Nongmaiching Hill

According to many scholars including Thomas Callan Hodson of the Cambridge University, the Meitei language term "Nongmaiching" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ}}}}) is derived from the terms, "nong" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯣꯡ}}}}), "mai" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯥꯏ}}}}) and "ching" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯤꯡ}}}}). Nong means sun or rain, mai means face or "in front of", and ching means hill or mountain. So, "Nongmaiching" means "the hill that fronts the rain or sun".{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rV5uAAAAMAAJ&q=nongmaiching+ching |title=Manipur: Law, customs, hill-men, language and religion |date=2003 |publisher=Akansha Publishing House |isbn=978-81-87606-31-4 |location=India |page=682 |quote=Nongmaiching , which seems to be derived from Nong = sun or rain , mai = face or in front of , and ching = hill , and to mean the hill that fronts the rain or sun .}}{{Cite book |last=Hodson |first=Thomas Callan |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.4056/page/n137/mode/1up?q=Nongmaiching+Ching |title=The Meitheis |date=1908 |publisher=D. Nutt |isbn=978-81-7536-149-2 |location=London |page=111 |quote=Nongmaiching , which seems to be derived from Nong = sun or rain , mai = face or in front of , and ching = hill , and to mean the hill that fronts the rain or sun .}}{{Cite book |last=Ahluwalia |first=B. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R7siAAAAMAAJ&q=nongmaiching+ching |title=Social Change in Manipur |date=1984 |publisher=Cultural Publishing House |page=152 |quote=Nongmaiching , which seems to be derived from Nong = sun or rain , mai = face or in front of , and ching hill , and to mean the bill that fronts the rain ar sun .}}

According to Tarak Chandra Das of the Calcutta University, the term "Nongmaiching" is translated as "the hill which rises to the east of Imphal and which is the scene of a rain-compelling ceremony."{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Tarakchandra |title=The Purums: An Old Kuki Tribe of Manipur |date=1945 |publisher=University of Calcutta |location=India |page=109 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.77636/page/n144/mode/1up |via=archive.org |quote=Nongmaiching, "the hill which rises to the east of Imphal and which is ..... the scene of a rain-compelling ceremony."}}

The terms "Nongmaiching" and "Nongmaijing" are interchangeably used.

The term "Nongmaijing" may also mean Sunday in Meitei language (officially called Manipuri).{{Cite book |last=Primrose |first=A. J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahkdugaujQ8C&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA23 |title=A Manipuri Grammar, Vocabulary and Phrase Book |date=1995 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-1025-5 |page=23 |language=en, mni}}

According to the "Guide to the gods" by Marjorie Leach, the term "Nongmaiching" is defined as "A hill god of the Meitheis, Manipur, Assam, India. (Hodson, 1908: 111)".{{Cite book |last=Leach |first=Marjorie |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetogods0000leac_k3w1/page/362/mode/2up?q=Nongmaiching |title=Guide to the gods |date=1992 |publisher=Gale Research |isbn=978-1-873477-85-4 |page=362}}

The Nongmaiching lies to the eastern side of Imphal city.

{{Cite book |last1=Prakash |first1=Col Ved |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India Volume 4 |year=2007 |isbn=9788126907069 |page=1599 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxkC9S2jYCkC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA1599 }}

It separates Thoubal River valley from that of the Iril River and the Imphal River. The Nongmaiching is close to the Nongpok Sanjenbam, Imphal East.

{{Cite book |last1=Bino Devi |first1=Lairenlakpam |title=The Lois of Manipur Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai |year=2002 |isbn=9788170998495 |page=6 |publisher=Mittal Publications |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIBymmBWqgsC&dq=Nongmaiching+%2F+Nongmaijing&pg=PA6}}

{{Cite book |title=Louise Lightfoot in Search of India An Australian Dancer's Experience |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=9781443892582 |date=2017 |page=149 |quote=Nongmaijing Hill is one of the highest hills which separates the Thoubal Valley from that of the Iril and the Imphal. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WfXDgAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA149}}

{{Further|Nongpok Ningthou#History|Nongmaiching Reserved Forest#History}}

In the history of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur), the three out of the seven clans of Meitei ethnicity, namely the Mangang, the Luwang and the Angom are historically associated with the Nongmaiching.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=nongmaiching+ching&pg=PA405 |title=Manipur, Past and Present The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization · Volume 4 |year=1988 |isbn=9788170998532 |location=India |page=405 |last1=Sanajaoba |first1=Naorem }}

