met secretly but regularly many times.

's behavior causes her in-laws to have suspicion over her. Her mortal husband tried to win her heart with many tricks. But these were useless to the goddess. Nongpok Ningthou eloped with Goddess

, his true lover, wearing the attires of the Tangkhuls. Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi, the two divine lovers, united on the

s. Their joyous union was celebrated with dances and music by the divine beings. These celebration gave birth to the

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 ...

festival. In another version of the story, Nongpok Ningthou met goddess

for the first time when she was helping her father at jhum cultivation (Slash-and-burn). They fell in love at first sight without no conversation. But Panthoibi was married to another man against her will. She left her husband's house to search for her true beloved. Nongpok Ningthou also left his home for the same purpose. The lovers met at the Kangla. Kangla became the place of their divine union. So, it is considered to be an auspicious place of coronation of the Meitei kings.

In ancient texts

In ancient

Meitei language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

texts like the Langkol Chingkoipa, the Nongmaiching Chingkoipa, the

Panthoibi Khongul Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Nong ...

, the Panthoibi Naheirol, God Nongpok Ningthou is described as the ultimate lover of goddess

(aka

Nongpok Leima Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Nong ...

Langkol Chingkoipa

In the ancient

text ''"Langkol Chingkoipa"'' (aka. ''"Langgol Chinggoiba"''), the affairs between Nongpok Ningthou and

we're mentioned as follows:

Nongmaiching Chingkoipa

In the ancient

text ''"Nongmaiching Chingkoipa"'' (aka. ''"Nongmaijing Chinggoiba"''), God Nongpok Ningthou (aka Kainou Chingsomba) is mentioned in relation to the Nongmaiching mountain as follows:

Panthoibi Naheirol

The ancient

text Panthoibi Naheirol () describes about the romantic affairs of God Nongpok Ningthou and his ladylove

. It tells about how Nongpok Ningthou suggested a plan to Panthoibi, according to which Panthoibi left her former husband's house (house of the Khaba dynasty) by tricking her in laws, and then stayed at her parental house, and then finally united with her ultimate lover in the Langmai mountains by tricking her mother. As per the plan, Panthoibi pretended to be unwell. Her mother mentioned the names of some gods, whom she (Panthoibi's mother) believed that they could cure her daughter's illness. She mentioned

Wangpulen Wangpulen is the god of water, rain, flood, disease and sickness in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism. He is the ruler of the underwater world. He is the Lord of the rivers. The guardianship of the south eastern direction is alluded to Wangbren a ...

(

Wangbren Wangpulen is the god of water, rain, flood, disease and sickness in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism. He is the ruler of the underwater world. He is the Lord of the rivers. The guardianship of the south eastern direction is alluded to Wangbren a ...

Thangching 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 ...

(

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 ...

) and

Koupalu Koupalu is a primordial deity in Sanamahism. He is the protector of the Meiteis, guardian of the North West direction and the founder of Meitei civilization. He lives on the summit of Mount Koubru. Description Koupalu (or Koubru) is a pr ...

(

Koubru Koupalu is a primordial deity in Sanamahism. He is the protector of the Meiteis, guardian of the North West direction and the founder of Meitei civilization. He lives on the summit of Mount Koubru. Description Koupalu (or Koubru) is a pr ...

). As none of them are Panthoibi's paramours, Panthoibi pretended that her health got worsened up at the mention of every single man. Finally, her mother mentioned Nongpok Ningthou Kainou Chingsomba as follows: As a reply to her mother, Panthoibi praised her lover Nongpok Ningthou as follows: Panthoibi insisted her mother to call him as soon as possible. Upon being called, Nongpok Ningthou arrived in a wink. Nongpok Ningthou pretended to examine and to cure her fake illness. After a short period of time, Panthoibi pretended to be completely recovered from her fake illness. Panthoibi told her mother about the greatness of Nongpok Ningthou as a physician as well as a saviour of her life from the brink of death. Taking advantage of the situation, Nongpok Ningthou was followed by Panthoibi and thus, they finally got united.

Cults and shrines

Most of the surviving cults and shrines dedicated to God Langmai Ningthou (Nongpok Ningthou) are located in the

( Selloi Langmai Hill) and its nearby areas. A few of the most prominent shrines include: (1) Nongpok at Yairipok, (2) Panam Ningthou at Andro, (3) Nongpok Ningthou at Khoirom, (4) Pureiromba at Lamlai, (5) Nongpok Ningthou at Engourok (Ingourok), (6) Pureiromba at Naharup, (7) Nongpok Ningthou at Takhel, (8) Pureiromba at Bamon Kampu, (9) Nongpok Ningthou at Charangpat Maning, (10) Waroi Ching Malang Lamhuiba at Waroi Ching, (11) Nongpok at Chandrakhong. These shrines are under the institution of the

sm. However, there are many shrines of God Langmai Ningthou independent from the

sm. Examples include Chingyai, Kharong, Isingchaibi, Nungpak Khul, Chingoi, etc. Due to the independence from the

sm, these shrines were absorbed into

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

during the post- Charairongba era in

. One notable instance is the shrine of Chingyai. The shrine of Chingyai was converted into the cult of Hindu God Shiva Mahadeva during the reign of King Chandrakirti (1850 AD-1886 AD). Khwairakpa Erel is the most famous sacred site dedicated to Nongpok Ningthou (alias Khwairakpa) in

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

. It is an island in the middle of the Barak River.

In art

Dance

Panthoibi Jagoi (; ) refers to the arts of dance in Meitei culture. General rules and guidelines Eye contact In the performances of traditional Meitei dances, dancers are strictly forbidden not to have any forms of eye contact with the audiences. If it is ...

is a duet dance form that is accompanied by a romantic song sung by a

maibi Maibi are the priestesses of Manipur Kingdom commonly known for performing religious rites. They are considered as shamans as well as midwives. They possess various skills of religious activities and ancient medicinal knowledge. The male counter ...

and a penakhongba (

Pena (musical instrument) Pena is a string instrument, mono string instrument falling in the lute category, slightly similar to some of the traditional Indian stringed musical instruments such as the ravanahatha, ''ubo'' or the ''kenda''. It is the traditional musical ...

player). It has reference to the love of Nongpok Ningthou for his consort

. The ''Tangkhul Nurabi Loutaba'' is an enactment of the repartee between Tangkhul Pakhang (Nongpok Ningthou) and Nurabi (

). The two players dress up in Tangkhul attires of farming in the field. This is performed on the last night of the Kanglei Haraoba (a form of

Festival

The Nongpok Ningthou Panthoibi Haraoba festival is celebrated for five consecutive days every year in

. One of the grand celebrations is organized in Kwatha.

Sacred sites

* The deity Nongpok Ningthou and his goddess

have a pantheon ''Nongpok Ningthou Panthoibi Hill'' in Yairipok, Manipur. * Every year, thousands of devotees throng to the sacred site of God Nongpok Ningthou to seek his blessings near the Jiri river in

. * In a place Kwatha, there is a sacred place of God Nongpok Ningthou and his goddess

, where devotees gather to worship them. * There is a sacred site of God Nongpok Ningthou and his goddess

at Yanglem Leikai. * Nongpok Ningthou Laishang, a sacred site of the god is also situated in

Bishnupur, Manipur Bishnupur is a town in Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, India. It derived its name from an ancient Vishnu temple located in the town. There is no official record of when exactly the town was named but it is likely during the reign o ...

, India.

References

{{Religion topics Guardians of the directions (Meitei) Kings in Meitei mythology