Ningthouja dynasty


The Ningthouja dynasty, also known as Mangang dynasty, comprises the descendants of the kings of Manipur. Ningthouja literally means progeny of King. It has 125 extended families. It was founded by King Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangba in 33 CE.

History

By the beginning of the 1st millennium CE, the Ningthouja Dynasty began to emerge in Imphal River valley, overrunning the territory of the Khaba clan. They established Kangla as their seat of power. From Kangla they absorbed the surrounding clan principalities of Luwang, Moirang, Khaba-Nganba, Angom, Sarang-Leishangthem and Khuman.
Since 33 CE till the rule of the last King Bodhchandra, Manipur was ruled by seventy-four kings, of whom the hallowed reign of Pakhangba, Naothingkhong, Loiyumba, Kiyamba, Khagemba, Charairongba, Pamheiba, Maharaja Jai Singh, Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Maharaja Nara Singh, Chandrakirti and Churchand are outstanding.

Rulers

  • Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangba, founder of dynasty
  • Khuiyoi Tompok
  • Taothingmang
  • Khui Ningonba
  • Pengsipa
  • Kaokhangpa
  • Naokhampa
  • Naophangpa
  • Sameilang
  • Urakonthoupa
  • Naothingkhon
  • Khongtekcha
  • Keilencha
  • Yalaba
  • Ayangpa
  • Ningthoucheng
  • Chenglei-Ipan-Lanthapa
  • Keiphaba Yanglon
  • Irengba, last ruler of dynasty
  • Note - the dynasty still continued as Kingdom of Manipur, where Ningthouja dynasty rules.

Royal houses

Since 19th century the ruling family was divided into several royal houses. They are:
  1. The House of Nara Singh. This house is also the successor of the House of Senapatimayum, that descended from Prince Ngoubram Bir Sai, a son of King Pamheiba, and the grandfather of King Nara Singh.
  2. The House of Karta.
  3. Mantrimayum.
  4. Lourungpurenmayum.
  5. Urungpurenmayum.

Members of the Royal Family of Manipur since 1709 CE

The members of the Royal Family of Manipur since 1709 CE include:
  • Emperor Pamheiba, popularly known as Garibniwaz, Mayangamba, Gopal Singh
  • King Ajit Sai, son of Garibniwaz
  • King Bharat Sai, son of Garibniwaz
  • Prince Shyam Sai, the Khurai Lakpa, son of Garibniwaz
  • Prince Ngaobram Bir Sai, the Senapati, also known as Theer Sai, son of Garibniwaz
  • Prince Ananta Sai, son of Garibniwaz
  • Prince Haricharan Sai, son of Ningthem Pamheiba
  • Jay Jagadananda, the Lourungpuren, Son of Haricharan Sai
  • Prince Kokilananda, son of Ananta Sai
  • Joy Singh, son of Kokilananda
  • King Maramba, also known as Gourshyam, son of Shyam Sai
  • Princess Sheitamala, niece of Garibniwaz, later the Queen of Burma
  • Princess Haripriya, daughter of Garibniwaz, later the Queen of Cachar

Members of the House of Nara Singh

  • King Badra Singh, also known as Meetingu Nongpok Wairang Pamheiba, Maharaja Khaba, son of Ngaobram Bir Sai
  • King Yadu Singh, son of King Badra Singh
  • King Ragav Singh, Son of King Yadu Singh
  • King Nara Singh also known as Chingthanglen Pamheiba, Meetingu Lairen Nongdren Sendreng Manik Khomba, son of King Badra Singh.
  • Crown Prince Bubonsana, also known as Bogendra, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Barachaoba, the Yaiskullakpa, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Angou, the Senapati, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Haojao, the Khurailakpa, son of Nara Singh
  • Prince Puskar Sana, the Mantri, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Udendra also known as Sana Uriba, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Megazing, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Theba, son of King Nara Singh
  • Prince Bekendra, the Sangol Senba Hanjaba
  • Prince Keipha Sana or Keifa Singh, son of King Nara Singh.
  • Princess Konusana, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • Princess Chaobiton, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • Princess Sana Pukhrambi
  • Princess Yumsangbi, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • Princess Thokchom Ongbi, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • Princess Nongthonbi Sana, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • Princess Chaonu Sana, daughter of King Nara Singh
  • King Devendra Sing, also known as Maharaj Dhaka Taba, son of King Badra Singh
  • Princess Dhaka Rani, daughter of King Devendra Singh, later the Queen of Tripura
  • Prince Thangkok Sana, son of King Devendra Singh
  • Prince Dumbra Singh, also known as Chaobiyaima, son of Bogendra
  • Dumbra Singh, son of Chaobiyaima and elder brother of King Churchand
  • Maharaja Sir Chura Chand Singh, son of Chaobiyaima
  • Prince Priya Brata Singh, the first and last Chief Minister of independent Manipur, son of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh.
  • Princess Tamphasana, daughter of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh
  • Princess Tombisana, daughter of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh
  • Prince Jai Singh
  • Prince Khedasana, son of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh
  • Prince Maipaksana, son of Prince Sanahal, also known as Aminsana
  • Princess Sanatombi, daughter of Maharaja Sur Chandra
  • Princess Binodini, popularly known as M. K. Binodini Devi, daughter of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh. She was a novelist, short stories writer, film maker and social activist.
  • Maharaja Bodh Chandra, son of Maharaja Chura Chand Singh
  • Princess Tamphasana
  • Maharaja Okendra Singh, son of Maharaja Bodh Chandra
  • Maharajkumar Lakshmikant Singh, son of Maharaja Bodhachandra

