Tell you about Manipur State

The history of Manipur is reflected by archaeological research, mythology and written history.

Quick facts: Kingdom of Manipur, Kings of Manipur …
Kingdom of Manipur
Part of History of Manipur
Royal flag of Manipur
Kings of Manipur
Pamheiba 1720-1751
Gaurisiam 1752-1763
Chitsai 1754-1756
Ching-Thang Khomba 1769-1798
Rohinchandra 1798-1801
Maduchandra Singh 1801-1806
Chourjit Singh 1806-1812
Marjit Singh 1812-1819
Gambhir Singh 1825-1834
Raja Nara Singh 1844-1850
Debindro Singh 1850
Chandrakirti Singh 1850-1886
Raja Surchandra 1886-1890
Kulachandra Singh 1890-1891
Churachandra Singh 1891-1941
Bodhchandra Singh 1941-1949
Manipur monarchy data
Ningthouja dynasty (Royal family)
Pakhangba (Symbol of the kingdom)
Cheitharol Kumbaba (Royal chronicle)
Imphal (Capital of the kingdom)
Kangla Palace (Royal residence)

Since ancient times, the Meetei peoplehave lived in the valleys of Manipur alongside the Nagas, and Kukis in the hills. Meetei people settled in the valleys during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba in the year 1606. Since then, they also lived along with the Meetei People.

Mythological origins begins with the reign of the “Konchin Tukthapa Ipu Athoupa Pakhangpa” (Pakhangpa was the name given to him meaning “The one who knows his father”), who gave birth the seven clans of Meetei society.

The pre-Hindu era is set forth in the sacred writing puya “Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok”. Introduction of the Vaishnavism school of Hinduismbrought about changes in the history of the state. Manipur’s early history is set forth in the Cheitharon Kumbaba, a chronicle of royal events which is believed to record events from the foundation of the ruling dynasty.[citation needed]


After the war, the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, established a democratic form of government with the Maharajaas the Executive Head and an elected legislature. In 1949, Maharaja Budhachandra was summoned to Shillong, capital of the Indian province of Meghalaya where he signed a Treaty of Accession merging the kingdom into India. Thereafter the legislative assembly was dissolved and Manipur became part of the Republic of India in October, 1949.[1] It was made a union territory in 1956[2] and a full-fledged state in 1972.[3] Mohammed Alimuddin became the first Chief Minister in 1972 of the State of Manipur.[4]

Mythological origins

On many occasions, in the textMahabharata, an epic from India, cites the accounts of North Eastern region of present India. It has been argued that this covers the present states of Manipur and Nagaland.[citation needed] This has been dated from the 9th century BCE to about 400 BCE.[5]

Mythological origins begins with the reign of the “Konchin Tukthapa Ipu Athoupa Pakhangpa” (Pakhangpa was the name given to him meaning “The one who knows his father”). He gave birth the seven clans of Meetei society. 1. Mangang, 2. Luwang, 3. Khuman, 4. Angom, 5. Moilang, 6. Khapa-Nganpa, and 7. Salai-leisangthem.

Kanglei which is now called “Kangla” was the first capital of the kingdom called “Kangleipak”. “Lainingthou Sanamahi” is the creator of all according to “Kangleichas”, the then residents of the now called Manipur. The religion of the land was purely “Sanamahism”, one of the oldest religion of the world.[citation needed]


Manipur had been known throughout the ages as Meitrabak, Kangleipak or Meeteileipak[6] as well as by more than twenty other names.[7] Sanamahi Laikan wrote that Manipur’s new nomenclature was adopted in the eighteenth century during the reign of Meidingu Pamheiba. According to Sakok Lamlen, the area had different names according to the era. During the Hayachak period it was known as Mayai Koiren poirei namthak saronpung or Tilli Koktong Ahanba, then in the Khunungchak period as Meera Pongthoklam. Thereafter during the Langbachak era, it became Tilli Koktong Leikoiren and finally Muwapalli in the Konnachak epoch.[8]

During the latter part of its history, Manipur and its people were known by different names to their neighbours. TheShans or Pongs called the area Cassay, the Burmese Kathe, and the AssameseMeklee. In the first treaty between the British East India Company andMeidingu Chingthangkhomba(Bhagyachandra) signed in 1762, the kingdom was recorded as Meckley. Bhagyachandra and his successors issued coins engraved with the title of Manipureshwar, or lord of Manipur and the name Meckley was discarded. Later on, the Sanskritisation work, Dharani Samhita (1825–34) popularized the legends of the derivation of Manipur’s name.[9]

