Charairongba

Names
	Senbi Tekhao Lanthaba

Charairongba
Charairongba
Eningthou Ningthem Charairongba
King of Manipur
Monarchy	1697 CE - 1709 CE
Coronation	1698 CE
Predecessor	Paikhomba
Successor	Pamheiba
Born	20 May 1673
Died	1709 (aged 35–36)
Spouse	4
Issue	5 including Pamheiba
Names
Names
	Senbi Tekhao Lanthaba
House	Ningthouja dynasty
Father	Tonsen Ngamba
Mother	Ngangbam Chanu Ngaikhong Ngambi
Religion	Sanamahism (former) ; Vaishnavite Hindu (later)

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

Charairongba (Meitei: ꯆꯔꯥꯢꯔꯣꯡꯕ, romanized: Cha-raai-rong-ba), known in Ancient Manipuri as Chalailongpa (Meitei: ꯆꯂꯥꯢꯂꯣꯡꯄꯥ, romanized: Cha-laai-long-paa), was a Meitei king of the Ningthouja dynasty of Medieval Manipur. He ruled from 1697 CE to 1709 CE.[1]

Background

Charairongba was born on 20 May 1673 as the son of Prince Tonsen Ngamba[a] (Meitei: ꯇꯣꯟꯁꯦꯟ ꯉꯝꯕ) and Meitei-Reima Ngangbam Chanu Ngaikhong Ngambi[b] (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯔꯩꯃ ꯉꯥꯡꯕꯝ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯉꯥꯢꯈꯣꯡ ꯉꯝꯕꯤ). Prince Tonsen Ngamba was the younger brother of King Paikhomba.[2] He died before his elder brother. As Paikhomba did not have any heirs, his nephew Charairongba succeeded him in 1697 at the age of twenty-five, and was crowned king in 1698.[3] He was well aware of the evolving situations in the Kabaw Valley and the neighboring Ava Kingdom.[4]

Charairongba had four consorts, namely, 1) Heiwam Chanu, 2) Satpam (Sapam) Nungthin Chaipi, 3) Hicham Nongthonpam Chanu Sengoirempi, 4) Thangcham Chanu Thapa Ngampi. Out of all of them, the first consort did not have any child.[2] From the three other consorts, Charairongba had five sons, namely, 1) Pamheiba (later Gharib Niwaz, 2) Loiyamba (Sana Keithel Taba), 3) Khampamba (alias Kongyamba), 4) Khamlang Pamsaba, and 5) Mungyamba. Sapam Chanu Nungthin Chaipi and Heiwam Chanu had already died before Charairongba became the king.[2]

Conquests

In 1717, he ordered Pamheiba to invade Burma. The Burmese King had insulted Charairongba's daughter by asking for another daughter in marriage. Instead of sending his daughter, Charairongba sent his son Pamheiba along with a strong cavalry force. They crushed the Burmese in battle.[citation needed]

Contributions to Meitei literature

Meitei King Charairongba is also known for being a writer. He is best known for authoring the text named "Leiron". The Leiron is a Meitei language account of flowers bearing testimonies to the loves of nature and appreciations of its beauty by the ancient Meitei people of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')). In the literary works, king Charairongba is described as a king with a glorious reign over ten tributary kings. He was also traditionally believed to be an incarnation of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the first able ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty.[5]

Leiron

The "Leiron" (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯔꯣꯟ, lit. 'the account of flowers') written by Charairongba quotes the beauties of nature, among which the following is one of them:

Come spring and the first rumble of the approaching monsoon has been heard in the distance. Before long will the rivers flow with turbulent currents and it is the time of the year when Poireiton accompanied by Leinaotabi made his journey to earth. The hill glades now look velvety green and refreshingly beautiful with new sprouts growing in thick clusters and the blades of grass entwining with one another. The orchids begin to play with the gentle breeze. Domestic birds are flying out in search of new fruit. The young man eager to meet his love puts on the best bib and tucker and it is also the season when he most neatly grooms his hair to bedecked with the turban prepared in the best sartorial style. Indeed, he receives the season with gay abandon. When viewed towards the hills, they look invitingly attractive and no less is the valley. All the extensive fields and stretching roads seem to offer both delicious sweets to taste and pleasant spectacle to enjoy. Last year's barren trees have put forth new shoots and most of the leaves have become broad and green. Flowers by the foothill, that usually bloom early each year are all tinted red and the long path-ways by the vast pasture have been covered with them. Other flowers too, both in the hills and the dales, have put on a riot of colour.[6]

