Panam Ningthou

**Panam Ningthou** () is a God in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the protector of crops, especially paddy from hailstorm and thunder. According to legends, He ignited fire for the first time by rubbing flints. He is one of the Umang Lai deities.

## History 
God Panam Ningthou has his major cult center in Andro village.

According to R. Constantine, the fire burning in Andro is the oldest man-made fire in India. It has been burning without break for centuries.

## Mythology 
When it was one or two days before the Lai Haraoba festival of God Lainingthou Panam Ningthou begins, the God came to his temple in the form of a ball of light. He came flying from the east. He landed at a part of the Nongmaiching Hill. Sometimes, some people of Andro claimed to see that ball of light, even at other times of the year.

God Lainingthou Panam Ningthou has a wife named Leimaren Sanarik Chaning Khombi. Some people believed that she might be of Burmese origin. So, the God went to Burma () to meet her from time to time. He has his major cult center in Andro village of Imphal East district of Manipur. Whenever there was any suspicion of danger to the Meitei king, the King would send a pig and a cock to be sacrificed to God Panam Ningthou of Andro.

The Chakpa Haraoba (one of the 4 types of Lai Haraoba festival) is annually celebrated in honor of God Panam Ningthou. The festival starts from the first Sunday of the *Lamta* month.

During the 9 day long festival, no outsiders of Andro are allowed to stay at the village. In modern times, notice is issued one month before the festival begins through mass media like television, newspaper and radio. The notice informs outsiders to leave the place as it is about to begin the festival. Natives of Andro may come to Andro before the festival starts. Once the festival begins, no one is allowed to either leave from or come to the village. People who have converted into another religion are not allowed to participate in the religious festival even if they are native of Andro. There are some Christian converts and Hindu converts in Andro. Besides Panam Ningthou, there are twelve other deities worshipped in Andro. During the Lai Haraoba festivals of these deities, outsiders of Andro can witness the event. The festivals in their honor are done separately from that of Panam Ningthou. But the festival of Pureiromba can be done together with that of Panam Ningthou. At this too, outsiders can witness the event but the place of worship is different from the exclusive one of Panam Ningthou.

## Temple 
The **Temple of Panam Ningthou** is in Andro, Manipur. It is also the Loishang (English: Office) to the representatives of the *pana*s (English: State Divisions). Sacred items are kept inside the temple. One house each for two *Pana*s was constructed near the Loishang. Two dormitories for boys and girls are also built.

The sanctum of God Lainingthou Panam Ningthou and Goddess Leimaren Sanarik Chaning Khombi are located in the right side corner and the left side corner respectively as one enters the room.

 that gradually merged into one God with the name "Langmai Ningthou" (lit. *King of the Langmais*).]]

## Namesake 
### Panam Ningthou Semba 
There is a real servant class named *Panam Ningthou Semba*. It takes care of the articles (things) related to polo () for the Meitei royalty. There are seven grades of officers in this group. The grades are (1) Sellungba Ahal, (2) Sellungba Naha, (3) Pakhan-lakpa, (4) Naharakpa, (5) Yaphi Ahal, (6) Yaphi Naha and (7) Sennakhal.

## Gallery 

ANDRO INSCRIBED STONE.jpg|Meitei Stone inscription inside the Panam Ningthou Sacred Site about a royal decree
A SACRED GROVE IN THE PANAM NINGTHOU SACRED SITE.jpg|A Sacred Grove in the Panam Ningthou Sacred Site
Panam Ningthou Temple.jpg|A temple (rebuilt) inside the Panam Ningthou Sacred Site 
Two official buildings in the Panam Ningthou sacred site.jpg|Two official buildings (rebuilt) in the Panam Ningthou Sacred Site
A MUSEUM IN PANAM NINGTHOU SACRED SITE.jpg|A Mini Museum in the Panam Ningthou Sacred Site

## References 
## Other websites 
* INTERNET ARCHIVE, Panam Ningthou
* E-PAO, Panam Ningthou
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