List of creatures in Meitei folklore

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Kanglasha, a pair of dragons at Kangla

Meitei people, being the predominant ethnic group in the Himalayan kingdom of Manipur, has diverse cultural contacts with diverse communities of other nations since ancient times. The case is the same with Meitei folklore as well as Meitei culture. This is a list of the creatures of Ancient Meetei folklore. This doesn't include the list of deities in Meitei mythology, for which see Lists of deities in Sanamahism and Meitei deities.

Mythological Animals[]

Creatures Description
Chareng, also known as Uchek Langmeidong She's a human girl, who later turns out into a hornbill bird.[1]
Engarel Sidaba (Engaren Sidaba) The divine fish manifestation of Salailen Sidaba who went down to the bottom of the ocean surface to check the presence of his newly creations.
Kakyen (Kwak Kakyen Mingamba) A monster bird, with its wingspan equivalent to the size of pologround.
Kaorel (Kao) The supernatural sacred bull of enormous strength, who attacked the fishers in the shores of the Loktak lake, dwells among the wild reeds of the Phumdis. It's later captured by Khuman Khamba, a legendary hero and a son of its former master.[2]
Oksharel Sidaba (Oksharen Sidaba, Oksaren Sidaba or Oksarel Sidaba) The divine boar (pig) who lifted up the earth from the bottom of the ocean, a manifestation of Salailen Sidaba.
Samadon Ayangba (Shamadon Ayangba) The flying winged horse, who serves Mārjīng as his stead.
Thengurel Sidaba (Thenguren Sidaba) The divine turtle (tortoise) manifestation of Salailen Sidaba, who lifted up the earth on its gigantic back from the bottom of the ocean.

Dragons[]

Main article: Dragons in Meitei mythology
Pakhangba
Creatures Description
Hiyang Hiren The giant dragon boat creature which used to carry the gods on its deck.
Nongshaba, also known as Kangla Sha The dragon lion, son of Salailen Sidaba and deity of royalties.
Pakhangba The serpentine dragon, who is the destroyer of evils.[3]
Poubi Lai The serpentine dragon, who dwells in the Loktak Lake, believed to be an incarnation of Pakhangba.[4]
Thikri Nachaoba also known as Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba The ancient mythical ruler of the Moirang kingdom, who could assume the dragon figure.

Evil Creatures[]

Creatures Description Type
Seroi Ngaroi Believed to be the evils who feed on human flesh as well as animal meats.[5] Evils
Tamnalai Believed to be the ghosts and the souls who often haunt the human beings.[6] Evils

Uchek Langmeidong[]

Uchek Langmeidong
ꯎꯆꯦꯛ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯩꯗꯣꯡ
A waldeni flying.jpg
Uchek Langmeidong, the mythical bird of Manipur
GroupingLegendary creatures
Sub groupingMythological hybrids
Other name(s)Chareng (ꯆꯔꯦꯡ)
CountryIndia
RegionManipur

The Uchek Langmeidong (Meitei: ꯎꯆꯦꯛ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯩꯗꯣꯡ) or Chareng (Meitei: ꯆꯔꯦꯡ), literary meaning "hornbill", is a mythical creature in Meitei mythology. It appears in the form of a hornbill bird, who was originally a human girl.[7]

The creature was originally a little girl, who unable to bear the constant torture of her stepmother in the absence of her father, sought feathers from her hornbill friends, and turned herself into a bird by wearing the woven feathers.[8][9]

List[]

Here's a list of mythical creatures in alphabetical order:

References[]

  1. ^ "Human turning into Uchek Langmei Meena Uchek Langmei Onba". e-pao.net.
  2. ^ "Kao the sacred bull (2010)". IndiaMART.
  3. ^ "The Manipuri Lais". manipuri.itgo.com.
  4. ^ Bhanj, Jaideep Deo (July 22, 2015). "The story of a giant python called Poubi Lai..." – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ Singh, Dr Moirangthem Jiban. "Lamtai Thangja in Manipur – KanglaOnline".
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2019-10-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Folk Stories of Meiteis of Manipur"
  8. ^ Rajkumari, Yaisna (2015). "Manipuri Folktales". Indian Literature. 59 (1 (285)): 53–59 – via JSTOR.
  9. ^ Ingudam, Monica (March 10, 2015). "083 It's all in the mind : Langmeidong".
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