Pamheiba
Encyclopedia
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. He is also one of the heroes of the Thangal tribe.
to Pitambar Charairongba
and was crowned Meidingu ("king") on wednesday, the 23rd of thawan 1631 Saka Era( August 28, 1709 CE). During the early 18th century, Hindu
missionaries from Sylhet
arrived in Manipur
to spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism
. They were led by Shantidas Goswami and his associate Guru Gopal Das who succeeded in converting the King from the old Meitei religion to Vaishnavism
in 1710. Later during his reign, Pamheiba made Hinduism the official religion, and converted nearly all the Meitei people
to Hinduism
.
extended from the Irrawady in the east to Cachar and Tripura
in the west. At some points during his reign, his realm extended into the Chittagong Hill Tracts
.
Shortly after taking power, in his father Charairongba he invaded Burma after the Burmese King insulted his sister. The Burmese King asked for the hand (in marriage) of another of Charairongba's daughters. Instead of a princess, the King of Burma was met by cavalry, led by Pamheiba that massacred the Burmese
army, and brought many POW to Imphal
.
In 1734, Pamheiba invaded Tripura
and captured 1100 POWs, who were absorbed into the Meitei
community.
especially the Bishnupriya after the 15th century, the major religions among the Meitei people
were Islam
and Buddhism
in certain areas. They also followed Animist beliefs. After 1717, he outlawed the consumption of pork, poultry and beef. He also converted many meitei shrines into Hindu
mandirs and fought with the traditional clergy for religious power. The day he burned a large number of Meitei religious scripts, collectively known as Puya
in 1729, is known as "Puya Meithaba" in Manipur
, was assassinated by his younger son Chitsai
, who came to power after Pamheiba's grandson Gaurisiam
. The reign was then followed by Ching-Thang Khomba
.
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 the early 18th century. After conversion to 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...
, he made it the official religion 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...
in 1717. He is also one of the heroes of the Thangal tribe.
Early life and conversion
He was born on December 23, 1690 CE 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...
to Pitambar Charairongba
Pitambar Charairongba
Pitambar Charairongba also known as "Eningthou Ningthem Charairongba" was the King of Manipur during the late 17th century. He was one of the first Manipuris to be converted to Hinduism. He adopted Hinduism on 9 April 1704 CE. He was a follower of the Madhavacharya sect.-Family:Charairomba was...
and was crowned Meidingu ("king") on wednesday, the 23rd of thawan 1631 Saka Era( August 28, 1709 CE). During the early 18th century, Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
missionaries from Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
arrived 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...
to spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauḍa region with Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu"...
. They were led by Shantidas Goswami and his associate Guru Gopal Das who succeeded in converting the King from the old Meitei religion to 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 1710. Later during his reign, Pamheiba made Hinduism the official religion, and converted nearly all the Meitei people
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...
to 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...
.
Military conquests
His reign lasted 39 years and during that time, the realm of 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...
extended from the Irrawady in the east to Cachar and Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
in the west. At some points during his reign, his realm extended into the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
.
Shortly after taking power, in his father Charairongba he invaded Burma after the Burmese King insulted his sister. The Burmese King asked for the hand (in marriage) of another of Charairongba's daughters. Instead of a princess, the King of Burma was met by cavalry, led by Pamheiba that massacred 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...
army, and brought many POW to Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
.
In 1734, Pamheiba invaded Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
and captured 1100 POWs, who were absorbed into the Meitei
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...
community.
Hinduization
Though, most of Manipur was at least nominally HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
especially the Bishnupriya after the 15th century, the major religions among the Meitei people
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...
were Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
in certain areas. They also followed Animist beliefs. After 1717, he outlawed the consumption of pork, poultry and beef. He also converted many meitei shrines into Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
mandirs and fought with the traditional clergy for religious power. The day he burned a large number of Meitei religious scripts, collectively known as Puya
Puya
Puya may refer to:* Puya , in the family Bromeliaceae* Puya River, a river in Russia* Puya , a rock band from Puerto Rico* Culoepuya, Venezuelan drums of Congolese origin* Puya, Romanian rapper from the hip hop group La Familia...
in 1729, is known as "Puya Meithaba" 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...
Family
Pamheiba had eight wives, and a large number of sons and daughters. His eldest son, Samjai Khurai-LakpaSamjai Khurai-Lakpa
Samjai Khurai-Lakpa was a Manipuri royal. He was the son of Pamheiba and father of Bhagya Chandra. He was assassinated by his brother Chitsai in 1751 C.E.-External links:* - IIT Guwahati...
, was assassinated by his younger son 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...
, who came to power after Pamheiba's grandson 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...
. The reign was then followed by Ching-Thang Khomba
Ching-Thang Khomba
Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba was a Manipuri monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legendary figure in Manipur, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized...
.
External links
- A Land of Krishna Conscious Culture - ISKCON