Kao (bull)

**Kao** (/káo/) is a legendary bull captured by Khuman Khamba in Meitei mythology and folklore of Ancient Moirang. It appears in the legend of *Kao Phaba* (), also known as *Khambana Kao Phaba* () of the Khamba Thoibi epic.
, the then prime minister of India, being presented a memento of a painting depicting Khuman Khamba capturing the *"Kao"* bull, by Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu, the then Governor of Manipur and Okram Ibobi Singh, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of three projects, National Academy of Sports, Convention Center and Manipur Institute of Technology, in the Kangla in Manipur on the 2nd of December, 2006]]

## Etymology 
In Meitei (Manipuri), the word "Kao" has many meanings. It may mean (1) to forget, (2) a sacrifice bull or (3) to kick. Here, it means bull. As a noun, it means a stray bull that roams freely instead of living on a ranch or farm. In verbal form, it means to offer a bull as a living sacrifice to God. People also say "Kaoren" or "Kaorel" to talk about the bull. "Kaoren" is made up of two parts, "Kao" and "-ren". "-ren" refers to excellence. So, "Kaoren" or "Kaorel" means "an extraordinary bull", "a powerful bull", "a super bull" or "a supernatural bull".

## Mythology 
### The false oracle 
Once Angom Nongban Kongyamba met fisher women from the Khuman kingdom in a place called Moirang. Both the Khuman kingdom and the Moirang kingdom were on the shores of the Loktak lake.
The women came to Moirang besides having their own fishing area. So, Kongyamba asked them the reason for coming to Moirang.   
The women said that a dangerous bull had killed many people near the water, so they could not fish:
"There is a great bull that lurks among the reeds of the shores of the lake, and it had claimed life of many. So, we dare not to fish there."  
Suddenly, an idea came to Kongyamba's mind. He went to the king. He acted as a person possessed by a divine spirit.

### Embassy to Khuman kingdom 
The king of Moirang sent an embassy to the king of Khuman. The embassy proposed to organize the great sport of capturing the wild bull. The Khuman king agreed. A grand Colosseum was built for the event. The Colosseum could hold a capacity of the audiences from both the two kingdoms.
 
On the day of the adventure, Khamba stood face to face with the bull. The bull ran towards him with its dangerous horns. Khamba bent a little to the side. The people watching asked him if he was afraid. Khamba answered that he was waiting for a good position. Then, he stood on firm ground and caught the bull. The strong bull carried him away into the thick woods.

### Theatre 
#### Kao, the sacred bull 
In 2011, *"Kao, the sacred bull"* was produced by the Laihui Ensemble. This theatrical show was based on the story of the bull Kao. According to the story, an Oracle said that the King of Moirang will soon die and his people will lead miserable life. The only solution told was to offer the powerful bull roaming in the Khuman kingdom to God Thangjing. Orphan Khuman Khamba was chosen to capture the bull. He was known for his bravery and goodness. To capture the bull with no harm to it was not easy. Khamba's motherly sister Khamnu disclosed to him the secrecy of the bull. The bull was once domesticated and treated as a family member during the good days of their parents.
#### Kao Faba 
In 2020, a Shumang Kumhei named *"Kao Faba"* was produced by Western Cultural Association in Manipur. It was sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Akedemi of New Delhi, India. The play was released in the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound, Imphal.
The play is based on the legend of capturing the bull in Ancient Moirang.

## Related pages 
* Minotaur
* Taurus
## References 
## Other websites 
* Khamba Thoibi by Loitongbam Kalachand
* Khamba Thoibi Sheireng by Anganghal Singh, Hijam
* Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur by Raina, Vimala
* Khamba Thoibi Seireng	by Hijam Anganghal
* Khamnu	by Biramangal
* Ewanglon Thadoi by Ruhinikumar, Sougaijam
* Khuman Khamba by Pramodini