Meitei folktales

This article is about the folktales of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. For other communities of Manipur, see Manipuri folktales (disambiguation).

The Meitei folktales (Meitei: Meitei Phunga Wari), also sometimes referred to as the Manipuri folktales, are the large collections of folk stories developed from the Meitei culture since Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). Folktales are called "funga wari" ("phunga wari"), literally meaning "stories of kitchen furnace or stove" in Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language).^[1][2] In early times, in the Meitei households, children must have gathered around the kitchen fire, listening to the stories narrated by the elders.^[1] Generally, Meitei folktales were developed from the creativity of the old folks, especially the grandparents, who narrated the children the diverse sagas of varying genres.^[1][3][4]

Meitei folktales (Meitei Phunga Wari (Meitei))
A scene from the story of Sandrembi and Chaisra, a Meitei folktale
Stylistic origins	Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')
Cultural origins	Meitei culture
Related genres
Meitei mythology
Related topics
Meitei folklore

List of Tales

• The Rain of Kabok (Meitei: ꯀꯕꯣꯛꯀꯤ ꯅꯣꯡ, romanized: Kabok ki Nong)^[5]
• The Female Mosquito's Plight (Meitei: ꯀꯥꯡ ꯑꯃꯣꯝꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯡꯊꯥ, romanized: Kang Amomgi Tentha)^[6]
• The Clever Frog Defeats the Tiger and the Elephant (Meitei: ꯀꯩ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯁꯃꯨꯕꯨ ꯍꯉꯣꯢꯅ ꯃꯥꯢꯊꯤꯕ ꯄꯤꯕ, romanized: Kei amadi Shamu bu Hangoi na Maithiba Piba)^[7]
• Water that Turns Everyone into Tigers (Meitei: ꯀꯩ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ ꯀꯣꯝꯒꯤ ꯏꯁꯤꯡ, romanized: Kei Onba Kom Gi Eshing)^[8]
• Tiger Head (Meitei: ꯀꯩꯕꯨ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯢꯕ, romanized: Keibu Keioiba)^[9][10]
• The Flying Elephant (Meitei: ꯁꯃꯨ ꯑꯄꯥꯢꯕ, romanized: Samu Apaibi)^[11]
• Sandrembi and Chaisra (Meitei: ꯁꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ ꯆꯩꯁ꯭ꯔꯥ, romanized: Sandrembi Chaisra)^[12][13]
• The Golden Deer and the Golden Parrot (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯁꯖꯤ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ, romanized: Sanagi Saji amadi Sanagi Tenawa)^[14]
• The Golden Parrot (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ, romanized: Sanagi Tenawa)^[15]
• The Doe and the Crow (Meitei: ꯁꯖꯤꯒ ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛꯀ ꯃꯇꯥ ꯁꯥꯟꯅꯕ, romanized: Saji ga Kwak ka Mataa Saanaba)^[16]
• The Two Brothers (Meitei: ꯁꯥꯍꯤꯡ ꯆꯥꯕ ꯃꯆꯤꯜ ꯃꯅꯥꯎ, romanized: Sahing chaba machil manao)^[17]
• The Pigeon's Feast (Meitei: ꯂꯝꯈꯨꯅꯨꯅ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ, romanized: Lamkhunu Na Chakkouba)^[18]
• The Clever Fox (Meitei: ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ, romanized: Lamhui Lousing)^[19][20]
• The Fox and the Jackal (Meitei: ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯀꯩꯁꯥꯜ, romanized: Lamhui amashung Keishal)^[21]
• The Fox's Trick (Meitei: ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯒꯤ ꯇꯥꯠ, romanized: Lamhui gi Tat)^[22]
