Loiyumpa Silyel

The Loiyumpa Silyel (Modern Meitei: "Loiyumba Sinyen"), also termed as the Loyumpa Silyel (Modern Meitei: "Loyumba Sinyen") or the Loiyumpa Shilyel (Modern Meitei: "Loiyumba Shinyen") or the Loyumpa Shilyel (Modern Meitei: "Loyumba Shinyen") or the Loyamba Sinyen (), is an 11th-12th century written constitution, regulated in the Manipur kingdom during the regime of King Loiyumba (1074-1122 CE). A promulgation of the proto-constitution in 429 CE by King Naophangba was reduced to a final format in 1110 CE. Historically, it is the first written constitution, and one of the well recorded antique manuscripts of the kingdom. Its Constitutionalism was replaced by the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947, that was functional until Manipur was merged into India on October 15, 1949.

It includes the accounts of the distribution of the duties to the subjects of the king. Its rules and regulations remains to be an authoritative work in the Meitei social system till the present day Manipur.

 Religious duties 
The following is the list of Meitei families who were given the duties of serving particular pantheons of gods and goddesses of the ancient Meitei religion.
Selected FamiliesLatin-Roman transliterationDeities to be servedLatin-Roman transliterationꯍꯩꯔꯣꯝHeiromꯃꯩꯔꯩꯃMeireimaꯏꯔꯣꯝIromꯈꯝꯂꯥꯡꯕKhamlangbaꯁꯣꯔꯦꯜꯁꯪꯕꯝSorelsangbam ꯁꯣꯔꯥꯔꯦꯟSorarenꯁꯔꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝSharang LeishangthemꯂꯟꯃꯥꯕꯤLanmabeeꯁꯔꯣꯠꯈꯥꯏꯕꯝSharotkhaibamꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤPhouoibiꯄꯣꯠꯁꯪꯕꯝPotshangbamꯁꯪꯂꯥꯡꯃꯩ (ꯀꯪꯂꯥ) Shanglangmei (Kangla) ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯄꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯝꯕꯝMoirang Pukhrambamꯀꯨꯠꯆꯨ (ꯋꯥꯌꯦꯟꯁꯪ) Kutchu (Wayenshang) ꯁꯧꯕꯝShoubamꯃꯋꯥꯎ ꯂꯩꯃMawao Leimaꯍꯩꯁ꯭ꯅꯥꯝHeishnamꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤPanthoibiꯈꯣꯏꯁꯅꯥꯝKhoisanamꯄꯦꯇꯪꯉꯥPetangngaꯇꯥꯏꯕꯪꯖꯝTaibangjamꯂꯥꯏꯈꯨꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤLaikhurembiꯀꯣꯟꯊꯧꯖꯝKonthoujamꯍꯨꯏꯃꯨꯔꯩꯃHuimureimaꯑꯁꯥꯡꯕꯝAshangbamꯂꯥꯏꯅꯥꯎꯇꯥꯕꯤLainaotabiꯆꯤꯡꯈꯥꯝChingkhamꯅꯨꯡꯊꯦꯜꯂꯩꯃNugthelleimaꯑꯔꯥꯝꯕꯝArambamꯁꯧꯕꯣꯟ ꯂꯩꯃShoubon Leimaꯌꯦꯟꯈꯣꯝ ꯐꯤꯁꯥꯕꯝYenkhom Phisabamꯑꯋꯥꯡꯕ (ꯂꯥꯏ ꯑꯋꯥꯡꯕ) AwangbaꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡꯁꯪꯕꯝLuwangshangbamꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ ꯆꯤꯡLuwang Ching (idolized) ꯁꯤꯅꯥꯝ ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯪꯕꯝSinam Laishangbam*ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧLainingthouꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ ꯄꯨꯊꯦꯝMoirangthem Puthem*ꯄꯨꯊꯤꯕPuthiba (idolized) ꯃꯪꯁꯥꯇꯥꯕꯝMangsatabamꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕPureirombaꯂꯪꯃꯥꯏꯊꯦꯝLangmaithemꯇꯦꯟꯂꯣꯡꯕTenlongbaꯉꯔꯥꯡꯌꯥꯟꯄꯝNgarangyanpamꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯛThongakꯅꯥꯀꯜꯕꯝNakalbamꯆꯤꯡꯀꯣꯜ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧChingkol NingthouꯈꯨꯔꯥꯏꯖꯝKhuraijamꯆꯤꯡꯕꯥꯜ ꯂꯩꯃChingbal LeimaꯃꯩꯌꯦꯡꯕꯝMeiyengbamꯌꯥꯎꯔꯩꯕꯤYaoreibiꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝLeishangthem*ꯀꯧꯕꯔꯦꯜKoubarelꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯝNingthoujam*ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯂꯩꯃNumit LeimaꯄꯨꯛꯀꯂꯕꯝPukkalabamꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨKoubruꯆꯦꯡꯂꯩ ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯥꯡꯕꯝ Chenglei Laishangbam*ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡMarjingꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝMoirangthem*ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯐꯛꯇꯣꯝ ꯑꯔꯤꯕMoirang Phaktom AribaꯀꯥꯡꯄꯨꯆꯝKangpuchamꯍꯣꯡꯅꯦꯝꯌꯣꯏ ꯈꯨꯟꯖꯥꯎHongnemyoi KhunjaoꯆꯤꯡꯈꯥꯜꯕꯝChingkhalbamꯆꯤꯡꯉꯥChingaꯂꯣꯡꯖꯝ ꯐꯩꯔꯣꯏꯖꯝLongjam PheiroijamꯂꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡLangjingꯇꯦꯛꯆꯝTekchamꯂꯥꯡꯉꯣꯜLanggolꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯊꯦꯝNongmaithemꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ (ꯂꯪꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ) Nongmaiching (Langmaiching) ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯝNingthoujam*ꯆꯤꯡꯉꯥ ꯂꯩꯃChinga Leimaꯍꯩꯊꯧ ꯈꯣꯡꯇꯦꯛꯆꯝHeithou Khongtekchamꯂꯥꯡꯆꯤꯡ ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡꯊꯧ ꯂꯩꯃLangching Hiyangthou LeimaꯊꯥꯎꯄꯤꯆꯝThaopichamꯌꯨꯝꯖꯥꯎ ꯂꯩꯃYumjao Leima

