Loitongba
| Loitongba | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruler of Kangleipak Kingdom (Ningthouja dynasty) | |||||||||
| Monarchy | 1122 CE – 1150 CE (2220 MF – 2248 MF) | ||||||||
| Coronation | 1122 CE (2220 MF) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Loiyumba | ||||||||
| Successor | Atom Yoiremba | ||||||||
| Born | Loitongba | ||||||||
| Spouse | Not recorded | ||||||||
| Issue | Atom Yoiremba, Hemtou Iwang-Thaba | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Ningthouja dynasty (Mangang dynasty) | ||||||||
| Father | Loiyumba | ||||||||
| Mother | Sum-Leima | ||||||||
| Religion | Meiteism of Sanamahism | ||||||||
| Occupation | Ruler of Kangleipak Kingdom (Ningthouja dynasty) | ||||||||
Meidingu Loitongba was a king of the Ningthouja dynasty who ruled the kingdom of Kangleipak (present-day Manipur, India) from 1122 to 1150 CE. He was the son and successor of Loiyumba, a monarch renowned for enacting the first written constitution of Manipur, the Loiyumpa Silyel.[1]
Etymology
[edit]The name Loitongba is linked to the circumstances of his birth. His mother, Sum-Leima, was pregnant when Loiyumba took the throne. The name means "one who ascended the throne together with his parents," referencing this royal coincidence.[1]
Reign
[edit]King Loitongba is noted for his patronage of traditional games and religious practices. He is often associated with the Meitei sport of Kang Sannaba. Some sources attribute the invention of the game to him, while others suggest he was a skilled player who helped popularize it during his reign.[2][3]
Conflict with Moirang
[edit]In 1127 CE, a notable diplomatic incident occurred. The King of Moirang failed to inform Loitongba about the upcoming Thangching Lai Haraoba, an important annual religious festival. This omission was seen as a serious breach of royal protocol. In response, Loitongba launched a military campaign against Moirang, targeting its king, Urakongyangba, and his brother, Chingkhuba.[4]
Succession
[edit]After Loitongba's death in 1150 CE, his son Atom Yoiremba took the throne. However, in 1162 CE, Atom Yoiremba was deposed by his brother, Hemtou Iwang-Thaba, who usurped the throne.[1]
Legacy
[edit]Loitongba is remembered for reinforcing cultural practices, traditional sports, and religious discipline. His enforcement of religious observance protocols, particularly regarding Lai Haraoba festivals, illustrates the fusion of statecraft and spirituality in 12th-century Manipur.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c A Brief History (Puwari) of the Meiteis of Manipur, The Manipur Page
- ^ The Manipur Page: Traditional Games and Culture
- ^ LAIBA, DR MANGANCHA THOUDAM (2021-02-06). "What Meitei Myths and Legends say of Lainingthou Thangching Koylellai the Reigning Deity of the Thangching Ranges » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics". imphalreviews.in. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "What Meitei Myths and Legends Say of Lainingthou Thangching", *Imphal Review of Arts and Politics*, July 2021
- ^ Indian (2009-11-06). "Indian News Reader: Manipur History". Indian News Reader. Retrieved 2025-05-19.