Charairongba

Charairongba (Old Manipuri: Chalailongpa)
Ningthou
Born	Charairongba Kangleipak
Died	Kangleipak
Burial	Kangleipak
Issue	Pamheiba (Gharib Nawaz) Chakpa Makhao Ngambi
Dynasty	Ningthouja dynasty
Religion	Meitei religion
Occupation	monarch

Charairongba - Old manipuri "Chalai-Longpa" (17th century CE - early 18th Century CE) also known as "Eningthou Ningthem Charairongba" was the Meitei king and the ruler of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur kingdom') from 1697 to 1709.

Family

Charairomba (Meitei: ꯆꯔꯥꯢꯔꯣꯡꯕ, romanized: cha-rāi-rōng-ba or cha-rāī-rōng-ba) was born on Saturday May 20, 1673 CE.[1] He was the father of Pamheiba, the King that made Hinduism the official religion of Manipur.

Conquests

In 1717, he ordered Pamheiba to invade Burma. The Burmese King had insulted Charairongba's daughter by asking for another daughter in marriage. Instead of sending his daughter, Charairongba sent his son Pamheiba along with a strong cavalry force. They crushed the Burmese in battle.^[citation needed]

Contributions to Meitei literature

Main article: Meitei literature

Meitei King Charairongba is also known for being a writer. He is best known for authoring the text named "Leiron". The Leiron is a Meitei language account of flowers bearing testimonies to the loves of nature and appreciations of its beauty by the ancient Meitei people of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')). In the literary works, king Charairongba is described as a king with a glorious reign over ten tributary kings. He was also traditionally believed to be an incarnation of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the first able ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty.[2]

Leiron

The "Leiron" (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯔꯣꯟ, lit. 'the account of flowers') written by Charairongba quotes the beauties of nature, among which the following is one of them:

Come spring and the first rumble of the approaching monsoon has been heard in the distance. Before long will the rivers flow with turbulent currents and it is the time of the year when Poireiton accompanied by Leinaotabi made his journey to earth. The hill glades now look velvety green and refreshingly beautiful with new sprouts growing in thick clusters and the blades of grass entwining with one another. The orchids begin to play with the gentle breeze. Domestic birds are flying out in search of new fruit. The young man eager to meet his love puts on the best bib and tucker and it is also the season when he most neatly grooms his hair to bedecked with the turban prepared in the best sartorial style. Indeed, he receives the season with gay abandon. When viewed towards the hills, they look invitingly attractive and no less is the valley. All the extensive fields and stretching roads seem to offer both delicious sweets to taste and pleasant spectacle to enjoy. Last year's barren trees have put forth new shoots and most of the leaves have become broad and green. Flowers by the foothill, that usually bloom early each year are all tinted red and the long path-ways by the vast pasture have been covered with them. Other flowers too, both in the hills and the dales, have put on a riot of colour.[3]

The Leiron contains description of 100 flowers and orchids, endemic as well as exotic species. The diction in the text is greatly archaic as well as endowed with swift rhythmic flow.[4]

Description of Kabok Lei flower

Giving reference to King Khagemba and the Manipur Kingdom, the beauty and grace of Lei Kabok, also called Kabok Lei (Gardenia jasminoides), is described by King Charairongba, as follows:

It is a flower that remains ever fresh as not eaten by worms and is fondly sought after in the four corners of the country, eight directions, nay in all quarters. It is distinct for its beautiful shape, its tender stalk and for its pure white colour. It is a flower once nurtured by King Khagemba who preferred to take it with him even for his long home. It is a flower that comes handy to both boys and girls as a present of love. Such a luscious flower has blossomed forth in an unending array of white and definitely the season is of this flower.[5]

Other notable mentions

Other notable mentionings of the plant species include the "nongleishang" (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯂꯩꯁꯪ), the "santhong maiba lei" (Meitei: ꯁꯟꯊꯣꯡ ꯃꯥꯏꯕ ꯂꯩ), "kusum lei" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯁꯨꯝ ꯂꯩ, lit. 'Safflower'), "kakyai padam lei" (Meitei: ꯀꯛꯌꯥꯏ ꯄꯥꯗꯝ ꯂꯩ), "singut yenga lei" (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯉꯨꯠ ꯌꯦꯉꯥ ꯂꯩ), "thambal" (Meitei: ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜ, lit. 'Lotus flower'), the "laiyen hanbi paothil lei" (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯌꯦꯟ ꯍꯟꯕꯤ ꯄꯥꯎꯊꯤꯜ ꯂꯩ), among the 100s.[6]

See also

• List of Manipuri kings
• Manipur (princely state)
• Puya Meithaba

References

1. Sana, Rajkumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs ( From 1666 to 1850 CE). Imphal: Waikhom Ananda Meetei. p. 35. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
2. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 91. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
3. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 91, 92. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
4. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
5. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 92, 93. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
6. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

External links

• Traditional Religion Of The Meiteis - Manipur Online
• History of Manipur - IIT Guwahati

Preceded by Paikhomba

King of Manipur 1697–1709

Succeeded by Pamheiba