SonOfZeus at 14:06, 4 August 2021

2021-08-04T14:06:57Z

New page

{{Infobox royalty
| name = Ching-Thang Khomba ꯆꯤꯡꯊꯪ ꯈꯣꯝꯕ
| image = Ching-Thang Khomba 2000 stamp of India.jpg
| succession =[[List of Meitei kings|King of Manipur]]
| reign = 1759–1762, 1763 – 1798
| coronation = 7th Sajibu, 1759
| predecessor = Maramba
| successor = [[Labeinya Chandra]]
| alt =
| caption =
| spouse = Akham Chanu Bhanumati
| issue = [[Labeinya Chandra]] Madhuchandra Tulsijit [[Kuranganayani]] (foster) [[Shija Laioibi]] Chaurajit Marjit Daoji [[Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba]]
| house = House of Karta
| dynasty = [[Ningthouja dynasty]]
| father = Shyamjai Khurailakpa
| mother = Wahengbam Chanu Chakha Loikhombi
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 13th Poinu 1748
| birth_place = Janmasthan Moirangkhom, Imphal
| death_date = 1798
| death_place = Murshidabad, West Bengal
| occupation =
}}
{{Kingdom of Manipur}}
'''Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba''' (also '''Rajarshi Bhagya Chandra''', '''Jai Singh Maharaja''') (1748–1799) was a [[Meitei people|Meitei]] monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the [[Manipuri Ras Lila dance]], with his daughter [[Shija Laioibi]] playing as [[Radha]] at the first performance, he is a [[legend]]ary figure in [[Manipur]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Sheram |first=AK |year=2012 |chapter=Manipuri, The |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Manipuri,_The |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> and much of his actions as King had been [[mythology|mythologized]]. He is also credited with spreading [[Vaishnavism]] in [[Manipur (princely state)|Manipur State]] after his grandfather [[Pamheiba]] made [[Hinduism]] the official religion and for creating a unified Manipur.<ref name="CP">{{cite web|url=http://www.culturalpursuits.com/manipur.htm|title=Manipur|accessdate=11 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810120408/http://culturalpursuits.com/manipur.htm|archivedate=10 August 2009}}</ref>

==Early years==
Maharaja Bhagya Chandra ascended to the throne of Manipur in 1759, a few years after the death of his grandfather [[Pamheiba]] and his father Samjai Khurai-Lakpa at the hands of his uncle [[Chitsai]].<ref name="IIT">{{cite web|url=http://www.iitg.ernet.in/rcilts/his_mnme.html|title=History of Manipur— The Medieval Period|publisher=[[IIT Guwahati]]|accessdate=11 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605122530/http://www.iitg.ernet.in/rcilts/his_mnme.html|archivedate=5 June 2011}}</ref> In 1762, Manipur was attacked by the [[Bamar|Burmese]], assisted by the Chitsai. He, along with the Rani ([[Queen consort|Queen]]) and a few loyal attendants fled to [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] (modern-day [[Assam]]), where they lived under the protection of the Ahom ruler, [[Rajeswar Singha]].

===Life in Assam===
Bhagya Chandra's crafty uncle wrote a letter to the [[Ahom dynasty|Ahom king]] Rajeswar Singha saying that the person taking refuge at his court was not the true Bhagya Chandra. The uncle advised Rajeswar Singha to get rid of him. King Rajeswar Singha was somewhat persuaded by this letter and began treating Bhagya Chandra with suspicion.<ref name="io">{{cite web|url=http://btg.krishna.com/main.php?id=295|title=Manipur – A Land of Krishna Conscious Culture|last=Swami|first=Jayadwait|accessdate=11 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004214838/http://btg.krishna.com/main.php?id=295|archivedate=4 October 2007}}</ref>

In Meitei legends, the real Bhagya Chandra was said to have supernatural powers. To see whether the usurper was correct, King Rajeswar Singha designed a test at the behest of his court. In a public arena, Bhagya Chandra, while unarmed, was to catch and tame a wild [[elephant]].

===First epiphany===
Confronted with insurmountable odds, King Bhagyachandra prayed to Lord [[Krishna|Govinda]] (Krishna) for guidance. Govinda appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to enter the arena donning a garland while holding [[japa]] beads. At the end of the instructions, Govinda assured him of victory.<ref name="io" />

The dream also stated that Bhagya Chandra would be the sole king of Manipur. Upon regaining the kingdom, he should install a Krishna [[murti]]. The Deity, Govinda, should be carved from a certain old [[jackfruit]] tree growing on the slopes of [[Kaina (Manipur)|Kaina]] hill.

After installing the Deity, Govinda said the king should arrange for the performance of a Rasa-Lila, in which Krishna would be worshipped with song and dance. Bhagya Chandra also received in this [[Vision (spirituality)|vision]] a complete plan on how to execute the Ras Lila.<ref name="io" />

===The test of power===
Bhagya Chandra entered the arena, donning the garland and japa he was instructed to in the vision. In the ensuing fight, the spectators noted that the elephant seemed to recoil as if struck by a ghost. King Bhagya Chandra said that he saw "Lord Krishna as the mahout".<ref name="io" />

==Retaking of Manipur==

===First expedition===
After the duel, Bhagya Chandra appealed to Ahom king Rajeswar Singha for military assistance. Rajeswar Singha agreed to send an army to overthrow Chitsai and reinstate Bhagya Chandra. The expedition hit many snags in [[Nagaland]] where they were attacked by [[Naga people|Naga tribesmen]] and poisonous snakes. Rajeswar Singha called off the unsuccessful venture in 1767.

