Ching-Thang Khomba
Encyclopedia
Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba (also Rajarshi Bhagya Chandra, Jai Singh Maharaja) (1748–1799) was a Manipuri
monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legend
ary figure in Manipur
, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized
. He is also credited with spreading Vaishnavism
in Manipur
after his grandfather Pamheiba
made Hinduism
the official religion and for creating a unified Manipur
.
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
. In 1762, Manipur
was attacked by the Burmese
, assisted by the Chitsai
. He, along with the Rani and a few loyal attendants fled to Assam
(Ahom), where they lived under the protection of the Ahom
ruler, King Rajeshvara.
In Manipur
i legend
s, the real Bhagyachandra was said to have supernatural powers. To see whether the usurper was correct, King Rajeshvara designed a test at the behest of his court. In a public arena, Bhagyachandra while unarmed, was to catch and tame a wild elephant
.
for guidance. Krishna
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.
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
hill.
After installing the Deity, the Lord said, the king should arrange for the performance of a Rasa-Lila, in which Krishna
would be worshiped with song and dance. Bhagya Chandra also received in this vision a complete plan on how to execute the Ras Lila (dance).
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
".
and reinstate Bhagya Chandra. The expedition hit many snags in Nagaland
where they were attacked by Naga tribesmen
and poisonous snakes. King Rajeshvara called off the unsuccessful venture in 1767.
. This time Bhagya Chandra led 10,000 Ahom
troops across the Kachari kingdom
to the Mirap river. Many battles ensued between the Ahoms
and Manipuris
on one side, and the Naga
, Chitsai
and the Burmese
on the other. In 1773 C.E. Bhagya Chandra was reinstated as Ningthou
of Manipur
, which spelled that the British and Manipuris
will encourage trade and commerce. The British gave necessary help for protection against the Burmese
and Naga
s. Manipur gave up a village for an 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.
murti
at the hill of Kaina
. On January 11, 1779 he was "re-crowned" amid many performances of his now-popular Rasa Lila.
During his reign, the Manipuris
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 Vaishnavism
reflected on the Manipuri
s. He was an ardent devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
and during his reign a statue of Nityananda
was created.
In 1796 C.E. he moved his capital to Kangla and a year later on February 5, 1798 CE he abdicated the throne to his eldest son Labeinyachandra. His last few years were on pilgrimage top various Vaisnavite
holy sites, including Nabadwip
. He died on December 25, 1798 CE in Murshidabad
, West Bengal.
and Chitsai
. Ching-Thang had many siblings, the most famous of whom was Gaurisiam
, King of Manipur
until his death in 1763.
is attributed to Ching-Thang. The first Manipur Maha Rasleela was performed in 1777 C.E. Under the influence of Bengali missionaries
, he also started the tradition of Sankirtan
in Manipur
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
ary figure in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. He is also credited with spreading Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
after his grandfather Pamheiba
Pamheiba
Meidingu Pamheiba was an emperor in Manipur in the early 18th century. After conversion to Hinduism, he made it the official religion of Manipur in 1717...
made Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
the official religion and for creating a unified Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
.
Early years
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
in 1759, a few years after the death of his grandfather Pamheiba
Pamheiba
Meidingu Pamheiba was an emperor in Manipur in the early 18th century. After conversion to Hinduism, he made it the official religion of Manipur in 1717...
and his father Samjai Khurai-Lakpa at the hands of his uncle Chitsai
Chitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
. In 1762, Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
was attacked by the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
, assisted by the Chitsai
Chitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
. He, along with the Rani and a few loyal attendants fled to Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
(Ahom), where they lived under the protection of the Ahom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
ruler, King Rajeshvara.
Life in Assam
Bhagya Chandra’s crafty uncle wrote a letter to King Rajeshvara saying that the person taking refuge at his court was not the true Bhagya Chandra. The uncle advised Rajeshvara to get rid of the refugee (Bhagya Chandra). King Rajeshvara was somewhat persuaded by this letter and began treating Bhagyachandra with suspicion.In Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
i legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
s, the real Bhagyachandra was said to have supernatural powers. To see whether the usurper was correct, King Rajeshvara designed a test at the behest of his court. In a public arena, Bhagyachandra while unarmed, was to catch and tame a wild elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
.
First Epiphany
Confronted with insurmountable odds, King Bhagyachandra prayed to Lord GovindaKrishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
for guidance. Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to enter the arena donning a garland while holding japa
Japa
Japa is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of a divine power. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind...
beads. At the end of the instructions, Govinda
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
assured him of victory.
The dream also stated that Bhagya Chandra would be the sole king of Manipur. Upon regaining the kingdom, he should install a Krishna murti
Murti
In Hinduism, a murti , or murthi, or vigraha or pratima typically refers to an image which expresses a Divine Spirit . Meaning literally "embodiment", a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped...
. The Deity, Govinda
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, should be carved from a certain old jackfruit
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
tree growing on the slopes of Kaina
Kaina
Kaina is a small hillock in Manipur sacred to Hindus. It lies about 29km from the capital, Imphal. It lies on the Imphal - Yariripok road. It is said to be the place where King Bhagya Chandra received an epiphany to carve a statue of Lord Govinda on a jackfruit tree.-External links:* - ebharat.in*...
hill.