The Leiron contains description of 100 flowers and orchids, endemic as well as exotic species. The diction in the text is greatly archaic as well as endowed with swift rhythmic flow.[7]

Description of Kabok Lei flower

Giving reference to King Khagemba and the Manipur Kingdom, the beauty and grace of Lei Kabok, also called Kabok Lei (Gardenia jasminoides), is described by King Charairongba, as follows:

It is a flower that remains ever fresh as not eaten by worms and is fondly sought after in the four corners of the country, eight directions, nay in all quarters. It is distinct for its beautiful shape, its tender stalk and for its pure white colour. It is a flower once nurtured by King Khagemba who preferred to take it with him even for his long home. It is a flower that comes handy to both boys and girls as a present of love. Such a luscious flower has blossomed forth in an unending array of white and definitely the season is of this flower.[8]

Other notable mentions

Other notable mentionings of the plant species include the "nongleishang" (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯂꯩꯁꯪ), the "santhong maiba lei" (Meitei: ꯁꯟꯊꯣꯡ ꯃꯥꯏꯕ ꯂꯩ), "kusum lei" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯁꯨꯝ ꯂꯩ, lit. 'Safflower'), "kakyai padam lei" (Meitei: ꯀꯛꯌꯥꯏ ꯄꯥꯗꯝ ꯂꯩ), "singut yenga lei" (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯉꯨꯠ ꯌꯦꯉꯥ ꯂꯩ), "thambal" (Meitei: ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜ, lit. 'Lotus flower'), the "laiyen hanbi paothil lei" (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯌꯦꯟ ꯍꯟꯕꯤ ꯄꯥꯎꯊꯤꯜ ꯂꯩ), among the 100s.[9]

Death

Charairongba was killed by Pamheiba during a tribal rebellion after Charairongba was struck by lightning and fell unconscious under a banyan tree. Seeing his father powerless, Pamheiba allegedly stabbed him with a spear, purportedly to end his suffering.[10]

Notes

^ Spelled as "Tonsen Ngampa" in Old Manipuri.
^ Spelled as "Ngangpam Chanu Ngaikhong Ngampi" in Old Manipuri.

References

^ Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Thangjam, Homen (1 January 2015). Self Determination Movement in Manipur. Concept Publishing Company. p. 65. ISBN 978-93-5125-097-5.
^ a b c Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs: From 1666 CE to 1850 CE. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
^ Singh, R.K Jhalajit. A Short History Of Manipur. p. 132.
^ Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Sharma, Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar (1 January 2021). Manipur Myanmar Connections: An Indic Perspective. Concept Publishing Company. p. 45. ISBN 978-93-88937-84-9.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 91. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 91, 92. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 92, 93. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ Khumukcham, Rinku (19 November 2020). "Charairongba - Manipur's First Hindu ruler and "Meitei Reima" Nongthil Chaibi". News from Manipur - Imphal Times. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

External links

Traditional Religion Of The Meiteis - Manipur Online
History of Manipur - IIT Guwahati

Preceded by

Paikhomba

King of
Manipur
1697–1709

Succeeded by

Pamheiba

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[2] Spelled as "Tonsen Ngampa" in Old Manipuri.

[3] Spelled as "Ngangpam Chanu Ngaikhong Ngampi" in Old Manipuri.

[1] Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Thangjam, Homen (1 January 2015). Self Determination Movement in Manipur. Concept Publishing Company. p. 65. ISBN 978-93-5125-097-5.

[:0-4] Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs: From 1666 CE to 1850 CE. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.

[5] Singh, R.K Jhalajit. A Short History Of Manipur. p. 132.

[6] Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Sharma, Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar (1 January 2021). Manipur Myanmar Connections: An Indic Perspective. Concept Publishing Company. p. 45. ISBN 978-93-88937-84-9.

[7] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 91. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[8] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 91, 92. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[9] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[10] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 92, 93. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[11] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[12] Khumukcham, Rinku (19 November 2020). "Charairongba - Manipur's First Hindu ruler and "Meitei Reima" Nongthil Chaibi". News from Manipur - Imphal Times. Retrieved 1 July 2025.