# Meitei confederacy

Meitei confederacy, also known as Meitei confederation, refers to a union of seven groups or clans (Meitei: Yek Salai 7) of the Meitei ethnicity. The seven components of the Meitei confederacy are Ningthouja (also known as Mangang), Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Moirang (Moilang), Khaba-Nganba (Kha-Nganba) and Chenglei (also known as Sarang/Salang/Salai Leisangthem).
Prior to unification and formation of the "Meitei confederacy," these groups were independent kingdoms ruled by their own kings. The Mangang, also called the Ningthouja group, defeated the other groups and the Ningthouja king became the supreme ruler. Initially, the name "Meitei" referred only to the Ningthouja group, but by the 15th century, it came to refer to all the groups. Over time, the seven groups united to form one nation but remained separate entities. Today, these 7 groups still play an important role in the social structure of Meitei civilisation, especially in determining marriage patterns. The Meiteis do not marry within the same group or yek salai.

## Historical territories

| States | Romanisation | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation | Note(s) |
| ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Imphal Kangla | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation | Note(s) | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) |
| ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Luwangsangbam Kangla | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang | | | |
| ꯃꯌꯥꯡ ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ | Mayang Imphal | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman | | | |
| ꯀꯣꯡꯕ | Kongba | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom | | | |
| ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Moirang Kangla | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) | | | |
| ꯋꯥꯡꯆꯤꯡ ꯁꯪꯒꯥꯏ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Wangching Sanggai Kangla | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa | | | |
| ꯋꯥꯡꯒꯣꯏ ꯀꯪꯂꯥ | Wangoi Kangla | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Chenglei / Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) | | | |

## Number of families

| Meitei sub-groups | Romanisation | Number of families/surnames (according to N. Monihar) | Number of families/surnames (according to Khomdon Lisam) | Number of families/surnames (according to T.C. Hodson) | Number of families/surnames (according to Manipur Mirror) | Number of families/surnames (according to MASTEC) |
| ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) | 256 | 234 | 115 | 254 | 125 |
| ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang | 105 | 93 | 56 | 106 | 58 |
| ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman | 176 | 199 | 103 | 204 | 67 |
| ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom | 96 | 109 | 50 | 103 | 62 |
| ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ (ꯃꯣꯏꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) | 100 | 110 | 66 | 99 | 67 |
| ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa | 42 | 37 | 17 | 43 | 21 |
| ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) | 62 | 45 | 41 | 65 | 35 |

## Traditional ancestors

| Generic term(s) | Generic term(s) | According to Neelbir Sairem | According to Neelbir Sairem | According to Lairenlakpam Bino Devi & N. Tarunkumar Singh | According to Lairenlakpam Bino Devi & N. Tarunkumar Singh | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation | Note(s) |
| Traditional ancestors | Romanisation | Traditional ancestors | Romanisation | Traditional ancestors | Romanisation | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation | Note(s) |
| ꯃꯉꯥꯡ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯃꯉꯥꯡ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Mangang Pokpa/Mangang Apokpa | ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ | Pakhangba | ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ | Pakhangba | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) | |
| ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Luwang Pokpa/Luwang Apokpa | ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ | Poireiton | ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ | Poireiton | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang | |
| ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Khuman Pokpa/Khuman Apokpa | ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ | Poireiton | ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯟ (ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯔꯦꯟ) | Thongalen (Thongaren) | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman | |
| ꯑꯉꯣꯝ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯑꯉꯣꯝ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Angom Pokpa/Angom Apokpa | ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ | Pureiromba | ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ | Pureiromba | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom | |
| ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Moirang Pokpa/Moirang Apokpa | ꯉꯥꯡꯍꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ & ꯉꯥꯡꯅꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡ | Nganghunthok & Ngangningsing | ꯉꯥꯡꯅꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡ | Ngangningsing | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) | |
| ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Kha Nganpa Pokpa/Kha Nganpa Apokpa | ꯈꯝꯆꯤꯡꯀꯣꯟ | Khamchingkon | — | Khamdingou | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa | |
| ꯆꯦꯡꯂꯩ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ / ꯆꯦꯡꯂꯩ ꯑꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Chenglei Pokpa/Chenglei Apokpa | ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯧ ꯌꯨꯝꯊꯪꯕ | Nung-ngou Yumthangba | ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯧ ꯌꯨꯝꯊꯪꯕ | Nungngou Yumthangba | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Chenglei / Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) | |

