Meetei Mayek
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

Ancient Meitei literature
(Old Manipuri literature)
An illustration of the ancient Meitei language narrative work Numit Kappa (Meitei for 'Shooting at the Sun')
Cultural originsMeitei culture
Subgenres
Moirang Saion
Related genres

Ancient Meitei literature, also termed as Old Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Old Manipuri language from the earliest texts until the time of King Pamheiba (Meitei for 'Garib Niwaj'). All the ancient Meitei literary works are written in the traditional Meitei script.[1] The ancient Meitei language texts, written in Meitei script, are conventionally termed as "the puyas".[2]

Many of the ancient Meitei literary works need transliteration and translation, as the language used is often "obscure and unintelligible" to the modern Manipuri.[3]

Overview

Ougri (Meitei: ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ), an Old Manipuri ritual song, was composed during the 1st century CE, and was sung mostly for the "destruction and ruination and also for prosperity" of the ancient Meitei society.[4][5]: 13-14  Many scholars commented that this musical work existed even before the beginning of the Common Era.[4]: 329 

The Poireiton Khunthok is a 3rd-century ancient Meitei language literary work, which is a narrative of a historical colonisation of the valley by a group of people, led by Poireiton, in an area between the Langgol Hills and the Koubru mountains.[6]

The Khencho (Meitei: ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ), another poetic work, was composed before the end of the 7th century CE.[4]: 330 [5]: 13–15 

Traditionally attributed to author Akoijam Tombi,[7] during the reign of Meitei King Khongtekcha Yoiremba in c. 763 CE,[7][8] the Pānthoibī Khōnggūl (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯒꯨꯜ, transl: in quest of Panthoibi, Panthoibi's footprint)[9][10] narrates the adventures of lady Panthoibi and her lover Nongpok Ningthou.[11][12]

In 1100 CE, the Loyumba Shinyen (Meitei: ꯂꯣꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯟꯌꯦꯟ), a written constitution was finalised and under the patronage of Meitei King Loiyumba (1074 CE-1112 CE) of the Ancient Kangleipak. It was a formal declaration of the proto-constitution which was first drafted in 429 CE by King Naophangba.[13][14]

Notable literary works

Literary and poetic works

Government and administration

Natural science

History and geography

Royal chronicles

Scripture and religious works

Songs

Translations and literary adaptations to modern Meitei

Many scholars and writers, including but not limited to M. Chandra Singh,[19] Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra[20] and O. Bogheswor,[21] have dedicated their long lives in the translations, literary adaptations and restorations of ancient Meitei literary works. The contributions of these group of people make the new generations of readers aware of the essence and values of the old literature. In addition to them, the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad published books of old literature along with the modern versions.[22][23]

Significance in modern times

The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), for the recruitment of the bureaucrat civil services of the Government of India, offers its aspirant candidates across the entire country an optional subject of Meitei literature.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. p. 142. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  2. ^ Walter, Mariko Namba; Fridman, Eva Jane Neumann (15 December 2004). Shamanism [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices, and Culture [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 573. ISBN 978-1-57607-646-0.
  3. ^ Assam (India) (1899). Report on the Administration of the Province of Assam. University of California. p. 20.
  4. ^ a b c Paniker, Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 326. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). India: Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  6. ^ Singh, Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam. "Poireiton Khunthokpa". History Of Old Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). India: Digital Library of India. pp. 121, 122. The Poireiton Khunthokpa, is the most conspicuous one of all pre-Garibniwaz manuscripts. From a linguistic point of view, it seems to be much earlier than any of the books yet come under our view. Circumstantial and other incidental evidences would confirm that the book might have been of the time of the third century A. D. It describes the colonization of the valley by a band of prople from the land of Death under Poireiton. They first established their colony near the Langol Hill; probably the vast area between the Koubru Hill and the Langol Hill was their kingdom. --Report on the Archaeological studies in Manipur Bulletin No. 1-by W. Yumjao Singh, pp 18-19.
  7. ^ a b "The relationship between Thang-Ta & Meitei Pung maintained by our Ancient ..." (PDF). ccrtindia.gov.in. Centre for Cultural Resources and Training. p. 4.
  8. ^ Mukherjee, Sujit (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850. Orient Blackswan. p. 280. ISBN 978-81-250-1453-9.
  9. ^ Society and Economy in North-East India. Regency Publications. 2004. ISBN 978-81-87498-83-4.
  10. ^ Zama, Margaret Ch (2013). Emerging Literatures from Northeast India: The Dynamics of Culture, Society and Identity. SAGE Publishing India. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-321-1746-9.
  11. ^ North East India History Association. Session (2003). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
  12. ^ Ray, Asok Kumar; Chakraborty, Satyabrata (2008). Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray. Concept Publishing Company. p. 88. ISBN 978-81-8069-572-8.
  13. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. p. 2. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5. Manipur, known as 'Meetei Leipak' or 'Kangleipak' in the two millennia old Meetei manuscripts had experienced some form of constitutional government under a proto-Constitution in 429 A.D. which was reduced to a final format in 1110 A.D. Constitution entitled 'Loiyamba Shinyen' during the regime of King Loyumba.
  14. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1991). Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001. Mittal Publications. p. 304. ISBN 978-81-7099-271-4. The constitutionalism had developed with the adoption of a prototype of a constitution in 429 A.D. which was finally moulded into the written constitution in 1110 A.D., called 'Loyumba Shinyen' till it was substituted by Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 which operated till Manipur's merger with India on October 15, 1949.
  15. ^ Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. India: Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  16. ^ Singh, Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam. "Poireiton Khunthokpa". History Of Old Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). India: Digital Library of India. pp. 121, 122.
  17. ^ Himalaya Today - Volume 4, Issue 1 - Volume 5, Issue 1. Himalaya Today Publications. 1992. p. 49.
  18. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 605. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  19. ^ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. p. 115. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0. Late Pandit M. Chandra Singh, Thaynagi Meitei Sahitya (Old Literature of Manipur), included in the speech collection of 1952 published by Manipur Sahitya Parishad, ...
  20. ^ Ahluwalia, B. K. (1984). "Literature". Social Change in Manipur. India: Cultural Publishing House. p. 58. Exploring in the field of ancient Manipuri literature, N. Khelachandra Singh has brought out 'Manipuri Shahityagi ...
  21. ^ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 427, 431, 432. ISBN 978-81-7201-783-5.
  22. ^ Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (25 November 2020). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.
  23. ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1973). "Literature; Religion, Literature and Dance". History of Manipur. India: Eastlight Book House. pp. 176, 178, 182.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ancient Meitei language.
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Ancient Meitei
Look up Ancient Meitei in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Ancient Meitei test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator
More
Categories