===Second expedition===
In November 1768, Bhagya Chandra and Rajeswar Singha decided to make another attempt to invade Manipur. This time Bhagya Chandra led 10,000 Ahom troops across the [[Kachari kingdom]] to the Mirap river. Many battles ensued between the Ahoms and Meiteis on one side, and the Naga, Chitsai and the Burmese on the other. In 1773, Bhagya Chandra was reinstated as [[Raja|Ningthou]] of Manipur<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.2307/1782048|jstor=1782048|title=A History of Assam by Edward Gait|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=69|issue=3|pages=271|year=1927|author=C. E. A. W. O.}}</ref>

==Dealings with the East India Company==
In 1762, the British and Manipur signed a bilateral treaty with [[Gaurisiam]], which spelled that the British and Meiteis would encourage trade and commerce. The British gave necessary help for protection against the Burmese and Naga. Manipur gave up a village for an [[British East India Company|East India Company]] post. The name "Manipur" (assigned by the British for Ching-Thang's kingdom) for what was called "Meitrabak" came into being in 1774 when the [[Governor General of India]] Mr. Rendel, surveyed the area westward from [[Ningthi]] to [[Cachar]] and Northward from [[Chittagong]] to the [[Brahmaputra]] and renamed it.<ref name="IIT" />

==Reign==
[[File:Monument of Bheigyachandra Maharaj.jpg|thumb|Monument of Bheigyachandra Maharaj]]
In 1775 he established his capital at [[Bishenpur]] and carved the Govinda murti at the hill of Kaina. On 11 January 1779 he was "re-crowned" amid many performances of his now-popular Rasa Lila.<ref name="IIT" />

During his reign, the Meiteis repelled the Burmese from Manipur. Though his exploits, did not equal Pamheiba's, his reign was characterized by security. He was a great patron of the arts and religion, and his strong [[Manipuri Vaishnavism]] reflected on the Meiteis. He was an ardent devotee of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] and during his reign a statue of [[Nityananda]] was created.<ref>{{cite book|surname=Singh |given=Kunj Bihari |year=2004 |orig-year=1963 |chapter=Manipur Vaishnavism: A Sociological Interpretation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA125 |title=Sociology of Religion in India |editor=Rowena Robinson |series=Themes in Indian Sociology, 3 |place=New Delhi |publisher=Sage Publ. India |pages=125–132 |url={{Google books|Mc6GAwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |isbn=0-7619-9781-4}} p. 128.</ref>

In 1796 he moved his capital to [[Kangla]] and a year later on 5 February 1798 he [[abdicated]] the throne to his eldest son [[Labeinyachandra]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Sana|first=Rajkumar Somorjit|title=The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs ( From 1666 to 1850 CE)|year=2010|publisher=Waikhom Ananda Meetei|location=Imphal|isbn=978-81-8465-210-9|page=188}}</ref> His last few years were on pilgrimage top various Vaisnavit holy sites, including [[Nabadwip]]. He died on 25 December 1798 in [[Murshidabad]], West Bengal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sana|first=Rajkumar Somorjit|title=The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs (From 1666 to 1850 CE)|year=2010|publisher=Waikhom Ananda Meetei|location=Imphal|isbn=978-81-8465-210-9|page=189}}</ref>

==Family==
Ching-Thang Khomba was son to Samjai Khurai-Lakpa, who had two brothers [[Mantri Ananda Shai]] and Chitsai. Ching-Thang had many siblings, the most famous of whom was Gaurisiam, King of Manipur until his death in 1763.<ref name="IIT" />

==Cultural works==
The tradition of Rasa Lila in [[Manipur Kingdom]] is attributed to Ching-Thang Khomba. The first ''[[Manipuri dance|Manipur Maha Rasleela]]'' was performed in 1777.<ref name="IIT" /><ref name="m20">{{cite web|url=http://manipuri.20m.com/#ras|title=Manipuri Dance: Both Ritualistic and Recreational|accessdate=11 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317042756/http://manipuri.20m.com/#ras|archivedate=17 March 2014}}</ref>

It was his daughter [[Shija Lailoibi]], who first took the role of [[Radha]] in the [[Manipuri dance]]. Under the influence of [[Bengali people|Bengali missionaries]], he also started the tradition of [[kirtan|Sankirtan]] in Manipur.<ref name="nar">{{cite web|url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/snipdec3.html|title=Information - Snippets - narthaki.com|accessdate=11 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011065057/http://www.narthaki.com/info/snipdec3.html|archivedate=11 October 2008}}</ref>

===Literary works===
* ''Laithok Laikha Jogi''<ref name="nar" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before= '' [[Chitsai]]''|
title=[[Monarch|King]] of [[Manipur]] |
years=1769–1798 |
after=[[Labeinya Chandra]]
}}
{{s-end}}
[[Category:History of Manipur]]
{{en-Wikipedia}}

Ching-Thang Khomba - Revision history

SonOfZeus at 14:06, 4 August 2021