Een Chingba (Khamba Thoibi)

Een Chingba (), also known as In Chingba or En Chingba (), is an event from the Khamba Thoibi classical epic in Moirang Kangleirol genre of Meitei mythology and folklore. The event centers on a fishing activity at Loktak Lake that was reserved exclusively for women and marks a notable meeting and bonding between Khuman Khamba and Princess Thoibi.

 Fishing at Loktak lake 

Princess Thoibi planned a fishing excursion at Loktak Lake and asked Khamnu to accompany her. When King Chingkhu Telheiba learned that the princess and her companions would be on the lake, he ordered that no man was allowed to go there.

Khamnu informed her brother Khamba of the royal order and left him at home the next day.

 Khamba’s dream and arrival at the lake 

While Khamba was sleeping, he had a dream in which Goddess Ayangleima, either Panthoibi or Koiren Leima, appeared to him in the form of Khamnu and asked him to go to the lake. After waking, Khamba wondered about the dream. God Thangjing caused him to believe that he had truly seen his sister.

Khamba then rowed a boat onto the lake but went in the wrong direction. God Thangjing covered the hills with clouds, and a sudden storm arose. The storm pushed Khamba’s boat toward the place where Princess Thoibi was fishing.

 Meeting of Khamba and Thoibi 

Princess Thoibi saw Khamba standing near her and asked Khamnu if she knew the strange man who had disobeyed the royal order. Khamnu denied knowing him. Hearing his sister’s voice, Khamba moved closer.

Thoibi noticed Khamba’s handsome appearance, strength, and fine form. Khamba was equally amazed by Thoibi’s beauty and charm. It was considered the will of the gods that they should become lovers. Khamnu feared that her brother would be punished for breaking the royal command.

 Discovery of Khamba’s identity 

Thoibi noticed that a piece of cloth worn by Khamba matched Khamnu’s cloth. She also saw that Khamba was wearing a bracelet she had previously given to Khamnu. Later, Khamnu revealed the truth about Khamba’s identity.

After learning the truth, Thoibi treated Khamba kindly. She offered him fine food. Before Khamnu returned, Thoibi gave Khamba gifts.

 Oath of love 

Khamba and Thoibi bound themselves by an oath before God Khuman Pokpa, the ancestral deity (apokpa) of the Khuman clan. They drank water in which a golden bracelet had been dipped and vowed to remain lovers forever. After the oath, Thoibi addressed Khamnu as her sister.

 Visit to Khamba’s house 

In another meeting, Princess Thoibi asked Khamnu to show her their house. They arrived at an old and damaged dwelling. Thoibi sat on a red cloth near the northern pillar. Because the house had many holes, Khamba hid himself inside a mat.

When Thoibi asked about the mat, Khamnu said it was the place of worship for God Khuman Pokpa. Thoibi asked permission to pray to the deity and expressed a wish to worship there daily. Though she knew the truth, she pretended ignorance.

As Thoibi prayed aloud, Khamba heard her voice and laughed. Thoibi then said that the god was speaking.

 Related pages 
 Fishing in Meitei culture

 References 

Category:Meitei mythology
Category:Meitei folklore
Category:History of Manipur
Category:Fishing