) , native_name_lang = mni , translation = "Nongmaijing Mountain" or "Nongmaijing Hill" (

see here See or SEE may refer to: * Sight - seeing Arts, entertainment, and media * Music: ** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals *** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See'' ** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho * Television * ...

) , pronunciation = /nong-māi-jīng chīng/ , authority = Government of Manipur , location = Imphal Valley , country_type = , 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) , state_type = , state = Manipur , region_type = , region = Imphal Valley , district_type = , district = Imphal East district , part_type = , part = , settlement_type = , settlement = , range_coordinates = , range_coordinates_ref = , range = , borders_on = , topo_maker = , topo_map = , biome =

Nongmaiching Reserved Forest The Nongmaiching Reserved Forest ( mni, Nongmaiching Umang), also unofficially spelled as the Nongmaijing Reserved Forest ( mni, Nongmaijing Umang),) and "Nongmaijing" ( mni, ) are interchangeably used. But "Nongmaiching" is the one mentioned o ...

, formed_by = , orogeny = , age = , type = , geology = , volcanic_region = , volcanic_arc = , volcanic_belt = , volcanic_field = , volcanic_arc/belt = , last_eruption = , first_ascent = By religious pilgrims or priests in Antiquity , easiest_route = hiking , normal_route = Nongmaiching Chingka Lambi () , access = , embedded = , module = The Nongmaiching Ching ( mni, Nongmaijing Ching, , Nongmaijing Mountain) and "Nongmaijing" ( mni, ) are interchangeably used. But "Nongmaiching" is the one mentioned officially in the "Manipur Gazette".), also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a mountain in Imphal Valley, Manipur. It has an altitude of around . It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei mythology and religion ( Sanamahism), it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi. In

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 ...

, the Nongmaiching is described as the hill that produces ''"the seven days of a week"''.

Etymology

According to many scholars including Thomas Callan Hodson of the Cambridge University, the

Meitei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in pa ...

term "Nongmaiching" ( mni, ) is derived from the terms, "nong" ( mni, ), "mai" ( mni, ) and "ching" ( mni, ). Nong means sun or rain, mai means face or "in front of", and ching means hill or mountain. So, "Nongmaiching" means "the hill that fronts the rain or sun". According to

Tarak Chandra Das Tarak Chandra Das (1898–1964) was an anthropologist of Calcutta University. He did his Masters' from Calcutta University in ‘Ancient Indian History and Culture’ and joined the then newly founded Department of Anthropology at Calcutta Univer ...

of the Calcutta University, the term "Nongmaiching" is translated as "the hill which rises to the east of Imphal and which is the scene of a rain-compelling ceremony." The terms "Nongmaiching" and "Nongmaijing" are interchangeably used. The term "Nongmaijing" ( mni, ) may also mean

Sunday Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Western countries, Sunday is a day of rest and a part of the weekend. It is often considered the first day of the week. For most observant adherents of Christianity, Sunday ...

(officially called Manipuri). According to the "Guide to the gods" by Marjorie Leach, the term "Nongmaiching" is defined as ''"A hill god of the Meitheis, Manipur, Assam, India. (Hodson, 1908: 111)"''.

History

In the history of

(early Manipur), the three out of the seven clans of Meitei ethnicity, namely the Mangang ( mni, ), the Luwang ( mni, ) and the

Angom Angom is one of the seven clans of the Meitei people. Angom consists of several Yumnaks which are native peoples of ancient Kangleipak, now Manipur state of India. See also *Mangang *Luwang * Khuman *Moilang *Kha Nganpa *Salai Leishangthem ...

( mni, ) are historically associated with the Nongmaiching. Meitei King Konthouba ( mni, ) defeated many tribal chiefs and controlled their villages of Shelloi (Selloi) and Longmai (Langmai), near the present day Nongmaiching.

Geography

The Nongmaiching lies to the eastern side of Imphal city. It separates Thoubal ( mni, ) valley from that of the Iril River ( mni, ) and the Imphal River ( mni, ). The Nongmaiching is close to the

Andro, Imphal East Andro is a town and a nagar panchayat in Imphal East district in the state of Manipur, India. Andro is an earmarked Scheduled Caste village which has been developed to represent the cultural heritage and artful creativeness of the Manipuri tribe ...

