Pakhangba

Pakhangba (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ) is a primordial serpentine dragon god in Meitei mythology and religion.[1][2] He is present in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, originated from "Paphal" (ꯄꯥꯐꯜ), the mythical illustrations of the deity belonging to the traditional beliefs, preceding Hinduism, Islam and Christianity in Manipur.[3] Among the Meiteis, the Pangals and the Meitei Christians, he is believed that the ancestor of one of the clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.[4][5][6]

Pakhangba
Primordial serpentine dragon god
Member of Primordial Meitei deities
Other namesPakhangpa, Apanba (Apanpa)
Meiteiꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ
AffiliationSanamahism (Meitei religion)
AbodesHeaven and Earth
MantraHum! Hum! Hum! Um He Khoyum Lainingthou Pakhangba!
SymbolSerpent (symbolism)
TextsPuYas
GenderMale
Ethnic groupMeitei, Pangal and Meitei Christians
FestivalsLai Haraoba
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsLainingthou Sanamahi, Nongshaba and Nongthang Leima
ConsortsLai Nura Taret (Seven celestial goddesses)
ChildrenMangang, Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Salai Leishangthem, Kha Nganpa and Moilang.
Equivalents
Greek equivalentTyphon
Hinduism equivalentAnanta Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka

The identity of the deity is often fused with "Nongda Lairen Pakhangba" (33 AD-154 AD), the first ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty, to sit on the throne of the Kangla Palace.[7][8] The title Pakhangba was also used by other royalties in the history of Manipur.[9][10]

In heraldry

A Pakhangba as a heraldic 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.[11]

Description
Main article: Nongshaba

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 in Imphal, 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.[12]

  • Poubi Lai Paphal: a mythical form of Pakhangba
  • Lit Pakhangba statue in Imphal
  • Two standing Kangla-Sa at the northern gate of Kangla Fort. These massive statues have been rebuilt after they were destroyed at the end of the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891.

See also

References
  1. "The Manipuri Lais".
  2. Bahadur, Mutua; Santabai, Y. (1989). "Tribal Art of Manipur".
  3. Samiti, Kāmarūpa Anusandhāna (2007). "Journal of the Assam Research Society".
  4. "Proceedings of North East India History Association". 2001.
  5. Bahadur, Mutua; Santabai, Y. (1989). "Tribal Art of Manipur".
  6. Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, Volume 11
  7. Nayar, V. K. (2005). Crossing the Frontiers of Conflict in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir: From Real Politik to Ideal Politik. ISBN 9788175412187.
  8. Jain, Jyotindra (1998). "Other Masters: Five Contemporary Folk and Tribal Artists of India".
  9. Samiti, Kāmarūpa Anusandhāna (2007). "Journal of the Assam Research Society".
  10. A Brief history of the Meeteis of Manipur - The Manipur Page
  11. FOTW - Manipur, Indian Princely State
  12. KanglaSha : The story behind the Legend
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