Kangleipak

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Ancient Kangleipak
ꯀꯪꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛ
1445 BCE–21 September 1949
File:Kangla Sha.JPG
Kangla Sha statue at Kangla Fort
CapitalKangla
DemonymKangleicha
Government
 • TypeMonarchy
King 
• 33 CE
Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangbā (historical founder)
LegislatureRoyal Court (Kangla)
Historical eraAncient / Medieval / Early Modern
• Traditional founding
1445 BCE
• Merger with India
21 September 1949
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Salai Kingdoms
Manipur
Kabaw Valley
Today part of India
File:Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar

Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, consisting of the modern day Manipur, India which is still known to some residents as Kangleipak, and other neighbouring regions.[1][2][3][4] The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of this realm from the 15th century BCE, up to medieval times.[5]

File:Knagla fort, manipur, India 7.jpg
The ancient temple (rebuilt) of Lord Pakhangba inside the Kangla.

History

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The Kingdom of Kangleipak (present-day Manipur, India) was an independent monarchy with a rich cultural and political history. Traditionally believed to have been founded in 33 CE by King Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangbā, Kangleipak was ruled by Meitei kings, who established a distinct administrative system and patronised the indigenous Sanamahism religion.[6]

Throughout its history, Kangleipak experienced periods of internal consolidation, external conflicts, and cultural exchanges with neighbouring regions, including Burma (Myanmar) and Assam. The kingdom saw a significant transformation during the reign of Gharib Niwaz (1709–1748), who expanded its territory and introduced Hinduism as a dominant religious influence.[7][8][9]


In the 19th century, the Anglo-Manipur relations intensified, culminating in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, after which the British annexed the kingdom, making it a princely state under British rule. Following India’s independence in 1947, Kangleipak was merged into the Indian Union in 1949, leading to its present status as the state of Manipur.

File:Sketch map of Manipur.jpg
Layout of the citadel of Kangla, the foremost ancient capital city of Kangleipak (Manipur)

Geography

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The territory of this realm is mountainous and thereby, ancient Kangleipak consists of several smaller region each with its own dialect, cultural peculiarities, and identity.[4][10] At one time during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba the territory of Kangleipak(Manipur) stretched up to the present Yunnan Province of modern day China.[11][12][13] Kabaw valley in Myanmar was also a part of Manipur until the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru India gifted it to Myanmar on his visit to Manipur in 1952.[14][15][16] Thibomei(now Kohima) was also once annexed by the then King Gambhir Singh.[17][18][19]

In fact, there were seven independent kingdoms ruled by the seven clan dynasties in this realm. These seven principalities had their own capital cities.

Capital cities Latin transliteration Respective kingdoms Latin transliteration Ruling dynasties Latin transliteration
ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Imphal Kangla ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ Imphal ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) Ningthouja (Mangang)
ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Luwangsangbam Kangla ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ Luwangsangbam ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ Luwang
ꯅꯣꯡꯌꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯀꯣꯢꯄꯨꯡ Nongyai Leikoipung ꯃꯌꯥꯡ ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ Mayang Imphal ꯈꯨꯃꯟ Khuman
ꯀꯣꯡꯕ ꯃꯔꯨ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Kongba Maru Kangla ꯀꯣꯡꯕ ꯃꯔꯨ Kongba Maru ꯑꯉꯣꯝ Angom
ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Moirang Kangla ꯀꯦꯀꯦ ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ Keke Moirang ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ Moirang Salai
ꯇꯥꯛꯅꯈꯥ ꯄꯨꯔꯨꯛ ꯁꯧꯄꯤ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Taknakha Puruk Soupi Kangla ꯇꯥꯛꯅꯈꯥ ꯄꯨꯔꯨꯛ ꯁꯧꯄꯤ Taknakha Puruk Soupi ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ Kha Nganpa
ꯂꯩꯁꯪꯈꯣꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ Leishangkhong Kangla ꯂꯩꯁꯪꯈꯣꯡ Leishangkhong ꯁꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ Salai Leishangthem

Language

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The Ancient Meitei language (early form of the modern Meitei language) had a wide array of Meitei scriptures (Puya (Meitei texts)), of numerous topics, written in the archaic Meitei script.[20][21] One of the oldest scriptures is the Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, written in 1398 BC (verified by the National Archives of India, New Delhi).[22]

File:Ancient Meitei Mayek diacritics.gif
Ancient Manipuri alphabet

Culture

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File:Manipuri 1.jpg
Illustration of common people of Kangleipak

Daily life

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Most people of ancient Kangleipak were farmers tied to their lands. Their dwellings were restricted to immediate family members.[citation needed]

Architecture

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The ancient architectural designs of common houses were believed to be sustainable, eco friendly and affordable. It gives a cooling effect during hot summer and a warming effect during chilling winter.[23]

Religious beliefs

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File:Kangla Temple.JPG

The ancient religion of the indigenous ethnicities of the hills and the plains is the Sanamahism. The abstract concept of the space time entity is the ultimate God creator of the universe.[24] Beliefs in the divine and in the afterlife were ingrained in ancient Kangleipak from its inception. The ancient rulers were based on the divine right of kings.[24]

Military

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File:Manipuri horseman.jpg
ancient Meitei horseman

The Ancient Meitei military ran in the Lallup system. Lal-lup system (literally, Lal means war; lup means club or association or organization) was a predominant system in ancient Kangleipak. According to the system, every men of indigenous ethnicity of above 16 years of age was a member.[24]

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References

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  24. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Other websites

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