Meitei King Konthouba defeated many tribal chiefs and controlled their villages of Shelloi (Selloi) and Longmai (Langmai), near the present day Nongmaiching.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FsUJ0E3BXkMC&dq=nongmaiching+ching&pg=PA97 |title=Bleeding Manipur |year=2003 |isbn=9788124109021 |page=97 |last1=Tarapot |first1=Phanjoubam |publisher=Har-Anand Publications }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgHgCwAAQBAJ&dq=nongpok+ningthou&pg=PA80 |title=Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness |last=Birajit |first=Soibam |date=2014-12-01 |publisher=ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur) |page=80}}

{{Further|Nongpok Ningthou#Mythology}}

File:Sanamahi Temple Imphal.jpg, built in Meitei architecture, in the top of the Nongmaiching in Imphal East]]

The Nongmaiching is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people.{{Cite book |title=Organizations and Officials Concerned with Wildlife Protection, 1945 |collaboration=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1945 |page=35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUG4AAAAIAAJ&dq=nongmaiching+ching&pg=PA35 }}

In Meitei religion (Sanamahism), the Nongmaiching is deeply associated with God Lainingthou Sanamahi and God Pakhangba. According to one legend, King Kangba kept an idol of God Sanamahi at a cave in the Nongmaiching.

{{Cite book |last1=Tensuba |first1=Keerti Chand |title=Genesis of Indian Tribes An Approach to the History of Meiteis and Thais |publisher=Inter-India Publications |year=1993 |isbn=9788121003087 |page=44 |quote=When King Kaangba grew old he took and kept the idol of Lai-Ningthou Sannamahi which was also popularly known as Saree, in a cave of Nongmai-Ching hills and himself entered into Paakhangba Iren for the rest of his life. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&q=nongmaiching+ching}}

The Nongmaiching is historically, mythologically and religiously associated with God Langmai Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi.{{Cite book |last=Premi Devi |first=Nunglekpam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kqJVDwAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PT29 |title=A Glimpse of Manipuri Literary Works |date=2018 |publisher= |page=29 }}

This is mentioned in the Panthoibi Khongul, an ancient Meitei text.

{{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Sujit |title=A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 |date=1998 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-1453-9 |page=280 |author-link=Sujit Mukherjee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA280}}

The Nongmaiching is the place where the Lai Haraoba was celebrated by the divine beings, after which it was imitated by the humans.{{Cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Niraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IhEHEAAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA322 |title=Himalayan Bridge |last2=Driem |first2=George van |last3=Stobdan |first3=Phunchok |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-21549-6 |page=322 }}

"Kanglei Haraoba" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯪꯂꯩ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ}}}}), one of the major types of the Lai Haraoba ceremonial ritualistic festival, is associated with the Nongmaiching.{{Cite book |last1=Meitei |first1=Sanjenbam Yaiphaba |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhUHEAAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA99 |title=The Cultural Heritage of Manipur |last2=Chaudhuri |first2=Sarit K. |last3=Arunkumar |first3=M. C. |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-29629-7 |page=99 |quote=The developed form of Lai Haraoba from Koubru Hill and Non- gmaijing Hillis the characteristic of Kanglei Haraoba and it is per- formed at Imphal and its surrounding areas.}}

As a part of the Lai Haraoba, the Kangleithokpa ritual was performed at the Nongmaiching. It represents the marriage of God Khoriphaba.{{Cite book |last1=Meitei |first1=Sanjenbam Yaiphaba |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhUHEAAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA98 |title=The Cultural Heritage of Manipur |last2=Chaudhuri |first2=Sarit K. |last3=Arunkumar |first3=M. C. |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-29629-7 |page=98 |quote=Later on at Nongmaijing Hill Kangleithokpa and other rituals were included and they represented marriage of the Lainingthou Khoriphaba.}}

The Nongmaiching is the place where the final prayers for the worship ceremony associated with the three ancient Meitei deities, namely Pakhangba, Nongshaba and Yumjao Lairembi, are done.{{Cite book |last1=Muthukumaraswamy |first1=M. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xsrgg1Mel8UC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA71 |title=Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society |last2=Kaushal |first2=Molly |date=2004 |publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts NFSC www.indianfolklore.org |isbn=978-81-901481-4-6 |page=71 }}

The Loiyumba Shinyen Constitution mentions that the "Salam" family of Meitei ethnicity used to idolise the Langmai Ching (Nongmaiching mountain) and to act the role of God Nongpok Ningthou.{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA6 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |page=6 }}

The same text mentions that the "Nongmaithem" clan of Meitei ethnicity used to glorify the Langmai Ching (Nongmaiching).{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA4 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |page=4 }}