• Light Spirit (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯟꯃꯩ ꯊꯥꯟꯕ, romanized: Lanmei Thanbi)^[23]
• The Witch without a Chin (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢ ꯈꯗꯥꯡ ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯕ, romanized: Lai Khadang Pandabi)^[24]
• The Doll's Groom (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯗꯤꯕꯤꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯄꯥ, romanized: Laifadibigi Nupa)^[25]
• The Doll's Boon (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯗꯤꯕꯤꯒꯤ ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜ, romanized: Laiphadibigi Thouchaal)^[26]
• The Seven Poor Sons (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯔ ꯃꯆꯥ ꯇꯔꯦꯠ, romanized: Laira Macha Taret)^[27]
• The Python's Promise (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟꯅ ꯋꯥꯁꯛ ꯉꯥꯛꯄ, romanized: Lairen na Waashak Ngaakpa)^[28]
• The Widow's Son (Meitei: ꯂꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯥꯕꯤ ꯃꯆꯥ, romanized: Lukhrabi Macha)^[29][30]
• The Widow and the Frog (Meitei: ꯂꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯥꯕꯤ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯍꯉꯣꯢ, romanized: Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi)^[31][32][33]
• The Demon Queen (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯃ ꯍꯤꯡꯆꯥꯕ, romanized: Leima Hingchabi)^[34]
• A Contest of Wit (Meitei: ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡꯒꯤ ꯆꯥꯡꯗꯝꯅꯕ, romanized: Loushing gi Changdamnaba)^[35]
• Big Head (Meitei: ꯃꯀꯣꯛ, romanized: Makok)^[36]
• The Three-Headed Men (Meitei: ꯃꯀꯣꯛ ꯑꯍꯨꯝ, romanized: Makok Ahum)^[37]
• The Stepmother (Meitei: ꯃꯃꯥ ꯄꯣꯛꯇꯕ, romanized: Mama Poktabi)^[38]
• The Brother and Sister (Meitei: ꯃꯆꯤꯜ ꯃꯧꯄ꯭ꯋꯥ, romanized: Machil Moupwa)^[39]
• The Brother and Sister (Meitei: ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯧꯄ, romanized: Machin Moupa)^[40]
• The Woman who Turned into a Parrot (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯅ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ, romanized: Mee na Tenawa Onba)^[41]
• The Man who Turned into a Bird (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯅ ꯎꯊꯨꯝ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ, romanized: Mina Uthum Onkhiba)^[42]
• The Magic Stick (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯠꯇ꯭ꯔꯪꯒꯤ ꯆꯥ, romanized: Mitrang-gi Chei)^[43]
• The Magical Stool (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯠꯇ꯭ꯔꯪꯒꯤ ꯐꯥꯜ, romanized: Mitrang gi Fal)^[44]
• The Origin of Humans (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯒꯤ ꯍꯧꯔꯛꯐꯝ, romanized: Mee gi Hourakpham)^[45]
• The King's Umbrella (Meitei: ꯄꯦ ꯅꯥꯔꯦꯛꯄ, romanized: Pay Nareckpi)^[46]
• The Bird and the Tiger (Meitei: ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯀꯩ, romanized: Pebet amashung Kei)^[47]
• The Egotistical Elephant and the Praying Bird (Meitei: ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯁꯃꯨ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ, romanized: Naapal Chaoba Shamu amadi Pebet)^[48][49]