According to the Loiyumpa Silyel Constitution,

1. Heirom family worships Meireima.Manipur: Treaties & Documents. India: Mittal Publications, 1993. p. 7–11

2. Irom family worships Khanglangba.

3. Sorelsangbam family worships Shorarel (heaven).

4. Sharang Leishangthem family worships Lammabee.

5. Sharotkhaibam family worships Phouoibi (goddess for paddy).

6. Potshangbam family worships Shanglang-mei (Kangla).

7. Moirang Pukhrambam family worships Kutchu (Wayenshang).

8. Shoubam family worships Mawao Leima.

9. Heishnam family worships Panthoibi (most adored Meetei goddess).

10. Khoisanam family worships Pet-angnga.

11. Taibangjam family worships Laikhurembee.

12. Konthoujam family worships Huimureima.

13. Ashangbam family worships Lainaotabi.

14. Chingkhwam family worships Nungthelleima.

15. Arambam family worships Shoubonleima.

16. Yenkhom Phisabam family worships Awangba (deity Lai-wangba).

17. Luwangshangbam family worships Luwaang Ching.

18. Sinam Laishangbam family worships Lainingthou.

19. Moirangthem Puthem family worships Puthiba.

20. Mangsatabam family worships Pureiromba.

21. Langmaithem family worships Tenlongba.

22. Ngarangyanpam family worships Thongak.

23. Nakalbam family worships Chingkol-Ningthou.

24. Khuraijam family worships Chingbal Leima.

25. Meiyengbam family worships Yaoreibi.

26. Leishangthem family worships Koubarel.

27. Ningthoujam family worships Numitleima.

28. Pukkalabam family worships Koubru.

29. Chenglei-Laishangbam family worships Marjing.

30. Moirangthem family worships Moirang Phaktom Ariba.

31. Kangpucham family worships Hongnemyoi Khunjao.

32. Chingkhalbam family worships Chinga.

33. Longjam Pheiroijam family worships Langjing.

34. Tekcham family worships Langgol.

35. Nongmaithem family worships Langmaicheeng (Nongmaijing).

36. Ningthoujam family worships Chinga Leima.

37. Heithou and Khongtekcham families worship Langching Hiyangthou Leima.

38. Thaopicham family worships Yumjao Lairemma.
 Family wise obligation of Maiba priesthood 

According to the Loiyumpa Silyel Constitution,Manipur: Treaties & Documents. India: Mittal Publications, 1993. p. 7–11

1. Asheibam family is responsible for attending to the cleansing of the monarch.

2. Aram-bam family is responsible for taking care of the bathe.

3. Toibicham family is responsible for playing the Tharaochi (Meetei musical instrument).

4. Arupam (Arubam) family is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and purity.

5. Aheibam family is responsible for making the Pukhamnati (plate with decorated rim).

6. Loukham family is responsible for drawing the Meiba (Meetei device to produce fire).

7. Maibathiyam family is responsible for throwing the Shingkhai (Meetei prognostication-device) and entering the trance of dream.

