) , Image_Name = Meitei and Latin transliterations of "Kadeng Thangjahanba" and "Tonu Laijinglembi".jpg , Image_Caption = Meitei and

Latin transliteration Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and ...

s of "Kadeng Thangjahanba" and "Tonu Laijinglembi" , Aarne-Thompson Grouping = no , AKA = * Kadeng Thangja Hanba & Tonu Laijing Lembi * Kateng Thangchahanpa & Tonu Laichinglempi * Kateng Thangcha Hanpa & Tonu Laiching Lempi , Mythology =

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

(

Manipuri mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

) , Country =

Ancient Kangleipak The Manipur Kingdom was an ancient independent kingdom at the India–Burma frontier that was in subsidiary alliance with British India from 1824, and became a princely state in 1891. It bordered Assam Province in the west and Briti ...

(historical)
(present) , Region =

Moirang Moirang is a town in the Indian state of Manipur. It is situated approximately 45 km south of the state capital Imphal. It has an area of 269 km2 with a population of 62,187 in 67 villages. It is best known for the being the place of o ...

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

, Origin_Date = During the reign of

Moilang Moilang or Moirang (modern term) is one of the seven clans of the Meitei people. Moirang consists of many several Yumnaks which are native peoples of ancient Kangleipak (now Manipur), one of the states of India. See also *Mangang *Luwang * Khu ...

king Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD) , Published_In = , Related =

Meitei folklore Meitei folklore is the folklore and mythology of the Meitei people of Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the n ...

(

Manipuri folklore Meitei folklore is the folklore and mythology of the Meitei people of Manipur, India. Such folklore is traditionally passed from generation to generation. Currently, the government of Manipur is planning to preserve the folklore of the Meitei p ...

Meitei literature , image = Numit Kappa.jpg , imagesize = , caption = The Numit Kappa, a Classical Meitei epic text written during the 1st century, based on ancient Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) , alt ...

(

Manipuri literature , image = Numit Kappa.jpg , imagesize = , caption = The Numit Kappa, a Classical Meitei epic text written during the 1st century, based on ancient Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) , alt ...

) The ancient legend of Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi ( mni, Kadeng-Tonu) is one of the

epic cycles of incarnations ) * Moirang Shaion ( omp, Moilang Shaion) * Moirang Sayon ( omp, Moilang Sayon) * Moirang Shayon ( omp, Moilang Shayon) , Mythology = Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) , Country = * Ancient Kangleipak (historical) * (present) , ...

and

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

, that is originated from

kingdom of

(early

). It concerns the fateful love of Kadeng Thangjahanba ( omp, Kateng Thangchahanpa), a skilled

blacksmith A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from #Other metals, other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such ...

, for the beautiful Tonu Laijinglembi ( omp, Tonu Laichinglempi). Kadeng Thangjahanba was a highly talented and skilful royal chief

metalsmith A metalsmith or simply smith is a craftsperson fashioning useful items (for example, tools, kitchenware, tableware, jewelry, armor and weapons) out of various metals. Smithing is one of the oldest list of metalworking occupations, metalworking o ...

appointed by King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba ( omp, Laiching Ningthou Punsipa) of

. Tonu Laijinglembi was the only daughter of Laijing Lakpa ( omp, Laiching Lakpa), a favourite

nobleman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteristi ...

of the King of

History

Tonu Laijing Lembi & Kadeng Thangja Hanba are real historical figures who lived in the 12th century during the reign of

king Iwang Puriklai Laijing Punsiba (1138-1210 AD) of

kingdom.

Mythology

God

Thangching Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty of Ancient Moirang. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Lo ...

(

Thangjing Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty of Ancient Moirang. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Lo ...

) blessed

Henjunaha and Lairoulembi ) , Mythology = Meitei mythology ( Manipuri mythology) , Country = Ancient Kangleipak (historical) (present) , Region = Moirang, Manipur , Origin_Date = , Published_In = , Related = Meitei folklore (Mani ...

to be reborn as Kadeng Thangja Hanba and Tonu Laijing Lembi. Writers and ballad singers of olden times wove the two stories of different lovers, thereby creating a classic tale of love and longing in

(

Plot

Kadeng Thangjahanba had no match for the art of blacksmithing, due to which he earned the favour of King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba of

kingdom. He was appointed as the royal chief blacksmith by the ruler. At the same time, Kadeng Thangjahanba was having a

romantic affair An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of i ...

with lady Tonu Laijinglembi. As per the ancient traditional customs of

, Kadeng Thangjahanba was given the duty to go to a hunting expedition to get a number of wild animals from the woods for the annual festival in Moirang. And so, Kadeng Thangjahanba left for the expedition to the woods for many months. On the other hand, King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba, having no son to succeed him, was very upset. And so, the king consulted the royal high priest. The priest suggested that the male heir could be achieved only if the king married a lady of the King's

namesake A namesake is a person, geographic location, or other entity bearing the name of another. History The word is first attested around 1635, and probably comes from the phrase "for one's name's sake", which originates in English Bible translations ...