Religious associations

The Nongmaiching is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei religion ( Sanamahism), the Nongmaiching is deeply associated with God Lainingthou Sanamahi ( mni, ) and God Pakhangba ( mni, ). According to one legend, King Kangba ( mni, ) kept an idol of God Sanamahi at a cave in the Nongmaiching. The Nongmaiching is historically, mythologically and religiously associated with God Langmai Ningthou ( mni, , Nongpok Ningthou) and Goddess Panthoibi ( mni, ,

Nongpok Leima ) , deity_of = Goddess of civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom , member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais , image = PANTHOIPI.jpg , alt = , caption = Goddess Panthoipi char ...

). This is mentioned in the Panthoibi Khongul, an ancient Meitei text. The Nongmaiching is the place where the Lai Haraoba was celebrated by the divine beings, after which it was imitated by the humans. "Kanglei Haraoba" ( mni, ), one of the major types of the Lai Haraoba ( mni, ) ceremonial ritualistic festival, is associated with the Nongmaiching. As a part of the Lai Haraoba, the Kangleithokpa ( mni, ) ritual was performed at the Nongmaiching. It represents the marriage of God Khoriphaba ( mni, ). The Nongmaiching is the place where the final prayers for the worship ceremony associated with the three

ancient Meitei deities Sanamahism (Meitei religion) is a polytheistic religion with thousands of deities, gods and goddesses of varying power, quality, features, and character. The religion originated in the Kingdom of Manipur, and is still practiced in modern Ma ...

, namely Pakhangba, Nongshaba and

Yumjao Lairembi ) , deity_of = All time reigning queen mother Goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power , member_of = Lairembis , image = YUMCHAO LEIMA.jpg , alt = , caption = "Yumchao Leima", the Ancient Meitei (O ...

, are done. The Loiyumba Shinyen Constitution mentions that the "Salam" family of Meitei ethnicity used to idolise the Langmai Ching (Nongmaiching mountain) and to act the role of God Nongpok Ningthou. The same text mentions that the "Nongmaithem" clan of Meitei ethnicity used to glorify the Langmai Ching (Nongmaiching).

University of Sanamahi Culture

The University of Sanamahi Culture (Sanamahi Culture University) is a university under construction in the Nongmaiching Ching. It is deeply associated with the

Sanamahi Kiyong The mni, Lainingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, , Lainingthou Sanamahi Shrine), officially known as the mni, Laiyingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, , Laiyingthou Sanamahi Shrine)) and "Laiyingthou" ( mni, ) are interchangeably used with no change in the word m ...

shrine. The university aims to teach the future generations of people about the ancient Meitei culture of the

Sanamahi religion () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

. It will offer its students various subjects about indigenous art forms, dance forms, music, Thang-Ta and Sagol Kangjei () etc. Around ₹ 23,70,000 has been spent as of 2009 on the construction of the University and around ₹ 25,00,000, including construction materials, were donated by volunteers. It is estimated that the total cost of the construction of the University will be around ₹ 7,00,00,000.

World War II

During World War II, when there was an active combat between the troops of the United Kingdom and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

in Manipur and other Northeast Indian states, the Nongmaiching serves as the most strategically important point in Imphal Valley.

Deforestation and forestation

Ecotourism development

The Nongmaiching is one of the important hills and mountains in Manipur that have the strong potential for ecotourism development.

Reserve Forest

There is a reserved forest in the Nongmaiching.

Santhei Natural Park

The Santhei Natural Park located in the Santhei village of

, is at the foothills of the Nongmaiching. It is best known for its scenic natural beauty and serving as a picnic area.

Plant life

The Nongmaiching is the natural habitat for various plant species, including Cymbopogon flexuosus and Goniothalamus sesquipedalis.

In popular culture

* Saktam Machet Machet Mang Macha Macha ( mni, ): A 1999

prose book by Kamal, Toijamba * Thaloi Nungkhailon ( mni, ): A

astronomy and astrology book by Bhudhachandra, Yumnamcha * Tingkhanglakta Gulap ( mni, ): A

poetry book by Kullachandra H

Notes

References

External links

Nongmaiching Ching
at Internet Archive
Nongmaiching
at {{Authority control Cultural heritage of India Landforms of Manipur Landmarks in India Meitei culture Meitei pilgrimage sites Mountains in Sanamahism Sacred mountains Tourist attractions in India