The Mosques in Manipur(Masjids in Manipur)

According to the Historians from Manipur there were no mosques in Manipur earlier. But it is not true. It might be few in no of Mosques in Manipur existed earlier after the Muslim arrival.

So we should ask ourselves that what is Mosque or where should it be?

If we wanted to analyze the same quarries than We have to give some rough ideas regarding the Mosque (Masjid) definition.

The word Masjid (Mosque) in Arabic comes from the verb ‘Sajda’ Which means to prostrate and a Masjid is the place in which people face downwards.

When we recalled the History of  the battlefield of Toubul where a group of Muslim were offering Salat (Muslim Prayer).The Place where the people offer Salat (Muslim Prayer) regularly is called Masjid.

The Muslim in Manipur was settled various place accordingly the will of King Khagemba’s decision.

Whoever the Muslim settled in various parts of Manipur, there the Muslims built “ Laishang”(It is widely used in Manipuri Speaking Places to denote the Masjids).There were 13 (Thirteen)  Masjids and 11(Eleven) Penjagas (where Salat offer for 5 times but not for Jumma prayer) existed till  1819 AD.

The places where the masjids were existed earlier in Manipur are as follows:-

1.MD Saani’s Lainingsang which is in the anterior Kanngla Sanathong .

2.Moirangkhom Sangoi Laisang.

3.Kangla Ukok Sangoi Laisang

4. Ningthounai Sangoi Laisang.

5. Erong Chesaba Sangoi Laisang.

6.Mayang Imphal Sangoi Laisang.

7. Sangai Yumfam Sangoi Laisang.

8. Awang Laikai Sangoi Laisang.

9.Lilong Sangoi Laisang.

10. Makha Laikai Sangoi Laisang.

11. Kairao Sangoi Laisang.

12. Kairao Sangoi Laisang.

13.Porompat Sangoi Laisang.

The 11 Panjagas(where Salat offers 5 times but not for  the Jumma prayer) were built in Manipur very earlier. They are as follows:-

1.       Fundrei Panjaga

2.        Hairok Panjaga

3.       Ukhongsang Panjaga

4.       Thoubal Moiching Panjaga

5.       Malom Khongmangbang Panjaga

6.       Uroop Panjaga

7.       Khetri Bengul Panjaga

8.       Lamsang Taokhong

9.       Khomyam Panjaga

10.   Moirang Taokhong Panjaga

11.    Pangal Tabi Panjaga etc.

Sources

Turko Afgan gi Chada naoda,

Yaad Dast kursi Nama,

© Abdul Salam

History of Meitei in Manipur

There is no proper information till now when and how did the Meitei people arrive in Manipur.According to some scholars the Meitei came from South West part of China during BC(Before Christ).Apart from that there are few groups from various parts of India who came and settle down in Manipur during 15 AD.

According to ancient Book ‘Puya’ the people came from East side of India is termed as ‘Nongpok Haram’ and the people came from West side is termed as ‘Nongchup Haram’ .

According to British Historian BH Hodgson the Meitei Originated from ‘Tai’ Family of ‘Moy’ Groups. He stated that Meitei Word came from Moy Tai=Moytai=Moitai=Meitei. According to TC Hodgson ‘Mei’ means People or Groups and ‘Tei’ means Separate.

As stated by others ‘Meitei’ word comes from Human after seeing the shadow of God. According to them Me-Shadow and Tei-Idol.So the ‘Meitei’ word means ‘Idol of God’.

During the early part of Manipur History, the ruler period among the prominent namely Meidingu Nouthingkhong(Pakhangba)’s started using of ‘Meitei’ word. There were seven ’Clan’ of Families namely Ningthouja,Moirang,Khuman,Angom,Luwang,Sarang-Laisangthem(Chenglei) and Khaba Taba etc used to control various parts of Manipur.The Family of Ningthouja’s elder Pakhangba initially defeated Khaba-Ngaba’s family elder who used to control Imphal(Kangla) in 33 AD and Pakhangba become first King of Manipur.Later Pakhangba and his inheritance defeated other clan( ancestor) -control areas and extends their family control.

Source: 1. Itihash Gi Mityengda Manipur Page No.128-130 By L Birmangal

               2. Turko Afgan Gi Chad Naoda Page No.55-58 by Kheiruddin Khullakpam

Manipuri Muslim on theManipur king Maidingu Paikhomba’s Period on 1667-1697AD

                       During the king Maidingu Paikhomba’s Period on 1667-1697AD in Manipur Kingdom  there were three men belonging to Royal Families from Shylhet (Presently Bangladesh) arrived in Manipur Kingdom on 1679AD namely Lakhiyaful,Sunarful and Maas Ano. They also accompanied 37(thirty seven) peoples so called servants, personal guards were among them.The few persons were namely Jinnatul Sheik,Lei Thou,Sheik Jalali,Najra(Kaji Mohd Saani’s Son), Kakching Taba,Poinam Chand,Muhammad Shah,Akun Sheik, Isman Khan, Pratabhan,Hamun, Keinou Taba Ukhe Doulat,Haiwan Sheik, Uran Khan respectively.

The said person namely Shaik Jalali and Najra(Kaji Muhammad Saani’s Son) were given properties by Lairik Yengbam Dhananjai at Lamsang Tao Khong.

Najra(Kaji Mohd Saani’s Son) married with Yumnam Chanu Yangbiba and he was the first Muslim who built a house at Lamsang Tao Khong so the Manipur King Maidingu  Khagemba given his surname(Yumnak) as “Tao Khong Taba Mayum”.

Shaik Jalali gave birth to two sons namely Pratap and Baniya.

During the same period of Maidingu Paikhomba there were few men from Gujarat (Presently Indian State) namely Putun Khan ,Selim Khan, Minar Khan,Lukman Khan,Dulur Khan associated with thirteen people  were reached in Manipur Kingdom.When they reached there the Kaji Muhammad Saani well communicated in Urdu,Bangla and Arabic asked them about the reason behind to visit in the Kingdom.

Putun Khan and Selim Khan told them that they came to settled the heaven like place i,e Manipur kingdom.When Maidingu Paikhomba heard about this from them regarding the praised of  Manipur Kingdom he was much happy.So the King Maidingu Paikhomba was given two Manipuri Ladies to Putun Khan and Selim Khan as life partners and allowed to settled at Kuchu Thonglang Mei of South Side near to Sanglangmei.

Reference:

1.Yaad Dast Kursi Nama page No-22 by Rifayattullah

2.Turko Afgan gi Chad nao Da Page No-38-39 by Khairuddin Khullakpam