{{Further|Meitei literature}}

The "Nongmaiching Chingkoipa" (also called, "Nongmaijing Chinggoiba") is an ancient Meitei language text which is an account on the Nongmaiching mountain. It describes the sprawling branches of the mountain extending from the North to the South of the Imphal Valley.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=102 |language=en, mni}}

The opening lines of the text describes the Nongmaiching to a king as follows:

{{Blockquote|“O King, the mountain situated in the east and beyond the river is the abode of Kainou Chingsomba, lord of the Langmais. They attain majestic heights, are washed by seven streams, project into nine ranges and abound with deep gorges and sun-drenched ridges... They catch first the sight of every onlooker and stand steadfast unshaken by great earthquakes as if held by strong iron pegs and with their peaks kissed by white flakes of cloud. Their slopes are smoothly carpeted green with pennyworts under the shadow of tall and robust plants of cane and they are also dotted with dense growth of tall reeds. And the gorges reverberate against the strong current of wind. Of these mountain ranges the bard would like to sing.”|Nongmaiching Chingkoipa (Nongmaijing Chinggoiba){{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=102 |language=en, mni}}}}

Following these lines, the author describes on many cliffs, slopes and nearby areas of the Nongmaiching mountain.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=102 |language=en, mni}}

{{See also|Panthoibi#Panthoibi Naheirol}}

In accordance to the ancient Meitei language text named "Panthoibi Naheirol" ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯅꯥꯍꯩꯔꯣꯜ}}|pānthoibī nāheirōl}}), Panthoibi pretended to be unwell in front of her mother, just to make her mother call physician Nongpok Ningthou for the treatment of her illness.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=61 |language=en, mni}}

While telling her mother about Nongpok Ningthou, princess Panthoibi mentioned the Nongmaiching (aka Langmai Ching) as follows:

{{Blockquote |“As I told you there is one who is reigning supreme in the Langmai Hills on whose slope the sun shines first.” |Panthoibi to her mother in the "Panthoibi Naheirol"{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=61 |language=en, mni}}}}

File:ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯒꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯪ (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯀꯤꯌꯣꯡ)ꯒꯤ ꯅꯣꯡꯆꯨꯞ ꯊꯪꯕ ꯃꯥꯏꯀꯩꯗꯒꯤ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ ꯃꯃꯤ ꯑꯃ.jpg shrine is the central body of the University of Sanamahi Culture.{{Cite web |title=Sanamahi Kiyong Donation: 15th dec08 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Snipp8..151208.dec08 |website=e-pao.net |quote=THE DONATIONS for the construction of Sanamahi Kiyong, which will be the central body of Sanamahi Lainingkol (University of Sanamahi Culture) at Chingoi Maru Langmaiching (Nongmaiching) is going on.}}]]

The University of Sanamahi Culture (Sanamahi Culture University) is a university under construction in the Nongmaiching Hills. It is deeply associated with the Sanamahi Kiyong shrine. The university aims to teach the future generations of people about the ancient Meitei culture of the Sanamahi religion. It will offer its students various subjects about indigenous art forms, dance forms, music, Thang-Ta and {{langnf |mni |Sagol Kangjei |polo}} etc.

{{Cite web |title=Sanamahi University on the card |newspaper=The Sangai Express |date=24 January 2004 |url=http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=11.12.250104.jan04 |via=e-pao.net}}

Around {{INRConvert|23,70,000|year=2009}} has been spent as of 2009 on the construction of the University and around {{INRConvert|25|l|year=2009}}, including construction materials, were donated by volunteers.

It is estimated that the total cost of the construction of the University will be around {{INRConvert|7|c|year=2009}}.{{Cite web |title=Construction of Sanamahi shrine at Nongmaiching progressing |newspaper=Hueiyen News Service |date=8 April 2009 |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=23..090409.apr09 |via=e-pao.net}}

During World War II, when there was an active combat between the troops of the United Kingdom and Japan in Manipur and other Northeast Indian states, the Nongmaiching serves as the most strategically important point in Imphal Valley.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=91OpCwAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaiching+ching&pg=PA116 |title=The Battlefields of Imphal The Second World War and North East India |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |isbn=9781317274025 |page=116 }}

{{Further|Nongmaiching Reserved Forest#Deforestation|Nongmaiching Reserved Forest#Forestation}}

The Nongmaiching is one of the important hills and mountains in Manipur that have the strong potential for ecotourism development.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YQ8EAAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaiching+ching&pg=PA78 |title=Ecotourism Development Ventures in Manipur: Green Skill Development and Livelihood Mission |year=2021 |isbn=9789391145590 |page=78 |last1=Singh |first1=Arambam Sanatomba |publisher=Walnut Publication }}