Prehistoric Manipur

Prehistory of Kangleipak or Manipur

Manipur is situated on the tertiary ranges of a branch of the easternHimalayas running south and forms part of the compact physiographic unit following the great divide between theBrahmaputra and Chindwin valleys. North east India holds the key to the understanding the scope, depth, dimension and cultural diffusion between south and southeast Asia which played a crucial role in transforming the northeast Indian ethnographic canvas from prehistoric times onwards. Manipur appears to have absorbed Bronze Age cultural traits from Thailand and Upper Burma where indigenous early metal age culture developed at a comparatively early date around 4000 BC.[citation needed]

Old Stone Age

The four Khangkhui Caves are located near Khangkhui some 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south east of Ukhrulon the border with Upper Burma. Archaeological excavations have found stone and bone tools as well as animal remains as evidence of Stone Agehabitation of these caves.[10] The first evidence of Pleistocene man in Manipur dates back to about 30,000 BC. Other notable caves nearby include Hunding Caves, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Ukhrul, Purul Cave in Purul and the Song Ring rock shelter at Beyang village inTengnoupal.

One of archaeologist O.K. Singh’s most valuable finds is a pebble chopping tool discovered in Maring Naga Village, Machi, in the Chandel district.[11] TheMarings are one of the oldest tribes of Manipur and this find is considered a landmark in the Paleolithic archaeology of Manipur as it confirms that the area was inhabited by neolithic people from the early Stone Age or lower Paleolithic period.

New Stone Age



The site is located at 93.32’ longitude and 25.3’ latitude in the midst of the thickly forested Reyangling Hills, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Tharon Village. Locally, the caves are known as Kalemki (from Kalem (bat) and Ki(house), literally: The house of the bat). A stream called Kalem-ki-magu runs near the caves, which are composed of Barail series sandstone and were probably formed by rock weathering. Tharon’s edge-ground pebble tools are similar to finds from Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines where they were used about 7000–8000 BC. The Tharons have a distinct affinity with the Haobihian culture and before the advent of the present Tibeto-Burmaninhabitants of the area, Proto-Australoidpeople occupied these caves around 5000–4000 BC.[citation needed]


Ancient Manipur




  • Naophangba (428–518 AD)


  • Loiyamba (1074–1122 AD) was known as the “Great law Giver”, his reign was an important period in the history of Kangleibak. Along with the military consolidation of the kingdom, Loiyamba introduced administrative reforms, which provided the backbone of the kingdom’s administration for the next seven centuries. He systematized the administrative divisions of the country by creating six lups or divisions as well as introducing the Pana System.Loiyamba Shinyen left a well-organized society and economy in Meeteileipak.[citation needed]

Medieval Manipur

  • Meidingu Ningthou Khomba (1432–1467) was the “Conqueror of Tamu”. According to Ningthourol Lambuba he was originally known as Charairongba. One of the most well-known events of Charairongba’s reign was a raid by the Tangkhul tribe from Tuisem village while he was absent. His queen Linthoingambi demonstrated courage and skill, hoodwinking the raiding tribesmen into defeat and captivity. The Meitei state was completely established during his reign.[citation needed]
  • Meidingu Kiyamba (1467–1508) was known as the “Conqueror of Kabaw Valley”. He was formerly called Thangwai Ningthouba. Credit for the military and territorial expansion of the kingdom was given to King Ningthou khomba and his son Kiyamba who had an equally colourful mother, Linthoingambi, the warrior queen in Manipur’s history. This period sees the emergence of Medingu Senbi Kiyamba, who became king in 1476, at the age of 24. He was a friend of the King of Pong (Shan Kingdom), who presented him with a stone, known as PHEIYA (Almighty Lord Vishnu). After this, worship of God (Lord Vishnu) in the form of a sacred stone began.[citation needed]


  • Meidingu Khagemba (1597&ndash1652) was known as the “Conqueror of the Chinese” (khagi: Chinese and Ngamba:conqueror). He consolidated and expanded his father’s kingdom of Meitrabak, later successfully defending it from foreign invaders such as the Muslims, the Kachari and the Shans of the Kabaw Valley. Muslim settlement became more prominent after 1606 with the establishment of a Muslim Personal Law Board headed by a Qazi appointed by the king. According to the chronicle, the Meetei king attacked the principal Chinese village (or town) along with the many brave Meetei warrior and defeated their chief Chouopha Hongdei. Khagemba introduced bell metal currency in the kingdom and a number of coins from his reign have been found. His reign was considered to be the golden age of Manipuri literature. He was a great patron of the traditional Lainingthou Cult. A contemporary text, the Khagemba Langjei, expresses the supremecy of Sanamahi as the Universal God of the Meeteis. Learned scholars who were well-known authorities on religion and theology in attendance at Khagemba’s court were ApoimachaKonok Thengra,Salam SanaYumnam Tomba,Khongngakhul Toppa and Langon Lukhoi.[citation needed]