• The Proud Bamboo (Meitei: ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯋꯥ ꯄꯥꯝꯕ, romanized: Naapal Chaoba Waa Pambi)^[50]
• The Proud Buffalo (Meitei: ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯏꯔꯣꯢ, romanized: Napal Chaoba Eeroi)^[51]
• Two Princes (Meitei: ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯃꯆꯥꯅꯨꯄꯥ ꯑꯅꯨ, romanized: Ningthou Machanupa Ani)^[52]
• The Man who Shot the Sun (Meitei: ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ, romanized: Numit Kappa)^[53][54]
• The sun and the cock (Meitei: ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯕ, romanized: Numit amadi Yenba)^[55]
• Blessings from Spirit (Meitei: ꯇꯝꯅꯂꯥꯢꯒꯤ ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜ, romanized: Tamnalai Gi Thoujal)^[56]
• Tapta (Meitei: ꯇꯞꯇꯥ)^[57]|la=
• The Seven Loaves (Meitei: ꯇꯟ ꯇꯔꯦꯠ, romanized: Tan Taret)^[58]
• The Human Python (Meitei: ꯇꯥꯢꯕꯪ ꯃꯤꯅ ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ, romanized: Taibang Mee na Lairen Onba)^[59]
• Tembalaithak (Meitei: ꯇꯦꯝꯕꯂꯥꯢꯊꯛ)^[60]|la=
• Revenge on the Cat (Meitei: ꯇꯣꯛꯄ ꯂꯥꯟꯗꯥꯕ, romanized: Tokpa Laan-daaba)^[61]
• The Clever Hare (Meitei: ꯊꯦꯕ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡꯕ, romanized: Theba Lousingba)^[62]
• The Brave Friend (Meitei: ꯊꯧꯅꯥꯐꯕ ꯃꯔꯨꯞ, romanized: Thaunaphaba Marup)^[63]
• An Old Couple Plant Taro (Meitei: ꯍꯅꯨꯕ ꯍꯅꯨꯕꯤ ꯄꯥꯟ ꯊꯥꯕ, romanized: Hanuba Hanubi Paan Thaba)^[64]
• The Girl who Turned into a Cicada (Meitei: ꯍꯥꯎꯁꯤ ꯅꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ, romanized: Haosi Namoinu)^[65]
• The Cruel Stepmother (Meitei: ꯍꯥꯎꯗꯤꯒꯝ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯐꯠꯇꯕ, romanized: Haodigam Chanu Phattabi)^[66]
• The Vampire (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡ ꯑꯊꯧꯕ, romanized: Hiyangthau)^[67]
• Henjunaha (Meitei: ꯍꯦꯟꯖꯨꯅꯍꯩ)^[68][69]
• The Cat and the Bat (Meitei: ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ ꯁꯦꯛꯄꯤ ꯃꯔꯨꯞ ꯑꯅꯨ, romanized: Houdong Sekpi marup ani)^[70]
• The Mystic Cat and the Bird (Meitei: ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ ꯂꯝꯕꯣꯢꯕ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ, romanized: Houdong Lamboiba amadi Pebet)^[71]
• The Cat's Nature (Meitei: ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡꯒꯤ ꯂꯝꯆꯠ, romanized: Houdong gi Lamchat)^[72]
• The Carpenter and Chaoren (Meitei: ꯎ ꯁꯨꯕ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯟ, romanized: U suba amadi Chaoren)^[73]
• A Sculpted Wooden Face (Meitei: ꯎꯅ ꯁꯥꯕ ꯁꯛꯇꯝ, romanized: Una saba saktam)^[74]
• The Hornbill (Meitei: ꯎꯆꯦꯛ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯩꯗꯣꯡ, romanized: Uchek Langmeidong)^[75]
• My Friendly Lamp (Meitei: ꯏꯇꯥ ꯊꯥꯎꯃꯩ, romanized: Eta Thangmei)^[76][77]
• A Foolish Younger Brother (Meitei: ꯑꯄꯪꯕ ꯃꯅꯥꯎ, romanized: Apangba Manao)^[78]
• The Foolish Man's Fortune (Meitei: ꯑꯄꯪꯕꯒꯤ ꯂꯥꯢꯕꯛ, romanized: Apangba gi Laibak)^[79]
• The Truth-telling Fruit (Meitei: ꯑꯆꯨꯝꯕ ꯉꯥꯡꯕꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯩ, romanized: Achumba ngangba gi mahei)^[80]
• Child Who Turned into a Pumpkin (Meitei: ꯑꯉꯥꯡꯗꯒꯤ ꯃꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ, romanized: Angangdagi Mairen Onba)^[81]

