Lai Khutshangbi (/laai-khoot-shaang-bee/) is a demoness ( hingchabi) in

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 ...

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 ...

of Antique Kangleipak (

Ancient Manipur 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 Brit ...

). She has very long hands. The word "Lai" means "deity or divinity," "Khut" means "hand," and "Sangbi" or "Shangbi" means "long" in Manipuri ( Meitei). The legend says that when she walks, her long hands touch the ground. Her fingers are as sharp as thorns. She has a large mouth with a long tongue. Her appearance is very frightening.

Story

There was a man and woman with a little child named Shasi (or "Shachi" or "Leirik" or "Naocha" in other versions) living in an isolated house in a hamlet. Nearby was the forest where Lai Khutsangbi lived. She usually stole and ate livestock and human babies from the village. She took advantage of people's loneliness, sowing terror in the people in the village. Lai Khutsangbi especially wanted to eat the child Shasi. But Shasi's father, Shasipa was so brave that the Lai Khutsangbi was afraid of him. One day, Shasipa left home to work somewhere far away. He would be gone for days. Lai Khutsangbi came to the house at night and asked Shasi's mother, Shasima if her husband was at home or not. Shasima was wise, so she lied and said her husband was at home. Lai Khutsangbi left. But she came back night after night and asked the same question again and again. Shasi's mother also gave the same reply, hiding the true fact that Shasipa was away. After some time, Shasi's father returned home and Shasi's mother told him what had happened. Hearing this, Shasi's father devised a plan to defeat the demoness. That night, he waited for Lai Khutsangbi with a sharpened sword. At midnight, the demoness, as usual, came to ask Shasima if her husband was home. This time, Shasi's mother replied that he was away from home. Unaware of the trick, Lai Khutsangbi broke through the wall of the house with one of her powerful hands, trying to find Shasi, the child. Shasi's father, who was waiting for this opportunity, chopped off the hand with his sword. Then, the demoness screamed painfully,

Ayo Ema, I am dead! Ayo yo Ema ayo yo Leimadeng deng Ningjaobi You a big liar Ayo yo Ema ayoyo

Lai Khutsangbi fled from the house, dragging her remaining long arm. The blood flew out of her cut arm and fell onto many plants growing on her way to the forest. It is said that the red patches seen on some plants is her blood. Shasi's father followed her blood trail into the woods. The demoness could not run fast as fast as she usually could because she was injured. Shasi's father caught her and stepped on her other remaining hand. Then, he chopped off that arm too. The villagers thanked Shasipa for his bravery. From that day onwards, Lai Khutsangbi, the long handed demoness, was never seen again.

Gallery

File:Lai Khutsangbi 2.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi File:The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi.jpg, The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi File:The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi 2.jpg, The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi File:Lai Khutsangbi aiming to the lonely house.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi aiming to the lonely house File:Lai Khutsangbi coming to human settlement.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi coming to human settlement File:Lai Khutsangbi coming to the village.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi coming to the village File:Lai Khutsangbi penetrating the wall of the house with her powerful hand.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi penetrating the wall of the house with her powerful hand File:Lai Khutsangbi's hand about to chopped off by Shasipa, Shasi's father.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi's hand about to chopped off by Shasipa, Shasi's father File:Lai Khutsangbi - The first hand being chopped off.jpg, The first hand being chopped off File:Lai Khutsangbi being followed by Shasi's father.jpg, Lai Khutsangbi being followed by Shasi's father File:Lai Khutsangbi - The second hand being chopped off.jpg, The second hand being chopped off

References

Other websites

{{Commonscat, Lai Khutsangbi
The Secret of Lai Khutsangbi

Lai Khutsangbi, female power and punishment
Meitei culture Folklore Fictional monsters Fictional demons and devils