. Immediately, the king sent his men to find out the ladies in his kingdom, who had similar name to his. The king's men found only one lady in the

kingdom, and she was Tonu Laijinglembi. Lady Tonu Laijinglembi's name has the word "Laijing" which is similar to King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba's "Laijing". And so, during the absence of Kadeng Thangjahanba, Tonu Laijinglembi and King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba got married. During that time, Tonu Laijinglembi was reluctant but could not deny the royal proposal for the wedding. As time passed, Kadeng Thangjahanba returned from his months long hunting expedition. He was shocked to hear the news of his lover getting married. He could do nothing but to weep his heart out silently. Kadeng Thangjahanba crafted two beautiful swords. On the side of one sword, the images of Tonu and himself were engraved. On the other side of the sword, the images of Tonu as the young queen and King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba were engraved. Kadeng Thangjahanba presented the swords to the king as gifts. Initially, King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba could not understand the meaning of the code images. On the other side, Kadeng Thangjahanba got extremely careless of his health, thereby falling seriously ill. He could no longer attend the royal works in the palace. The King, being a well wisher and an admirer of Kadeng Thangjahanba, felt deeply concerned about the latter's deteriorating health conditions. Among everyone, Tonu Laijinglembi's grief knew no bounds. Seeing all these, the king realised the meaning of the code images engraved in those swords. Without any hesitation, King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba generously sent Tonu Laijinglembi to the house of Kadeng Thangjahanba. However, Tonu Laijinglembi was already carrying a child of the king in her womb for some months, when she came to Kadeng Thangjahanba's house. Defying all the odds, the two lovers finally united and live happily ever after.

Accounts for Sangai deer

During his hunting expedition, Kadeng Thangjahanba captured and brought a lovely

Sangai The sangai ( Meitei pronunciation: /sə.ŋai/) is an endemic and endangered subspecies of Eld's deer found only in Manipur, India. It is also the state animal of Manipur. Its common English name is Manipur brow-antlered deer or Eld's deer and the ...

deer from a place called "Torbung Lamjao" to be presented as a token of love to his lover, Lady Tonu Laijinglembi. However, when he found out that his beloved lady was already married to King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba, all his hopes of their happy union were shattered away. And so, with the sorrowful feelings for the pangs of separation, he released the deer in the wild of the Keibul Lamjao (present day

Keibul Lamjao National Park The Keibul Lamjao National Park ( mni, Keibul Lamjao Leipakki Lampak) is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integr ...

area). Since then, Sangai species started living in the Keibul Lamjao region according to folklore.

In contemporary art and culture

; Tonu Laijinglembi (2014) : It is a drama written by Sarangthem Bormani and directed by B Jugolchandra, shown on 22 March 2014, organised by the Manipur Dramatic Union. ; Tonu Laijinglembi Seitharol (2018) : The

Meitei Mayek The Meitei script ( mni, Meitei Mayek)() or the Meetei script ( mni, Meetei Mayek) () is an abugida used for the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur state of India. Its earliest known evidence of existence dates back to the 6th ce ...

edition of the book "Tonu Laijinglembi Seitharol" written by Hijam Guno, was released on 28 April 2018. ; Tonu Laijinglembi (2018) : A drama based on the character of the same name, directed by L Bikram of the "Aryan Theatre, Imphal", was released on 30th March 2018 during the 6th All Manipur Folk Drama Festival in

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the fo ...

Notes

References

External links

Kadeng Thangjahanba (Kadeng Thangja Hanba)
at
Kadeng Thangjahanba
at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

(text contents search)
Tonu Laijinglembi (Tonu Laijing Lembi)
at
Tonu Laijinglembi
at

(metadata search)
Tonu Laijinglembi
at

(text contents search)
Tonu Laijing Lembi
at

(text contents search) {{Authority control Epic cycles of incarnations Love stories Marriage and religion Meitei folklore Meitei mythology Temporary marriages