In Meitei mythology and folklore, the epic cycles of incarnations in Moirang (Meitei: Moirang Shayon, Moirang Sayon; Old Manipuri: Moilang Shaion, Moilang Saion[1]) is a genre of the seven incarnations of a God and a Goddess, induced by Lord Thangjing, in the ancient Moirang kingdom, a southern province in Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak).[2][3][4] The list of the seven pairs of incarnations are:
Heroes | Heroines |
---|---|
Akongjamba | Phouoibi |
Henjunaha | Lairoulembi |
Khuyol Haoba | Yaithing Konu |
Kadeng Thangjahanba | Tonu Laijinglembi |
Khubomba | Pidonu |
Wanglei Pungdingheiba | Silheibi |
Khuman Khamba | Moirang Thoibi |
Akongjamba is a mortal man and Phouoibi is a goddess, who became the first pair of lovers in the epic.[5][6][7][8][9]
Henjunaha, an orphan lad and Thongnang Lairoulembi, daughter of a rich man, are the second pair of lovers in the epic.[4]
Khuyol Haoba, son of a late minister, and Yaithing Konu, daughter of a royal court man, are the third pair of lovers in the epic.[8][10][6][11]
Kadeng Thangjahanba, a blacksmith, and Tonu Laijinglembi, the queen of the Moirang king, are the fourth pair of lovers in the epic.[12][8][11][13]
Khubomba, the son of Tonu Laijinglembi, and Pidonu, a lady from Moirang, are the fifth pair of lovers in the epic.[4]
Pungdingheiba, a drum maker, and Silheibi, a handloom working lady, are the sixth pair of lovers in the epic.[4]
Khuman Khamba, an orphan prince of Khuman dynasty and Moirang Thoibi, princess of Moirang kingdom, are the last and the seventh pair of lovers in the epic.[14][15][16][17]