THE PEOPLE
The Bishnupriya
and the Meiteis:
Although Manipur is a polyglot land inhibited by numerous tribes, the
Manipuris as known to all, are broadly classified into two distinct races
namely the Bishnupriyas and the Meiteis. The former group of the people are
of Indo-Aryans origin and the later section identified themselves as the
Kuki-Chin branch of the Mongolian stock. As regards the name Meitei and
Bishnupriya, there is a story prevalent and found in a Meitei purana or puya
called " Khumal Purana". This purana states that conversion of Meiteis in
Hinduism by Shri Santidas Babaji in 19th century at the instance of the king
Shri Pamhaiba was aimed at linking the with the Aryans, the mainstream of
people of Manipur and their language too with Sanskrit. The Aryans, the
followers of Lord Vishnu denied to accept the initiation by Shri Santadas
Babaji and the others(accepted). And thus the Manipuri people Aryan and Kuki-chin
group have been classified and renamed as Bishnupriya and Meiteis.
The People and the Origin:
It is claimed that the Bishnupriya Manipuris are the Kshatriyas and a fine
stalwart race descended form Aryan blood with some admixture of the Mongloid
stock. They derived form the successive waves of Aryan invaders have passed
through the valley of Manipur in pre-Christian era. This people have sharp
Indo-Aryan features and they are physically able bodied, and are
exceptionally tall in figure in comparison to the other racial groups of the
North-east region of India.
Different writers covers-up this ethnic group in their works with different
names. Some call it Bishnupuriya or Bishnupriya or Manipuri Bishnupriya, the
other refers to it as Kalachai or Mayang Kalisa and so on.
There is also a degree of mystery surrounding the name Bishnupriya. Bits of
history , as recorded on old copper playes and manuscripts, tell us that in
8th century AD Meckley was divided into small kingdoms or chiefdoms. The
Khalachai were living in the Khumal kingdom. Meckley (Manipur) at the time.
Historians believe the Khalachais had been worshipper of Bishnu from very
early times and had named their capital Bishnupur. The centre of culture of
this people being at Bishnupur, so they were named Bishnupuriyas
(inhabitants of Bishnupur) and thus Bishnupriya was a contracted form of
Bishnupuriya. This tradition is confirmed with the name Bishnupriya Manipuri
in the record of G.A.Grierson.
But there are several other beliefs about the origin of Bishnupriya Manipuri
people. The orthodox bishnupriyas hold that Bishnupriyas are were carried
over the Manipur by some immegrants from Dwaraka and hastinapur just after
kurukshetra War during Mahavarata era (1500 BC).It is further said that hese
people were led by Babhrubahana, the son of Arjun and Citrangada, who also
brought a Vishnu image from Hastinapura and installed it in Bishnupur of
Manipur.
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The
general facial characteristics of the Bishnupriya Manipuris are of
Aryan type though some of them approaching mixed Aryan and Mongoloid
features. |
The Bishnupriya Diaspora:
There is a story that King Pamheiba ordered all his subjacts to bath
in the Nongkhrang lake in order to purify themselves. The Bishnupriyas led
by the Khumal chieftain initially refused, claiming that they were already
purified through adopting the Bishnad faith earlier. Indeed, the influence
of the Shankar Dev school of Vaishnavism can still be seen in Bishnupriya
Manipuri culture (GK Ghosh, Tribals and their Culture) . This dispute only
widened the existing rift between the Bishnupriyas and ruling Meithri class
. Large numbers of Bishnupriya Manipuris began to migrate Assam, Tripura,
Burma and Bengal areas.. This process was hastened by repeated Burmese
attacks and soon the once-proud Bishnupriyas became a nation of refugees.
The
Pancha Bishnupriyas
The Bishnupriya Manipuris
are mainly divided into two
sections, viz. the Brahmins and the kshatriyas. There are no Vaishyas and
sudras in this community. Again the society is subdivided into five lokeis
or clans; Kshumal; (2) Moirang; (3) Angom; (4) Luwang, and (5) Mangong. They
are collectively known as the Pancha-Bishnupriyas inhabiting the five main
region of Manipur Valley. Besides, there are nearly 70 Lokeis or clans of
which Raja Lokei (Nighthou-Khongiya) or members of Royal family), Lempa
Lokei (Thokchom) and Moirang Lokei (Moirang-them) are the
dominating groups. Each of the groups have their distinct ethnic identity or
Gutras.
More
Info:
http://manipuri.org/history.html
http://manipuri.iwarp.com/
http://manipuri.8m.com/
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