Numit Kappa

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Further information: Meitei literature and List of epics in Meitei language
Numit Kappa
AuthorUnknown
CountryKangleipak (historical)
India (current)
LanguageMeitei language
SubjectMeitei literature
GenreEpic poetry
The Story is based on the shooting of one of the two Suns to create Night[1]

Numit Kappa (Meitei: ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ) (literary, "Shooting of the Sun"[2]) is an ancient mythological epic literary work, written in Meitei language of Manipur.[3] The work is believed to be written around or before 33 AD.[4] The Epic is written in the form of partial poetry and partial prose.[5][6]

The epic work is still considered to be the oldest known epic account in Meitei literature.[7]

Synopsis[]

Further information: Manipuri mythology

In the epic, there are two Sun Gods, who brighten the world simultaneously. One was to be slain in order to create the night. The hero, Khwai Nungjeng Piba was an expert archer, who shot Taothuireng, one of the two Suns in the sky.[8][9][10]

In Religion[]

  • The archaic terms in Meitei language is still chanted by the priestesses during Chupsaba ceremony (a ritual associated with the special kind of death in Meitei cosmology), in the form of hymns.[9]

English version[]

  • The first English translation of the epic poetry was published in the book The Meitheis , written by T.C. Hodson in the year 1908.[11]

In popular culture[]

  • Recently, the epic is reenacted in the form of play, at Dehli based National Institute of Performing Arts (NIPA) under the directions of Sarungbam Biren.[12]

See also[]


Further reading[]

Bibliography[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Indian Literature". Sahitya Akademi. November 10, 1979 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man. Oriental Institute of Cultural and Social Research. 2005.
  3. ^ Problems of Modern Indian Literature. Statistical Pub. Society : distributor, K. P. Bagchi. 1975.
  4. ^ Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  5. ^ Islam, Mazharul (1982). A History of Folktale Collections in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Panchali.
  6. ^ Man. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 1913.
  7. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-543-2.
  8. ^ Singh, N. Joykumar (2006). Ethnic Relations Among the People of North-East India. Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University and Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8370-081-8.
  9. ^ a b Kshetrimayum, Jogendro (2009). "Shooting the Sun: A Study of Death and Protest in Manipur". Economic and Political Weekly. 44 (40): 48–54. JSTOR 25663656.
  10. ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1973). History of Manipur. Eastlight Book House.
  11. ^ T.c. Hodson (1908). The Meitheis.
  12. ^ "Film showcase for Manipur play - Young theatre director?s drama to be preserved on celluloid".
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