## Swords

| Names of the swords | Romanisation | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation | Maximum breadth (cm) | Maximum length (cm) |
| ꯆꯛꯊꯥꯡ | Chak Thaang | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) | 6.2 | 59.6 |
| ꯇꯣꯟꯗꯨꯝꯕ | Tondumba | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang | 5.7 | 58.7 |
| ꯇꯣꯟꯀꯛꯄ | Tonkakpa | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman | 6.6 | 57.2 |
| ꯄꯨꯀꯛ ꯊꯥꯡ | Pukak Thaang | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom | 6.3 | 50.1 |
| ꯌꯦꯟꯕꯥ ꯃꯇꯣꯛ ꯁꯥꯕ | Yenbaa Matok Saaba/Matok Paanba | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) | 7.2 | 54.2 |
| ꯂꯥꯏꯊꯥꯡ ꯆꯤꯅꯥꯏꯕ | Laithaang Chinaaiba | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa | 5.9 | 58.6 |
| ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯡ ꯊꯥꯡ | Khunthong Thaang/Khunthok Laaithaang | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) | 5.9 | 59.1 |

## Classical elements

| Sacred water | Sacred fire | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation |
| Water of Nungseng (Nungjeng) | 7 flames of Meiyei Meithang | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) |
| Water of Lamphel | Flame of Khoiju | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang |
| Water of Pumlen | Flame of Meithang | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman |
| Water of Kongba Meironbi | Flame of Meiba Chingba Mei | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom |
| Water of Loktak | 3 flames of Meithang | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) |
| Water of Leitang/Takna Kha Puruk shoubi | Flame of Leikham Waimei | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa |
| Water of Takna/Takyel | 5 flames of Leikham Waimeithang | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) |

## Totems

| Sacred plants | Sacred fishes | Sacred leaves | Sacred fruits | Sacred flowers | Sacred woods/timbers | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation |
| Urum | Saareng Angaangba/Ngaahei | Thamlaa/Changbilaa | Thamchet/Heijang/Heibi | Thambaal Angaangba | Sayi/Uyung | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) |
| Khok U | Saareng Luwaoba/Ngaamu | Laayaai | Kihom/Heiba | Mellei | Heiku/Upal | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang |
| Pungphai | Saareng Mureinaba/Ngaatin | Changbilaa/Kwaaklaa/Khaanglaa | Heibung/Heiku/Heibong | Leisang/Kwaaklei/Leikhaam | Chaokhong/Sayi/Waa | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman |
| Tairel | Saareng Angouba/Ngaraa | Laarong/Leihoulaa | Heibong/Heiba | Tharo/Thambaal (Angouba) | Upal/Sayi | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom |
| Nauhing | Saareng Naapu | Khaanglaa | Heiyit | Yerum Lei/Laangthrei | Kuhi/Khanglaa/Tou | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) |
| Napu Nasen | Saareng Ngaangna Laangba | Leihoulaa/Laaronglaa | Heiba/Heibung | Haorei/Yerumlei/Mellei/Leisang | Ching Yensin | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa |
| Naapi Singbi | Saareng Sangbaannana Laangba/Ngaaren | Changbilaa/Thamlaa | Heijang/Heibung/Heitup | Leisang/Leikham/Sangbrei | Nongleisang | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) |

## Sacred colors

| Sacred colours | Associated Meitei clans | Romanisation |
| Red | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ (ꯃꯉꯥꯡ) | Ningthouja (Mangang) |
| Light blue/White | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang |
| Black | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman |
| White/Yellow | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom |
| Yellow/Dark Red | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯁꯂꯥꯢ (ꯃꯣꯢꯂꯥꯡ) | Moirang (Moilang) |
| Green (striped)/Sweet potato colour | ꯈꯥ ꯉꯥꯟꯄ | Kha Nganpa |
| Green/Sky colour | ꯁꯂꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ (ꯁꯂꯥꯏ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ) | Sarang Leishangthem (Salang / Salai Leishangthem) |

## Related pages

* Mangang Luwang Khuman
* Apokpa
* Apokpa Marup
* Sanamahism