Akongjamba

Akongjamba (Old Manipuri: Akongchampa) was a nobleman of a King in Ancient Moirang in Meitei mythology and folklore.[1][2] He was a lover of the harvest Goddess Phouoibi,[3][4][5] but fate did not permit the lovers to unite, so they reincarnated.[6] The lives of the two legendary lovers were believed to be enacted by Thangjing as a part of the Epic cycles of incarnations (Moirang Saiyon of the Moirang Kangleirol legends).[7]

This article is about a mortal lover of Goddess Phouoibi. For the divine consort of Phouoibi, see Phou Ningthou.

Akongjamba
"Akongchampa", an ancient Meitei (old Manipuri) name of Akongjamba, written in archaic Meitei Mayek abugida
Created byThangjing
In-universe information
AliasAkongchampa
GenderMale
TitleNobleman of Ancient Moirang
OccupationNobleman of the Moirang Kingdom
AffiliationMoirang Saiyon, Moirang Kangleirol, Meitei mythology, Meitei folklore
FamilyThoidingjam
SpouseThoidingjambi
ReligionMeitei religion (Sanamahism)
OriginMoirang Kingdom

Legends

Once, Goddess Phouoibi (Fouoibi) set out for a journey along with Ngaleima and Thumleima. In Moirang, when she was trying to cross a river, Akongjamba came to the place for hunting. He fell in love with Phouoibi at first sight, and they became great lovers.[1][6]

Many days later, Phouoibi went to Akongjamba's house, disguising herself as a tribal woman (Meitei: haonupi or haonubi). Akongjamba was not at home,[2] and his mother (Akongjamba's wife in another version) did not give her good shelter. She was about to hit Phouoibi with a broom. As a divine being could lose their powers at the touch of profane objects like brooms, Phouoibi fled to the coop of the house and transformed into a chicken. Akongjamba's mother chased her, and she counted the number of chickens.[8] She did not find any new chicken, so she was gone, and Phouoibi spent the night inside the dirty henhouse. The next day, she went back to her true divine maiden form in a glowing dress. She called Akongjamba's mother to come out, and gave her the payment for spending a night at her place. She shook an enormous heap of golden grain off her body. The grains fell in the middle of the courtyard of the house, and she left in the south east direction. Akongjamba's mother was surprised at this.[1][6][8]

When Akongjamba returned home, he found the pile of golden grain as high as a hill in front of the courtyard. His mother narrated him the entire story, and he realised that the strange lady was Phouoibi, his ladylove. He immediately followed her path. On the way, he found her and he pleaded her to return home together, but she told him that they were not destined to unite to accomplish their work at that birth, and she then left him.[8]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akongchampa.
  1. Session, North East India History Association (1999). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
  2. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  3. Caesar, Thounaojam; Sanasam, Reena (28 June 2018). "The Oral Folk Literature of the Ancient Meiteis of Manipur: An Analysis of its Cultural Significance". Space and Culture, India. 6 (1): 29–37. doi:10.20896/saci.v6i1.307. ISSN 2052-8396. S2CID 64923994.
  4. Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0.
  5. Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  6. Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  7. Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
  8. Roy, L. Somi (21 June 2021). And That Is Why... Manipuri Myths Retold. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-91149-65-9.
  9. "Laihui Ensemble Manipur – Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess to perform at Esplanade Theatre Studio Singapore". www.manipur.org.
  10. "Phou-Oibi, the Rice Goddess by Laihui Ensemble". sgmagazine.com.
  11. "Phouoibi Shayon to be shown at Shankar : 01st apr17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
  12. "Phouoibi Shayon to be shown at Shankar – Manipur News".
  13. Gurumayum, Maheshwar. "Film Release - Imphal Times". www.imphaltimes.com.
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