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Nongpok Ningthou , also known as the Sovereign of the East or King of the East, (2025). 9788170998495, Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170998495 is a deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and his consort Panthoibi were united in the Nongmaiching Ching mountains. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in Sanamahism.
Nongpok Ningthou is one of the principal . He was originally known as Langmai Ningthou (Lord of the Langmai people).
According to the Thalon (Tharon) text, Selloi Langmai Hill had 5 divisions. Each division was occupied by different ethnic groups. Each groups had different ancestral deities. These were later described as the 5 pillars of the Selloi Langmai country.
| ꯑꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ | Andro | ꯑꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ ꯀꯣꯟꯕ, ꯄꯅꯝ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ | Andro Konba, Panam Ningthou (lit.Chief of Panam) |
| ꯀꯩꯅꯧ | Keinou | ꯇꯥꯔꯤꯌꯥ, ꯀꯩꯅꯧ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ | Tariya, the Keinou Lakpa (lit. Chief of Keinou) |
| ꯋꯥꯈꯥ | Wakha | ꯄꯨꯂꯩꯂꯣꯝꯄ (ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ), ꯋꯥꯈꯥ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ | Puleilompa (Pureiromba), the Wakha Lakpa (lit. Chief of Wakha) |
| ꯆꯤꯡꯌꯥꯢ | Chingyai | ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯣꯝꯄ (ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯣꯝꯕ), ꯆꯤꯡꯌꯥꯢ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ | Chingsomba, the Chingyai Lakpa (lit. Chief of Chingyai) |
| ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯥꯡ | Chingshang | ꯄꯥꯜꯂꯨꯡ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ, ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯥꯡ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ | Pallung Ningthou, the Chingshang Lakpa (lit. Chief of Chingshang) |
Later, in the course of time, these 5 gods belonging to 5 different places of the Selloi Langmai Hill were integrated into a single God with the name "Langmai Ningthou". The personal names became the aliases or various forms of the God. With this, the tribal society of the Selloi Langmai people evolved into a chiefdom. This chiefdom later rose to the Angom.
According to the Naothingkhong Phambal Kaba PuYa, the position of the Langmai Ningthou (lit. Langmai King) rose to the highest level of the Umang Lai God. He acquired a new title "Nongpok Ningthou". It took place after the uprooting of the Selloi Langmai people by the Meetei King Ura Konthouba in the 6-7th century AD. With the end of the ethnic conflict, the Selloi Langmai people merged into the Meitei ethnicity. Their deity "Langmai Ningthou" got renamed as "Nongpok Ningthou" (lit. Sovereign of the East). The name of the God was given by the Meiteis. The God originally belonged to the Selloi Langmai people. These group of people lived in the East of the Kangla, the capital of the Meitei kingdom.
The Cheitharol Kumbaba mentioned the God for the first time during the reign of King Khagemba (1597 AD-1652 AD).
The two lovers met secretly but regularly many times. Panthoibi's behavior causes her in-laws to have suspicion over her. Her mortal husband tried to win her heart with many tricks. But these were useless to the goddess. Nongpok Ningthou eloped with Goddess Panthoibi, his true lover, wearing the attires of the Tangkhuls.
Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi, the two divine lovers, united on the Nongmaiching Hills. Their joyous union was celebrated with dances and music by the divine beings. These celebration gave birth to the Lai Haraoba festival.
In another version of the story, Nongpok Ningthou met goddess Panthoibi for the first time when she was helping her father at Slash-and-burn. They fell in love at first sight without no conversation. But Panthoibi was married to another man against her will. She left her husband's house to search for her true beloved. Nongpok Ningthou also left his home for the same purpose. The lovers met at the Kangla. Kangla became the place of their divine union. So, it is considered to be an auspicious place of coronation of the Meitei kings.
As per the plan, Panthoibi pretended to be unwell. Her mother mentioned the names of some gods, whom she (Panthoibi's mother) believed that they could cure her daughter's illness. She mentioned Wangpulen (Wangbren), Thangching (Thangjing) and Koupalu (Koubru). As none of them are Panthoibi's paramours, Panthoibi pretended that her health got worsened up at the mention of every single man. Finally, her mother mentioned Nongpok Ningthou Kainou Chingsomba as follows:
As a reply to her mother, Panthoibi praised her lover Nongpok Ningthou as follows:
Panthoibi insisted her mother to call him as soon as possible. Upon being called, Nongpok Ningthou arrived in a wink. Nongpok Ningthou pretended to examine and to cure her fake illness. After a short period of time, Panthoibi pretended to be completely recovered from her fake illness. Panthoibi told her mother about the greatness of Nongpok Ningthou as a physician as well as a saviour of her life from the brink of death.
Taking advantage of the situation, Nongpok Ningthou was followed by Panthoibi and thus, they finally got united.
A few of the most prominent shrines include: (1) Nongpok at Yairipok, (2) Panam Ningthou at Andro, (3) Nongpok Ningthou at Khoirom, (4) Pureiromba at Lamlai, (5) Nongpok Ningthou at Engourok (Ingourok), (6) Pureiromba at Naharup, (7) Nongpok Ningthou at Takhel, (8) Pureiromba at Bamon Kampu, (9) Nongpok Ningthou at Charangpat Maning, (10) Waroi Ching Malang Lamhuiba at Waroi Ching, (11) Nongpok at Chandrakhong.
These shrines are under the institution of the . However, there are many shrines of God Langmai Ningthou independent from the . Examples include Chingyai, Kharong, Isingchaibi, Nungpak Khul, Chingoi, etc. Due to the independence from the , these shrines were absorbed into Hinduism during the post-Charairongba era in Manipur. One notable instance is the shrine of Chingyai. The shrine of Chingyai was converted into the cult of Hindu God Shiva during the reign of King Chandrakirti (1850 AD-1886 AD).
Khwairakpa Erel is the most famous sacred site dedicated to Nongpok Ningthou (alias Khwairakpa) in Assam. It is an island in the middle of the Barak River.
The Tangkhul Nurabi Loutaba is an enactment of the repartee between Tangkhul Pakhang (Nongpok Ningthou) and Nurabi (Panthoibi). The two players dress up in Tangkhul attires of farming in the field. This is performed on the last night of the Kanglei Haraoba (a form of Lai Haraoba).
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