See also

• The Tales of Kanglei Throne
• And That Is Why... Manipuri Myths Retold
• Phungawari Shingbul : A Collection Of Manipuri Folk Tales And Fables compiled and edited by B. Jayantakumara Sharma.
• New Folktales of Manipur, by James Oinam.
• Collection of Folk Tales from Manipur from E-pao.

References

1. Oinam, James (2016-05-26). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-945400-70-4.
2. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 125. Retrieved 2023-03-11. 1) ꯐꯨꯡꯒꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤ phunggā wāri (p. 125) phunggā wāri ꯐꯨꯡꯒꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤ /pʰuŋ.ga wa.ri/ n. folk tale. Morph: phunggā wā‑ri [a fire place in the kitchen ...; word‑a length of sth].
3. Rajkumari, Yaisna (12 April 2021). "Manipuri Folktales". Indian Literature. 59 (1 (285)): 53–59. JSTOR 44479262.
4. "Folk Tales". www.e-pao.net.
5. "Kabokki Nong A Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
6. "The Female Mosquitoes Plight A Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
7. "The clever frog defeats Tiger and Elephant". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
8. "Water That Turns Everyone Into Tiger Kei Onba Kom Gi Eshing". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
9. S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 57 – via archive.org.
10. "Keibu Keioiba By Nganthoi Lourembam". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
11. "The flying Elephant Samu Apaibi". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
12. "Sanarembi Cheishra". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
13. "Sandrembi and Chaisra". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
14. "The golden Deer and golden Parrot Sanagi Saji amadi Sanagi Tenawa". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
15. "Sanagi Tenawa The Golden Parrot Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
16. "The Doe and the Crow". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
17. "The two Brothers Sahing chaba machil manao". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
18. "The Feast Lamkhunu na Chakkouba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
19. "Lumhui Lousing The Clever Fox". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
20. "The Fox Wit Lamhui Lousing". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
21. "Lamhui amashung Keishal The Fox and the Jackal Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
22. "The Fox Trick Lamhui gi tat". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
23. "Lanmei Thanbi Re imagining the Light Spirit". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
24. "The Witch without chin Lai Khadang Pandabi". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
25. "The Doll groom Laifadibigi Bor". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
26. "The Boon of the Doll Laiphadibigi Bor". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
27. "The Seven Poor Sons Laira Macha Taret". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
28. "The Python Promise". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
29. "Yatra the widow son". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
30. "The Widow Son Lukhrabi Macha". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
31. "Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi The widow and the frog". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
32. "The Widow and the Frog Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
33. "Interpreting the Princess and the Frog". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
34. "Rani Hingchabi The Demon Queen Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
35. "A Contest Of Wit". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
36. "Head Makok". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
37. "Three headed men Makok ahum". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
38. "Mama Poktabi The Stepmother Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
39. "The brother and the sister Machil Moupwa". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
40. "The two sibling Machin moupa". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
41. "Human Turning into a Parrot Mee na Tenawa Onba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
42. "Human Turning Into A Bird". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
43. "Jadugi Chei The Magic Stick Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
44. "The Magical Stool Mitrangi Fal". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
45. "Mee gi hourakpham the origin of human". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
46. "Pay Nareckpi King Umbrella Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
47. "Pebet and the Tiger". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
48. "The egotistical elephant and praying pebet". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
49. "Pebet Avenge to the Wild Elephant". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
50. "The Proud Bamboo Tree". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
51. "The Proud Buffalo". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
52. "Two Princes A Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
53. "The Stories of Suns Shadows from the Past". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
54. T.C. Hodson (1908). "NUMIT KAPPA (THE MAN WHO SHOT THE SUN)". The Meitheis. David Nutt. p. 125.
55. "The sun and cock Numit amadi Yenba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
56. "Blessings from Spirit Bhoot Ki Thoujal". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
57. "Tapta". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
58. "Seven Breads Tan Taret". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
59. "The Human Python Taibang Meena Lairen onba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
60. "Tembalaithak". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
61. "Revenge on the Cat Tokpa Laandaba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
62. "The Clever Hare Theba Lousingba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
63. "Thaunaphaba Marup The Brave Friend Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
64. "Old Couple Plants Taro Hanuba hanubi paan thaba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
65. "A Human turning into Harinongnang Taibang Meena Harinongnang Onba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
66. "The mean Haodigam Chanu Haodigam Chanu Phattabi". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
67. "Hiyangthau Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
68. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 63. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
69. "Henjunaha Part 1 Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
70. "The cat and the bat Houdong Sekpi marup ani". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
71. "Mystic Cat and Pebet Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
72. "Haudonggi Lamchat Cat Nature Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
73. "The Carpenter and Chaoren U suba amadi Chaoren". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
74. "A wooden sculpted face Una saba saktam". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
75. "Human turning into Uchek Langmei Meena Uchek Langmei Onba". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
76. "Abok Friendly Lamp Eta Thangmei thaomei". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
77. "Ita Thaomei". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
78. "Apangba Manao Foolish Younger Brother Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
79. "The Foolish Man Fortune Apangbagi Laibak". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
80. "The fruit for telling the truth Achumba ngangbagi fal". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
81. "Angangdagi Mairen Onba Child Who Turned into a Pumpkin Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.

Bibliography

• Sharma, B. Jayantakumar; Rajketan, Chirm (2014) [2011]. Folktales of Manipur. Translated by Kamaljit Chirom. Cultural Research Centre Manipur.

Further reading

• Devi, Chungkham Supriya (2021). "Folk Tales and Ethnic Heritage: A Study among the Meitei Community of Manipur". In Sanjenbam Yaiphaba Meitei; Sarit K. Chaudhuri; M. C. Arunkumar (eds.). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. pp. 347–364. ISBN 9780367677572.