Product Code Database
Bhagya Chandra (also known as Ching-Thang Khomba and Jai Singh) (1748–1798) was a king of Manipur in the 18th century CE. He was the grandson of Gharib Niwaz and ruled Manipur for almost forty years (1759–1798). During his rule, he faced several invasions from the Konbaung dynasty and went into exile, but eventually made peace with Burma.
Bhagya Chandra is known for spreading Vaishnavism in the Manipur state. He invented the Manipuri Raas Leela dance. His daughter (Shija Laioibi) played the role of Radha at the first performance and became a popular figure in Manipur.
Chit Sai's treachery was soon discovered and he was chased out of Manipur. He fled to Kachari kingdom. His brother Bharatsai (Bharat Shah) took the throne. But he was also thrown out within a year.
In 1753, Syam Sai's eldest son Gourisiam (or Gour Shah, also known as Marampa) became the king. A Manipuri tradition states that Gourisiam and Bhagya Chandra made a pact to rule alternatingly in five year terms. Accordingly, Gourisiam abdicated in 1759 allowing Bhagya Chandra to ascend the throne.
The Burmese record states that the Manipuris invaded again in 1754 and Alaungpaya set out to settle scores with Manipur. He personally led an invasion in 1758. Gaurisiam sent Bhagyachandra and his uncle Anand Sai to meet the invasion at Sumjok and Tamu respectively. The Tamu force got repulsed to Kakching. Gaurisiam went to join it at Kakching, possibly with additional forces, but they were all defeated. Bhagyachandra fought at Leisangkhong, but he was also defeated. The Manipur Chronicle states that the country was devastated. The Burmese established themselves in the "Land of Meeteis". According to a historian of Burma, Alaungpaya halted in Imphal for thirteen days, took what loot there was (many residents having fled to the hills), threw two heavy cannons into the river, and returned to Ava, while leaving permanent stockades at Tamu and Samjok. The Kabaw Valley was "permanently annexed".
This was only the first of many invasions to come.
Bhagyachandra ascended the throne in 1759, but his position became "precarious" due to the intrigues of his uncle Chit Sai (Ajit Shah), who was ensconced in Kachar and is said to have appealed to the British authorities for assistance in regaining the throne of Manipur. Upon hearing about this, Bhagyachandra sent his own mission, via an envoy called Haridas Gosain, to Harry Verelst, the Chief of Chittagong. Gosain argued the Manipuri case effectively, sought help against Burmese invasions, and persuaded the British that there were opportunities for trade with China via Manipur. As the British were preoccupied with the affairs in Delhi, it was not until September 1762 that a formal treaty was signed by Gosain and Verelst.
Six companies of British sepoys were sent towards Manipur in 1763, with instructions to "fix post at Manipur and make themselves acquainted with the strength and disposition of the Burmese". The British troops made it as far as Khaspur, then capital of Kachari kingdom, but returned due to an impending war with Mir Qasim. It is also heard that heavy rains at that time hampered further progress and that the troops suffered losses due to sickness. Gourisiam, who had become king again in 1761, wrote to Verelst sending 500 gold rupees for the expenses incurred and promising to pay in produce for the troops to be stationed in Manipur. But the British cut off the transaction after this point. Gourisiam died in 1763, and Bhagyachandra became king again.
The Burmese king Hsinbyushin invaded in 1764, which is again said to be in response to a Manipuri invasion. The Burmese invasion was devastating, causing Bhagyachandra to flee to Assam. Hsinyubshin took away many captives, whom he used for populating his new capital at Inwa. A sizeable Manipuri population was formed in Ava, serving in a variety of functions, most notably as cavalry.
Bhagya Chandra, along with his queen and a few loyal attendants, fled to Ahom kingdom (modern-day Assam), where they lived under the protection of its ruler, Rajeswar Singha.
During his reign, the Meiteis repelled the Burmese from Manipur. Though his exploits did not equal Pamheiba's, his reign was characterised by security. He was a great patron of the arts and religion, and his strong Manipuri Vaishnavism reflected on the Meiteis. He was an ardent devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and during his reign a statue of Nityananda was created. (2026). 9780761997818, Sage Publ. India. ISBN 9780761997818 p. 128.
In 1796 he moved his capital to Kangla. A year later, on 5 February 1798, he abdicated the throne to his eldest son Rabinchandra. He spent his later years on pilgrimage to various Vaishnavite holy sites, including Nabadwip. He died on 25 December 1798 in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
In Meitei legends, the real Bhagya Chandra was said to have had supernatural powers. To see whether the usurper was correct, Singha designed a test at the behest of his court. In a public arena, Bhagya Chandra, while unarmed, was to catch and tame a wild elephant.
Confronted with insurmountable odds, King Bhagyachandra is said to have prayed to Krishna (Krishna) for guidance. Govinda appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to enter the arena donning a garland while holding japa beads. At the end of the instructions, Govinda assured him of victory.
The dream also stated that Bhagya Chandra would be the sole king of Manipur. Upon regaining the kingdom, he should install a Krishna murti. The deity, Govinda, should be carved from a certain old jackfruit tree growing on the slopes of Kaina hill.
After installing the deity, Govinda said the king should arrange for the performance of a Rasa-Lila, in which Krishna would be worshipped with song and dance. Bhagya Chandra also received in this vision a complete plan on how to execute the Ras Lila.
Bhagya Chandra entered the arena, donning the garland and japa as instructed in his vision. In the ensuing fight, the spectators noted that the elephant seemed to recoil as if struck by a ghost. King Bhagya Chandra said that he saw "Lord Krishna as the mahout".
It was his daughter Shija Lailoibi who first took the role of Radha in the Manipuri Raas Leela dance.
Under the influence of Bengali people, he also started the tradition of kirtan in Manipur.
Bhagya Chandra had eight sons: Sanahal, Rabinchandra (Labanya Chandra), Madhuchandra, Tulsijit, Chaurajit Singh, Marjit Singh, Daoji (Khongjai Ngamba) and Gambhir Singh. Sanahal died early. Bhagya Chandra placed Rabinchandra on the throne before he retired to Nabadwip. From this time up to the First Anglo-Burmese War, Manipur faced fratricidal wars among Bhagya Chandra's sons.
|
|
