Chang Thokpa
The concept of Chang Thokpa (ꯆꯪ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ) is a central religious and philosophical tradition of the Meitei people of ancient Kangleipak (present-day Manipur). This tradition is deeply rooted in Meitei culture and has been practiced in rituals and ceremonies of the Meitei indigenous religion (Sanamahism) since ancient times. Common expressions such as "Laphoi Laphang Chang Thokpa", "Heiram Taret, Leiram Taret", and "Ngaram Taret, Sharam Taret" reflect this enduring custom.[1][2][3][4][5]
These practices reflect the deep spiritual and philosophical heritage of the Meitei civilization that once shone with advanced thinking and symbolic systems long before colonial or external religious influences.[4][5]
Etymology
The term Chang Thokpa comes from the philosophical Meetei language called Wang-u-lon.[4][5]
- Chang (ꯆꯪ) means “everything that exists” — it represents creation, existence, and vitality without the idea of death.[4][5]
Together, Chang Thokpa symbolizes the eternal source of life and creation, believed to be the Ultimate Reality in Meetei belief.[4][5]
Concept of Ama (One God)
The Meetei people worship a supreme, formless, and deathless creator known as Ama (ꯑꯃꯥ), meaning "One". This idea comes from the ancient Meetei scripture called the Puya, especially the text Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Ama-Ilon.[4][5]
According to the scripture:
- Ama is described as Kampi — a concept meaning Fire, Light, and Heat, which are considered the first conditions of life.[4][5]
In Meetei philosophy:
- Because Ama is Fire, Light, and Heat, the Meetei people have always included fire or light in their worship rituals since ancient times.[4][5]
One and seven in Meetei beliefs
The numbers 1 (One) and 7 (Seven) are sacred in Meetei culture:
- One (Ama)
- Seven (Taret)
This is why the Meetei people offer items in sets of seven in rituals — to represent the connection with the divine.[6][4][5]
Ritual practices
Examples of Chang Thokpa in daily and ceremonial life include:[1][2][3]
- Marriage ceremony (ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ): The bride circles the groom seven times before placing the garland.[4][5]
- Even the making of traditional swords (Khutlai Thangsang) involves using seven materials from seven Saturdays (Thangcha).[4][5]
Use of odd numbers
If the numbers 1 or 7 are not available, the Meetei tradition allows the use of other odd numbers like 9, 11, or 13 — still under the concept of Chang Thokpa. However, even numbers, such as 14, are considered inauthentic and seen by some as a distortion introduced during the Hindu influence in the 18th century.[4][5]
Modern relevance
In the 21st century, Chang Thokpa traditions are still visible in:
- House construction (Yumchao),
- Shrines (Sangkoi),
- Grave mounds (Mompaktuba), and
See also
- Meitei confederacy
- Yek Salai
- Nongkhong Koiba
- Helloi
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Basanta, Ningombam. Modernisation, Challenge and Response: A Study of the Chakpa Community of Manipur. India: Akansha Publishing House, 2008.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Anthropologist: International Journal of Contemporary and Applied Studies of Man. India: Kamla-Raj Enterprises, 2003.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hamilton, Roy W.. The Art of Rice: Spirit and Sustenance in Asia. United States: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 2003.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 "Chang Thokpa Tradition". https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.History_of_Manipur.Discovery_of_Kangleipak.Chang_Thokpa_Tradition.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 KanglaOnline (2011-07-12). "Chang Thokpa Tradition of Meetei Race – KanglaOnline" (in en-US). https://kanglaonline.in/2011/07/discovery-of-kangleipak-26/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "The best number of the Meetei race of Kangleipak is 7 Seven". https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.History_of_Manipur.Discovery_of_Kangleipak.The_best_number_of_the_Meetei_race_of_Kangleipak_is_7_Seven.
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