With the dawn of the eighteenth century, *Meidingu Charairongba (1697–1709) achieved the full development of its culture, economy and state system. In this revolutionary period in the evolution of Meitrabak, three kings, father, son, and a great grandson: Charairongba,Pamheiba and Chingthang Khombaplayed significant roles. After the death of Paikhomba, his nephew Charairongba, the son of his younger brother Tonsenngamba ascended the throne in 1697. His reign began the transition period from traditional Meetei culture to a Hinduised Meetei Society. There were continual trade contacts and social relationships between Manipur and Burma. In 1702, the Toongoo dynasty of Awa (Burma) sent emissaries asking for the hand of a Meetei Princess. Charirongba gave his daughter Chakpa Makhao Ngambi in marriage to the Burmese King. He constructed several temples for Meitei deities such as PanthoibiSanamahi as well as ones dedicated to Hindu gods. Relations with Burma deteriorated and became stronger with India after the area’s conversion to Vaishnavism.[citation needed]

Vaishnavism Era


  • Meidingu Pamheiba (Garibnawaz) (1709–1748):

Pamheiba ascended the throne on the 23rd Day of Thawan (August) 1709. His Persian name Garibniwaz, meaning “kind to the poor”, was given to him by Muslim immigrants and was adopted to be used in the coinage he issued.[citation needed]


Conversion to Vaishnavism

Pamheiba was also a major religious reformer and under his royal patronage Shri Chaitanya’s school of Gaudiya Vaishnavism gradually spread across Meitrabak. The Cheitharol Kumbaba records that in October 1717, Graibnawaz was initiated into Vaishnavism by Guru Gopal Das. Later in life he also took instruction from theRamanandi Sampradaya school of thought.[citation needed]


Sanamahi Laikan recorded the events surrounding Sanskritisation which paved the way for “Meeteileipak” or “Kangleibak” to become “Manipur”. Many other Meeteileipak place names in the Manipuri language (Meeteilon) were also changed to Sanskrit. The Hinduised word “gotra” was introduced for the Seven Yek/Salais of Meeteis. Between 1717 and 1737, the Sanskrit epic parvas the Mahabharata and Ramayana were translated into Meeteilon while many other Sanskrit Parvas were written byAngom Gopi (1710–1780), the renowned scholar and poet at the court of Pamheiba. The king and all the Meeteis were converted as Kshatriya by relating to Mahabharata’s Manipur.[citation needed]


He abdicated the throne in favour of his son Chit Sai (1748–52) in 1748 and was then driven out to Cachar by his brotherBharat Sai in 1752. Gourashyam (1753–58) ousted Bharat Sai in 1753 and ascended the throne. In 1758, the Burmese king Alaungpaya invaded Meeteileipak.[citation needed]


Origin of the Meetei or Manipuri Classical Dance, Rasa lila

Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.


Anglo-Burmese Events


  • Meidingu Marjit (1813–1819)




Meitrabak Princes in Cachar





The Manipur Expedition

Main article: Anglo-Manipur War

The main entrance of the Kangla Fort in Imphal.

Meidingngu Surchandra (1886–90) succeeded his father to the throne in 1886 when there were revolts against him led by Sana Borachaoba and Dinachandra that proved unsuccessful. However, on 21 September 1890, Princes Zila Ngamba and Angousana with the support of Senapati Tikendrajit, revolted against Surchandra who abdicated and left Meitrabak for Brindaban (Vrindavan). His brotherKulachandra Singh ascended the throne in 1890 and Tikendrajit, the Senapati or supreme military commander of the armed forces of Manipur, became the ruler behind the scenes. Surchandra requested the government of India to reinstate him on the throne but the British decided to recognize Kulachandra as king of Meitrabak and to arrest Yuvraj Tikendrajit for having caused the palace revolution.[12]






World War II

Main article: Battle of Imphal

A major thrust by the Empire of Japan in 1944, was stopped at Imphal by British and Indian forces. This marked the furthest westward expansion of the Empire.

The British left Manipur in 1947 following Indian independence.


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