Konthoujam Lairembi Stone Inscription

This article is about a historic Meitei language stone inscription. For other uses, see Konthoujam (disambiguation).
This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

Konthoujam Lairembi Stone Inscription
Old Manipuri: Konthoucham Lailempi Lailik Eepa Nungpaak
Meitei: Konthoujam Lairembi Lairik Eeba Nungpaak
MaterialSandstone
WritingMeitei script
Createdwritten in 2 different eras
first writings : c. 1592 AD-1652 AD
second writings : c. 1697 AD-1709 AD
DiscoveredKonthoujam Tampha Lairembi sacred site, Konthoujam village, south of the National Highway No. 53 in the west of Imphal city, Imphal West district, Manipur
Present locationKonthoujam Tampha Lairembi sacred site, Konthoujam village, south of the National Highway No. 53 in the west of Imphal city, Imphal West district, Manipur
CultureMeitei culture

The Konthoujam Lairembi Stone Inscription Meitei: Konthoujam Lairembi Lairik Eeba Nungpaak) or Konthoujam Lairemma Stone Inscription (Old Manipuri: Konthoucham Lailemma Khut-ee Nungpak; Meitei: Konthoujam Lairemma Khut-ee Nungpak) is a Meitei language stone inscription found in a sacred site dedicated to Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi of Sanamahism (Meitei religion) in Konthoujam village of Manipur.[1][2]

Description

The stone inscription is in the sacred temple complex of Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi (Old Manipuri: Konthoucham Tampha Lailempi) in the Konthoujam village. It is on the south of the National Highway No. 53 in the west of Imphal city. The stone engaged in this inscription is the sandstone.[1] The inscription consists of 14 lines of writings in Meitei language (Manipuri language) in archaic Meetei script. Notably, the writings from the fifth to the seventh lines were highly damaged and distorted. So, proper study on these particular lines has been very hard and unsuccessful.[1]

History

It does not mention any particular date. But paleographic study confirmed that it was written in two different times. The first seven lines were carved in the time of King Khagemba (1592 AD-1652 AD). The remaining seven lines were added in the time of King Charairongba (1697 AD-1709 AD).[1][2]

Reading

The inscription shows that King Khagemba assigned compulsory state duty for the Konthoujam clan to worship goddess Huimu Leima. Notably, the Loyumba Shinyen Constitution also assigned the Konthoujam clan to look after the worship of Goddess Huimu Leima, and not Konthousu (Tampha Lairembi). And according to the Konthoujam Nongarol (Old Manipuri: Konthoucham Nongkalol), Goddess Huimu Leima is the mother of goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi (Chingphulon Konthousu), the one married Salailen (Soraren), the king of heaven.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (25 November 2020). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. pp. 171–176. ISBN 978-1-000-29629-7.
  2. ^ a b c Birajit, Soibam (1 December 2014). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur).
  3. ^ Devi, Nunglekpam Premi (14 April 2018). A Glimpse of Manipuri Literary Works. FSP Media Publications.