8. Meihoubam family is responsible for igniting the fire.

9. Meiphuwam family is responsible for blowing in the fire.

10. Tokpam family is responsible for digging in the soil.

11. Tokpuram (Tokpram) and Thangsabam families are responsible for piling up the earth.

12. Naoroibam family is responsible for taking the baby in custody.

13. Ngathem family is responsible for calling the Ngami (beckoning the fishes).

14. Shingkhangpam family is responsible for fetching the dry wood fuels.

15. Haomukpam family is responsible for making the phak (mattress for sitting).

16. Khoirisungbam family is responsible for weaving the Khoiriphi (Meetei cloth).

17. Khoiriyanpam family is responsible for severing the umbilical cord.

18. Lairencham family is responsible for washing the black clothes.

19. Thoupicham family is responsible for managing the plantain leaves.

20. Leishaonbam family is responsible for making the boats.

21. Yelwam family is responsible for taking in the hen.

22. Nganukappam family is responsible for looking after the Nganu (duck).

23. Khugolthem family is responsible for carrying back the hameng (goats).

24. Okrambam family is responsible for taking back the Ok (pig).

25. Waleppam (Wareppam) family is responsible for adoring the bamboo.

26. Maibam family is responsible for invoking the Chupshaba (priest’s invocation for cessation of recurrent deaths).

27. Ngangom family is responsible for throwing the Konyai (gold and silver device used by the priest).

28. Yenkokpam family is responsible for descending the yerum (egg) to the earth (forecast device).

29. Khumukcham family is responsible for taming the tiger.

30. Khaidem family is responsible for supervising the body under cremation.

31. Amakcham family is responsible for taking hold of the bow and arrow.

32. Mangshatabam family is responsible for supervising the grave.

33. Wanglenbam family is responsible for beating the drum.

34. Kabrambam family is responsible for managing the Leishoupung (mount of aerated soil).

35. Kontenakathang priest family is responsible for preparing the Chup for the deity.

36. Shoukrakpam family is responsible for making the chaphuwalong (pot).

37. Ngaseppam family is responsible for slicing the fishes.

38. Thingnongchaorong priest family is responsible for worshipping the Lainingthouhanba.

 Duties of the Tampak Maiba groups (people's priests) 

1. Khabalangthangchakaba Wamaiba group is responsible for idolizing the Naohal Ahalba (sylvan deity).

2. Jagoiwa priest group is responsible for deifying the Koubarel.

3. Langmei priest (Luwang Maiba) group is responsible for worshipping the Chakhaba.

4. Thongnangkaipiya priest group is responsible for deifying the Muwaningthou.

5. Khayoipariyang priest group is responsible for worshipping the Marjing.

6. Loiyamsanggai priest group is responsible for glorifying the Koubru.

7. Asheibam group is responsible for chanting sanalamok (hymn for deities).

8. Ashem Ngakhakhoi group is responsible for chanting the Yakei Eshei (Yakairol).

9. Paobam group is responsible for listening to the message of god at Paodahidel.

10. Laishram group is responsible for paying service to the Santhong.

11. Lantham group is responsible for singing the Lalpha song (song regarding victory in war).

12. Khraijam group is responsible for looking after the Khraithong (gate).

13. Akhongbam group is responsible for beating the Khong (musical instrument used in Chakpa sylvan festival).

14. Mutum group is responsible for idolizing the Lalhampung (Lalambung).

15. Thingnam group is responsible for deifying the Ukrong.

16. Shingkham group is responsible for singing the Langmairol.

17. Thongam group is responsible for singing the Ahonglon (song for the god Sanamahi).

18. Shoraisham group is responsible for singing the Khoichulamok lamkok (song in the sylvan festival).

19. Chandam group is responsible for singing the Khongchinglon (for the festival of Moirang Thangjing).

20. Thiyam group is responsible for adoring the boat.

21. Apucham group is responsible for paying homage to Pukshri (a paddy-eating worm in the field).

22. Nongpokpam group is responsible for invoking the rain god.

23. Waikhom group is responsible for gathering the husk.

24. Akoijam group is responsible for singing the hymn of Mikol (a song that harmonizes the soul and spirit).

25. Salam group is responsible for idolizing the Langmaiching (Nongmaijing mountain) and acting the role of Tangkhul Sharam Pakhangba (Nongpokningthou-king of the east).

26. Hidam group is responsible for making the Sanaliphak (royal mattress).

27. Khamnam group is responsible for offering the Khamnungcheiyom (offering at the royal grave).

28. Amaipi group is responsible for offering the Leiraiyu (offering to the local deity).

29. Nongton Amaibi group is responsible for dipping in the Laija Phuhing (offering of Khayomlapkpa by use of unburnt earthen pot).

30. Phura Amaibi group is responsible for entering the trance of Phura Laiyum and listening to the Mang (Meetei way of receiving oracle through the Maibis, white robed).

 Gallery 

 Related pages 
 Cyrus the Great
 Hammurabi
 Magna Carta

 References 

 Other websites 

 Loiyumpa Silyel at English Wiktionary

Category:Meitei culture
Category:History of Manipur
Category:Constitutions