After installing the Deity, the Lord said, the king should arrange for the performance of a Rasa-Lila, in which Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
would be worshiped with song and dance. Bhagya Chandra also received in this vision a complete plan on how to execute the Ras Lila (dance).
The Test of Power
Bhagya Chandra entered the arena, donning the garland and japaJapa
Japa is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of a divine power. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind...
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
Mahout
A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. The word mahout comes from the Hindi words mahaut and mahavat. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy in the 'family business' when he is assigned an elephant early in its life and they would be attached to each other throughout the elephant's life.The most...
".
First Expedition
After the duel, Bhagya Chandra appealed to King Rajeshvara for military assistance. King Rajeshvara agreed to send an army to overthrow ChitsaiChitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
and reinstate Bhagya Chandra. The expedition hit many snags in Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
where they were attacked by Naga tribesmen
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
and poisonous snakes. King Rajeshvara called off the unsuccessful venture in 1767.
Second Expedition
In November of 1768, Bhagya Chandra and King Rajeshvara decided to make another attempt to invade ManipurManipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. This time Bhagya Chandra led 10,000 Ahom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
troops across the Kachari kingdom
Kachari Kingdom
The Kachari Kingdom was a powerful kingdom in medieval Assam. The rulers belonged to the Dimasa people, part of the greater Bodo-Kachari ethnic group...
to the Mirap river. Many battles ensued between the Ahoms
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
and Manipuris
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
on one side, and the Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
, Chitsai
Chitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
and the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
on the other. In 1773 C.E. Bhagya Chandra was reinstated as Ningthou
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
Dealings with the East India Company
In 1762, the British and Manipur signed a bilateral treaty with GaurisiamGaurisiam
Gaurisiam was brother to Ching-Thang Khomba, King of Manipur. He died an early death. His reign was alternated with Ching-Thang Khomba's due to Gaurisiam's physical deficiencies. Certain events demanded the presence of a healthy and hale King, and during those times his rule was intertwined with...
, which spelled that the British and Manipuris
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
will encourage trade and commerce. The British gave necessary help for protection against the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
and Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
s. Manipur gave up a village for an East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
post. The name "Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
" (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
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
to the Brahmaputra and renamed it.
Reign
In 1775 he established his capital at Bishenpur and carved the GovindaGovinda
' and ' are names of Krishna, referring to his youthful occupation as a cowherd. He is regarded as the Supreme Godhead in the Vaishnava tradition and also by much of the pan-Hindu tradition...
murti
Murti
In Hinduism, a murti , or murthi, or vigraha or pratima typically refers to an image which expresses a Divine Spirit . Meaning literally "embodiment", a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped...
at the hill of Kaina
Kaina
Kaina is a small hillock in Manipur sacred to Hindus. It lies about 29km from the capital, Imphal. It lies on the Imphal - Yariripok road. It is said to be the place where King Bhagya Chandra received an epiphany to carve a statue of Lord Govinda on a jackfruit tree.-External links:* - ebharat.in*...
. On January 11, 1779 he was "re-crowned" amid many performances of his now-popular Rasa Lila.
During his reign, the Manipuris
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
repelled the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
from Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. Though his exploits, did not equal Pamheiba
Pamheiba
Meidingu Pamheiba was an emperor in Manipur in the early 18th century. After conversion to Hinduism, he made it the official religion of Manipur in 1717...
's, his reign was characterized by security. He was a great patron of the arts and religion, and his strong Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
reflected on the Manipuri
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
s. He was an ardent devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
and during his reign a statue of Nityananda
Nityananda
Image:Panca-tattva Altar.jpg|thumb|This is interactive image-map. Click! on lotus feet. Sri Krishna Chaitanya , Sri Nityananda Prabhu , Sri Advaita Acharya , Sri Gadadhara Pandit , Sri Srivas Pandit...
was created.
In 1796 C.E. he moved his capital to Kangla and a year later on February 5, 1798 CE he abdicated the throne to his eldest son Labeinyachandra. His last few years were on pilgrimage top various Vaisnavite
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
holy sites, including Nabadwip
Nabadwip
Nabadwip is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Its name means "9 islands" in the Bengali language. The islands are named Antardwip , Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip...
. He died on December 25, 1798 CE in Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
, West Bengal.
Family
Ching-Thang Khomba was son to Samjai Khurai-Lakpa, who had two brothers Mantri Ananda ShaiMantri Ananda Shai
Mantri Ananda Shai was royal uncle to Ching-Thang Khomba of Manipur . He was the son of Pamheiba and brother to the usurper Chitsai. He started the Heigru Hidongba festival with his nephew Ching-Thang Khomba.-External links:...
and Chitsai
Chitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
. Ching-Thang had many siblings, the most famous of whom was Gaurisiam
Gaurisiam
Gaurisiam was brother to Ching-Thang Khomba, King of Manipur. He died an early death. His reign was alternated with Ching-Thang Khomba's due to Gaurisiam's physical deficiencies. Certain events demanded the presence of a healthy and hale King, and during those times his rule was intertwined with...
, King of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
until his death in 1763.
Cultural Works
The tradition of Rasa Lila in ManipurManipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
is attributed to Ching-Thang. The first Manipur Maha Rasleela was performed in 1777 C.E. Under the influence of Bengali missionaries
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
, he also started the tradition of Sankirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
in Manipur