Hiyang Athouba

**Hiyang Athouba ()**, also written as **Heeyang Athouba, Hiyangthau** or **Hiyangthou ()**, is a figure in Meitei folktales of ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). It is described as a dead human body that changes into a demon, monster, or vampire. Many stories in Meitei tradition tell of corpses that transform into Hiyang Athouba. It is considered as one of the Lai Phattaba beings or the evil spirits in traditional Meitei beliefs.

## Background

In Meitei folklore, a Hiyang Athouba is created when a corpse transforms into a harmful being. Some tales describe this happening when certain animals, usually a black cat, come in contact with an unattended dead body. The transformed being often appears in the form of the person who died.

## Poor couple

In one version of a Hiyang Athouba story, a long time ago, a poor husband and wife lived together. They worked very hard every day to find enough food. One day, the wife became pregnant. The husband asked her to rest, and he worked even harder to feed them both. The husband borrowed money from a rich neighbour. This money was enough for the wife to buy food for four or five months. After that, the husband left for a foreign land to earn more money. Many months passed, but he did not return.

## Illness and death of the wife

As time went by, the wife became worried. The money was nearly gone, and she could not go out to work. She became ill and soon was unable to leave her bed. The neighbours visited her and tried to take care of her. But they had their own responsibilities, and they were angry that the husband had left her alone for so long. Slowly, they stopped visiting. The woman grew more ill and finally died. No one knew she had died. Her body stayed in the house, untouched. One day, a cat jumped over the corpse. After this, the woman changed into a Hiyangthau.

## Husband’s return

Some days later, the husband returned at night, carrying a large amount of silver. “Dear wife, please open the door. I am back,” he called. “It is open. Just come in,” answered the Hiyangthau, speaking in the voice of his wife. The husband entered and saw the woman in torn clothes. Her hair was rough and uncombed. She walked around the room in an uneasy, agitated way. He showed her the clothes he brought for her, but she showed no interest. Then he noticed her broken body and felt afraid. She stared at him with big round eyes and showed her enormous teeth. Terrified, he moved toward the door.

## Escape on the liana

“People, people, please open your door latch for me!” he shouted as he ran from the house. But it was late at night, and everyone was asleep. No one answered him. He ran and climbed up a liana (a hanging vine). The Hiyangthau followed him but could not touch the liana. She threw stones at him but could not reach him. Finally she sat down and waited for him to come down. When morning approached and birds began to chirp, the Hiyangthau returned to the house. She changed back into a dead body.

## Discovery of the corpse

The husband came down from the liana and told his neighbours everything. They said, “But your wife was sick. Let us go and see her.” The neighbours went to the house and found the woman’s body. One man, who knew about spirits and ghosts, explained that she had turned into a Hiyangthau. He said, “She must be cremated at once with all the necessary ceremonies. If not, she will become alive again at night and trouble the whole village.”

## Cremation and aftermath

The neighbours prepared the funeral. The husband performed all the required ceremonies. He regretted deeply that she died because he left her alone. He later demolished the house and sold the land. Taking all the silver he had earned, he went on a pilgrimage and never returned to the village.

## Related pages

- Yenakha Paodabi
- Lai Khutsangbi
- Lai Khadang Pandabi
- Keibu Keioiba
- Kei Onba water
- Helloi
- Hingchabi

## Infobox (folk tale)

- **folk tale name**: Hiyang Athouba
()
- **aarne-thompson grouping**: no
- **aka**: _Heeyang Athouba, Hiyangthau_ or _Hiyangthou ()_
- **mythology**: Meitei mythology and Meitei folklore, folklore
- **region**: ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur)
- **origin date**: antiquity
- **published in**: Meitei literature
- **related**: Lai Khutshangbi, Yenakha Paotabi, Hingchabis, Helloi Taret, etc.