Meitei traditional weapons

The Meitei people from Manipur use different traditional weapons for hunting, defense, and fighting. They use swords for close combat. Spears are thrown or used in battle. Shields protect warriors during fights. Arrows are shot from bows for hunting and battle. Darts are small weapons in wars. These weapons are made from materials like wood, bamboo, and animal body parts, showing the Meitei people's skill and connection to nature. Many of these weapons are used in various classical  Meitei martial art forms, such as Thang Ta, Cheibi, etc.

## Mythology 
, which is why the weapons are considered holy and sacred.]]
The lore of an old Meitei text named Pudin tells how the Thang (sword) and Ta (spear) were created from the body parts and bones of Tin Sidaba (also known as Pakhangba). According to the story, different parts of his body turned into weapons. The long blades of the sword, called Thangsang Kabak Thang, came from his body. The Tarung-Thang, an ancient sword, came from his right shoulder. His ribs turned into another sword called Thang Kairempa Khutphangton. His hands and fingers became smaller blades called Singtup Sangai, and a bone called Naklu Maiphangton Apik became a kitchen knife called Heijrang. His teeth turned into an iron axe.

During a dance called Thengou (a dance with martial arts moves), Pakhangba held a sword called Tubi Cheirong-Hainaba Thang-Kaklen Yashaba, which made the sword a symbol of Pakhangba for the Meitei people.

In another story, from the Thanglon Thangchat Puya, Tin Sidaba’s teeth became an axe called Chakhapa. Tin Sidaba’s grandson, Ngaite ngamba, was caught and died in a fish trap called Sara Lu. Various parts of his body turned into different weapons. For example, Chakot became a Thangchou, a common dao (knife). His limbs, called Yupang, created the Ta, also known as Khangsu-Ta (spear).

## Arambai 
The Arambai was a key weapon used by the Meitei cavalry in battles. It is a dart with a sharp iron tip, like an arrowhead, and peacock feathers tied together to form a hole for a bamboo handle. There are two types: one made of wood and cane, and the other made of bamboo.
The Arambai is about 2 feet long with the handle and 1.5 feet without it. It can be thrown in any direction, allowing the user to attack or retreat. It can travel 30 to 40 feet when thrown backward while retreating, and it can fly far when thrown forward. The dart’s feathers are made from 9 to 12 peacock quills, and warriors carried around 50 in quivers on their ponies.
The sharp tip is often poisoned with snake venom, bee venom, or chili extract. The poison made the weapon even more deadly. The Arambai can be thrown up to 70 to 80 yards, and a throwing stick was sometimes used to increase the distance. It could be thrown one by one or in groups, depending on the situation. The Arambai was an important weapon for both defense and attack.
## Arrows 
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In ancient Meitei language, the bow and arrow is called Waira. The use of arrows goes back a long time, as seen in old Puya manuscripts. One story, called Numit Kappa (shooting of the sun), tells how Khwai Nongchengba made a bow and arrow and used it to shoot down the elder sun, Taohuireng Ahanba. Later, Chaoba Meleiba Sangton Sanouba killed Khwai Nungjengba with an arrow at Kangla.]]
Kings, nobles, courtiers, and high-ranking military commanders used two types of swords: Langthang (war sword) and Leiteng Thang (decorative sword). Langthang was used in battle and was heavier, longer, and thicker than the Leiteng Thang, which was used in martial shows and competitions. The Langthang had a sharp edge on the blade and at the tip of the slightly curved back.

Old books like Ningthourolgi Thang, Ningthourol Lambuba, and others mention that kings had their swords specially made and gave them unique names. Some of the kings' swords and their names are:
# King Urakonthouba had two swords named Soisen and Leirukhomba.
# King Naothingkhong’s sword was called Ipuphaba.
# King Charairongba had two swords named Khumomba and Pukanba.
# King Kiyamba’s sword was named Lairenbang.
# King Khagemba had four swords: Khunkhomba, Khoubomba, Loknung Lakaba, and Nongthang Yeklaba.
# King Garibaniwaj’s sword was called Yakhu Yekteiba.
# King Chingthangkhomb had a sword named Changlei Meiraba.
# King Gambhir Singh had two swords named Khellei Meiraba and Yelei Meiraba.
# King Chadrakirti’s sword was called Chenglei Meiraba.
These names show how important swords were to the kings and their special value.

### Swords of seven clans 
## Weapons of deities 
## Weapons used in Thang Ta 
## Related pages 
* Lai Haraoba
## References