Members of the [House of Karta]

  • Maharaja Bhayachandra, popularly known as Chingthang Khomba, son of Shyam Sai
  • King Labyanachandra, son of Bhayachandra
  • King Madhuchandra, son of Bhayachandra
  • King Chourjit, son of Bhayachandra
  • Prince Sana Chahi Ahum.
  • King Marjit, son of Bhayachandra
  • Prince Herachandra, popularly known as Daku Ningthou, son of King Labyanachandra
  • King Yumjaotaba, also known as Pitamber,son of King Madhuchandra
  • King Gambhir Singh, son of Bhayachandra
  • Princess Kuranganayani, daughter of Bhayachandra, later the Queen of Assam.
  • Princess Tamphasana
  • King Chandra Kirti, son of Gambhir Singh
  • Princess Phandengsana
  • King Surchandra, son of Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Lukhoisana, the son of King Surchandra.
  • Rajkumari Sanatombi, daughter of King Surchandra
  • King Kulachadra, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Crown-Prince Tikendrajit, also known as Koireng the Senapati, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Paka Sana, the Sagol Hanjaba, also known as Bheirajit Singh, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Thambou Sana, the Samu Hanjaba, also known as Kishorjit Singh, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Gopal Sana, the Phunganai Hanjaba, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Zilla Ngamba, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Prince Angou Sana, son of King Chandra Kirti
  • Rajkumar Bikramjit Singh

Royal titles

The royal titles of Meitei princes are:
  1. Wangam for male members of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
  2. Meidingu for king.
  3. Ningthem for king.
  4. Wangol Ningthou for crown prince.
  5. Ningthemcha, Ibungshija, Ibungo, Ningthoumacha for princes.
  6. Sanawapihal or Sanahal for the eldest son of the reigning king.
The royal titles for Meitei princesses are:
  1. Wangamlon for the daughters of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
  2. Meetei Leima for head queen.
  3. Apambi Ahal for second queen.
  4. Leimakhubi Ahal for third queen.
  5. Apambi Naha for fourth queen.
  6. Shija and Ebemma for the princesses and wives of the princes.
  7. Tampha Wangamlon or Tamphasana for the eldest daughter of the reigning king.
Since the adoption of Hinduism in the 18th century the royal family of Manipur styled Hindu titles:
  1. Maharaja, Shrijut, Manipureswar, Mekleswar for king.
  2. Yuvaraj for crown prince.
  3. Rajkumar for princes.
  4. Rajkumari for princesses.
During the reigns of Maharaja Churchand Singh and Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh their sons and daughters were given the high-sounding titles such as Maharaj Kumar and Maharaj Kumari.
On the inherent title and privilege of the princes Major Maxwell, the then British Political Agent in Manipur and the regent of the young Raja Churchand Singh writes:"Rajkumars, or as they are called in Manipur Ninthou Machas, a Rajas, are very numerous; if, for instance, a Raja had eight sons and these sons were equally well blessed with male issue, the whole 64 grandsons would be Ningthou Machas, and their sons again, and so on." Rajkumars were a troublesome people, Major Maxwell observed and he gave them little encouragement.

Notable works about Manipur royalty

Films about Manipur royalty

Coronation of the Maharaja of Manipur The Maharajah Dancer

Books on the kings of Manipur

  • L. Ibungohal Singh and N. Khelchandra, Cheitharol Kumbaba
  • Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt, The Court Chronicle of the kings of Manipur.
  • Raj Kumar Somorjit Sana, The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs
  • L. Joychandra, The Lost Kingdom
  • Gangmumei Kamei, A History of Modern Manipur 1826-2000.