{{Main|Nongmaiching Reserved Forest}}

There is a reserved forest in the Nongmaiching.{{Cite book |last1=SAHA |first1=GOUTAM KUMAR |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UCstDwAAQBAJ&q=nongmaijing+reserve+forest+Imphal+East+district&pg=PA93 |title=WILDLIFE BIOLOGY: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE |last2=MAZUMDAR |first2=SUBHENDU |date=2017 |publisher=PHI Learning |isbn=978-81-203-5313-8 |page=93 }}

The Santhei Natural Park located in the Santhei village of Andro, Imphal East, is at the foothills of the Nongmaiching. It is best known for its scenic natural beauty and serving as a picnic area.{{Cite book |last1=Guha |first1=Samapti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fZYwEAAAQBAJ&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA221 |title=In Search of Business Models in Social Entrepreneurship: Concepts and Cases |last2=Majumdar |first2=Satyajit |date=2021 |publisher= Springer |isbn=978-981-16-0390-7 |page=221 }}

The Nongmaiching is the natural habitat for various plant species, including Cymbopogon flexuosus{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Huidrom Birkumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUuwWoxml7YC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA14 |title=Herbal Medicine of Manipur: A Colour Encyclopaedia |date=2003 |publisher= Daya Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7035-300-3 |page=14 }} and Goniothalamus sesquipedalis.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Huidrom Birkumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUuwWoxml7YC&dq=nongmaijing&pg=PA20 |title=Herbal Medicine of Manipur: A Colour Encyclopaedia |date=2003 |publisher= Daya Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7035-300-3 |page=20 }}

• Saktam Machet Machet Mang Macha Macha ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯁꯛꯇꯝ ꯃꯆꯦꯠ ꯃꯆꯦꯠ ꯃꯪ ꯃꯆꯥ ꯃꯆꯥ}}}}): A 1999 Meitei language prose book by Kamal, Toijamba{{Cite book |last=Kamal |first=Toijamba |title=Saktam Machet Machet Mang Macha Macha |date=1999 |publisher=Toijam Publications Thengra Leirak, Churachandpur |location=India |language=mni |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.465710 |via=archive.org}}
• Thaloi Nungkhailon ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯊꯥꯂꯣꯏ ꯅꯨꯡꯈꯥꯏꯂꯣꯟ}}}}): A Meitei language astronomy and astrology book by Bhudhachandra, Yumnamcha{{Cite book |last=Bhudhachandra |first=Yumnamcha |title=Thaloi Nungkhailon |date=1986 |publisher=Enat Kanba Amasung Samgatpa Lup, Nambul Mapal |location=India |language=mni |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.465692 |via=archive.org}}
• Tingkhanglakta Gulap ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯤꯡꯈꯪꯂꯛꯇ ꯒꯨꯂꯥꯞ}}}}): A Meitei language poetry book by Kullachandra H{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kullachandra H. |title=Tingkhanglakta Gulap |publisher=Shri H. Kulachandra Singh, Imphal |location=India |language=mni |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466221 |via=archive.org}}

• Heingang Ching
• Marjing Polo Complex
• Marjing Polo Statue
• Kangla
• Kangla Nongpok Thong
• Kangla Nongpok Torban
• Mount Manipur
• Mount Manipur Memorial

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |last=Dun |first=E. W. |title=Gazetteer of Manipur |publisher=Manas Publications |year=1992 |orig-year=1886 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32037 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Dun, Gazetteer of Manipur|1886}}}}
• {{citation |last=Hodson |first=T. C. |title=The Meitheis |publisher=David Nutt |location=London |year=1908 |url=https://archive.org/details/meitheis01hods |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Hodson, The Meitheis|1908}}}}
• {{citation |last=Jhalajit Singh |first=R. K. |title=A Short History of Manipur |publisher= |edition=Second |year=1992 |url=https://archive.org/details/a-short-history-of-manipur |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Jhalajit Singh, A Short History of Manipur|1992}}}}

{{Commons category|Nongmaiching Ching}}

{{Wikivoyage|Nongmaiching Ching}}

• [https://archive.org/search?sin=TXT&query=Nongmaiching+Ching Nongmaiching Ching] at Internet Archive
• [http://e-pao.net/epSearchResults.asp?cx=partner-pub-3342616103029311%3A3788634109&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=Nongmaiching&sa.x=0&sa.y=0 Nongmaiching] at {{URL|e-pao.net}}

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