Ningthouja dynasty
Royal coat of arms of Manipur
CountryManipur
Founded33; 1991 years ago (33)
FounderNongdā Lāiren Pākhangba
Current headLeishemba Sanajaoba
Final rulerBodhchandra Singh
TitlesKing of Manipur
Deposition1949 (Merged into the Union of India)
Kingdom of Manipur
Part of History of Manipur
Kings of Manipur
Loiyumba 1074–1112
Senbi Kiyamba 1467–1508
Koirengba 1508–1512
Khagemba 1597–1652
Pitambar Charairongba 1697–1709
Pamheiba 1720–1751
Gaurisiam 1752–1754
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
Nara Singh 1844–1850
Debindro Singh 1850–1850
Chandrakirti Singh 1850–1886
Surachandra Singh 1886–1890
Kulachandra Singh 1890–1891
Churachandra Singh 1891–1941
Bodhchandra Singh 1941–1949
Manipur monarchy data

The Ningthouja dynasty, also known as Mangang[1] dynasty, comprises the descendants of the kings of Manipur. Ningthouja literally means progeny of King (Ningthou means king and cha or macha means progeny in which ja is a corrupted word of cha). It has 125 extended families. It was apparently founded by King Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangba in 33 CE.[2]

History

Main article: History of Manipur

By the beginning of the 1st millennium CE, the Ningthouja Dynasty began to emerge in Imphal River valley, overrunning the territory of the Khaba clan. They established Kangla as their seat of power.[3] From Kangla they absorbed the surrounding clan principalities of Luwang, Moirang, Khaba-Nganba, Angom, Sarang-Leishangthem and Khuman.

Since 33 CE till the rule of the last King Bodhchandra, Manipur was ruled by seventy-four kings, of whom the hallowed reign of Pakhangba, Naothingkhong, Loiyumba, Kiyamba, Khagemba, Charairongba, Pamheiba, Maharaja Jai Singh, Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Maharaja Nara Singh, Chandrakirti and Churchand are outstanding.[4]

Rulers

Royal Houses

Since 19th century the ruling family was divided into several royal houses.[5] They are:

  1. The House of Nara Singh (descendants of Maharaja Nara Singh (r. 1844-1850 CE) and Maharaja Devendra Singh (r.1850)) .
  2. The House of Karta (descendants of Maharaja Bhagyachandra (r.1762-1799 CE)
  3. Mantrimayum (descendants of Prince Ananta Sai)
  4. Lourungpurenmayum (descendants of Ibungshi/Prince Haricharan Sai)
  5. Urungpurenmayum
  6. Senapatimayum

Members of the Royal Family of Manipur since 1709 CE

The members of the Royal Family of Manipur since 1709 CE include:[6]

Members of the House of Nara Singh

Members of the House of Karta

Royal Titles

The royal titles[8] of Meitei princes are:

  1. Wangam for male members of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
  2. Meidingu for king.
  3. Ningthem for king.
  4. Wangol Ningthou for crown prince.
  5. Ningthemcha, Ibungshija, Ibungo, Ningthoumacha for princes.
  6. Sanawapihal or Sanahal for the eldest son of the reigning king.

The royal titles for Meitei princesses are:

  1. Wangamlon for the daughters of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
  2. Meetei Leima for head queen.
  3. Apambi Ahal for second queen.
  4. Leimakhubi Ahal for third queen.
  5. Apambi Naha for fourth queen.
  6. Shija and Ebemma for the princesses and wives of the princes.
  7. Tampha Wangamlon or Tamphasana for the eldest daughter of the reigning king.

Since the adoption of Hinduism in the 18th century the royal family of Manipur styled Hindu titles:[9]

  1. Maharaja, Shrijut, Manipureswar, Mekleswar for king.
  2. Yuvaraj for crown prince.
  3. Rajkumar for princes.
  4. Rajkumari for princesses.

During the reigns of Maharaja Churchand Singh (1891–1941) and Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh (1941–1955) their sons and daughters were given the high-sounding titles such as Maharaj Kumar and Maharaj Kumari. On the inherent title and privilege of the princes Major Maxwell, the then British Political Agent in Manipur and the regent of the young Raja Churchand Singh writes:"Rajkumars, or as they are called in Manipur Ninthou Machas, a Rajas, are very numerous; if, for instance, a Raja had eight sons and these sons were equally well blessed with male issue, the whole 64 grandsons would be Ningthou Machas, and their sons again, and so on." Rajkumars were a troublesome people, Major Maxwell observed and he gave them little encouragement.[10]

Notable Works on Manipur Royalty

Main article: Manipur

Films on Manipur Royalty

(dated 1944, 7 min, 35 mm)[11]

(dated 1945)[12]

(dated 1941)

Books on the Kings of Manipur

(Imphal: Manipur sahitya Parisad)

(London, 2005).[13]

(Imphal: W. Ananda Meetei, 2010)[14]

(Imphal, 2005)[15]

(New Delhi: Akansha Publishing).

See also

References

  1. ^ Kshetrimayum, Melody (2017). "Tracing the Evolution of Marup in Manipur Valley". Sociological Bulletin. 66 (3): 349–362. doi:10.1177/0038022917727080. ISSN 0038-0229. JSTOR 26625686. S2CID 155319382.
  2. ^ Kabui, Gangmumei (1991). History of Manipur. New Delhi: National Publishing House. p. 75. ISBN 81-214-0362-6.
  3. ^ Kabui, Gangmumei (1991). History of Manipur. New Delhi: National Publishing House. pp. 67–94. ISBN 81-214-0362-6.
  4. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur Past and Present. New Delhi. pp. ii. ISBN 81-7099-041-6.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Hemchandra, Chanam (2004). Meihaobarol Sangai Phammang. Imphal.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ "Members of the Royal Family of Manipur".
  7. ^ Horace, A. Laffaye (2009). Evolution of Polo. North Carolina: McFarland. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7864-3814-3.
  8. ^ Parratt, Saroj Nalini Arambam (2005). The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: 33 to 1763. New York: Routledge. pp. see glossary. ISBN 0-415-34430-1.
  9. ^ Kabui, Gangmumei (1991). History of Manipur. New Delhi: National Publishing House. pp. 251–259. ISBN 81-214-0362-6.
  10. ^ see Manimohan, Karam. Nupi Lan. Imphal.
  11. ^ Singh, G (Jemadar), Honawar, P H (Lieutenant). "The Coronation of Maharaja of Manipur". Royalty. Indian Public Relations Film Unit. Retrieved 31 October 2011.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "The maharaja's dancer". dance.
  13. ^ Parratt, Saroj Nalini Arambam (31 March 2005). The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 9780203444276. Retrieved 31 October 2011. ((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Sana, Raj Kumar'Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs. W.Ananda Meetei. ISBN 9788184652109. Retrieved 31 October 2011. ((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Joychandra, L (1995). "The Lost Kingdom". Royal Chronicle of Manipur. Prajatranta. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
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