Ancient Meitei science and technology
The Ancient science and technology of the Meitei ethnicity describes scientific knowledge, practices, devices and technologies invented or used in Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). The Meitei ethnicity invented and used many simple machines. They also invented many advanced scientific methods in the field of medicine, astronomy. Most of the ancient knowledge are recorded in the manuscripts, which are popularly known as the Puya (Meitei texts).[1][2]
Astronomy
The Ancient Meitei astronomers had developed the knowledge of the planets, stars and other heavenly bodies. They believed in the nine planets, which includes the sun and the moon, and excludes the Earth and Pluto.
Nine planet system
| Sl. No. | Ancient Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Modern Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Literal meaning | English translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯆꯤꯡ ꯊꯄꯤ | Nongmaiching Thapee | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯖꯤꯡ ꯊꯕꯤ | Nongmaijing Thabee | Sunday planet | Sun |
| 2 | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯄ ꯊꯄꯤ | Ningthoukaapa Thapee | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯕ ꯊꯕꯤ | Ningthoukaaba Thabee | Monday planet | Moon |
| 3 | ꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯊꯄꯤ | Leipaakpokpa Thapee | ꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯊꯕꯤ | Leibaakpokpa Thabee | Tuesday planet | Mars |
| 4 | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯀꯩꯁꯥ ꯊꯄꯤ | Yumsakeisa Thapee | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯀꯩꯁ ꯊꯕꯤ | Yumsakeisa Thabee | Wednesday planet | Mercury |
| 5 | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ ꯊꯄꯤ | Sakolsen Thapee | ꯁꯒꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ ꯊꯕꯤ | Sagolsen Thabee | Thursday planet | Jupiter |
| 6 | ꯏꯂꯥꯢ ꯊꯄꯤ | Eelai Thapee | ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯊꯕꯤ | Eerai Thabee | Friday planet | Venus |
| 7 | ꯊꯥꯡꯆ ꯊꯄꯤ | Thaangcha Thapee | ꯊꯥꯡꯖ ꯊꯕꯤ | Thaangja Thabee | Saturday planet | Saturn |
| 8 | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯊꯄꯤ | Shaakok Thapee | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯊꯕꯤ | Shaakok Thabee | Head of Taoroinai dragon | Uranus |
| 9 | ꯁꯥꯃꯩ ꯊꯄꯤ | Shaamei Thapee | ꯁꯥꯃꯩ ꯊꯕꯤ | Shaamei Thabee | Tail of Taoroinai dragon | Neptune |
Medicine
Hidaklon
The "Hidaklon" is an early work on the various medicinal herbs and their usage of curing the ailments.[3]
Leiron
The "Leiron" is an old work on the different species of flowering plants (angiosperms).[4]
Technology
Metallurgy
The development of metallurgy was well advanced in the Kakching region in Ancient Manipur. It used various techniques and methods to extract iron ores and convert them into usable forms.[5]
Yangtoupa and Yangtoupi
| Yangtoupa & Yangtoupi | |
|---|---|
Time controlling deities[6] | |
| Member of Meitei deities | |
| Other names | Yangdouba and Yangdoubi Yangtouba and Yangtoubi |
| Major cult center | Tanyeishang Loishang (Time Keeping Office) |
| Region | Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur) |
| Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
| Festivals | Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year)[7][8][9] |
| Greek equivalent | Chronos (Khronos or Chronus) |
| Roman equivalent | Saturn |
Yangtoupa (Yangdouba) and Yangtoupi (Yangdoubi) are the god and the goddess of time in Meitei mythology, folklore and religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak). The earliest known record of the existence of the cult of the two time controlling deities dates back to the 2nd century AD during the reign of King Khuyoi Tompok (aka Khuiyoi Tompok).[6] The wooden statues of the two deities are the first known sculptures ever created.[6]
The wooden idols of the two deities are the supporting devices to the ancient Meitei time measuring device. The two deities mounted on the frame, being separated by seven Kangkhils (seeds). Yangtoupa (Yangdouba), the god, is allowed to move towards Yangtoupi (Yangdoubi), the goddess, after each dip of the bowl. When the two deities meet each other, one day of the month is recorded according to the set mechanism.[10]
The two deities are offered foods and worshipped by the Tanyeishang Loishang (lit. Time Keeping Office) on the day of Cheiraoba (Meitei new year). In honor of the two deities, the Loishang (lit. office) celebrated the Cheiraoba. This is an important part of the Meitei tradition.[7][8][9]
References
- ↑ "Scientific Knowledge as Reflected in the Manipuri Manuscript by N Debendra".
- ↑ Kriti Rakshana: A Bi-monthly Publication of the National Mission for Manuscripts. National Mission for Manuscripts. 2006.
- ↑ Chelliah, Shobhana Lakshmi (2011-07-22). A Grammar of Meithei. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-080111-8.
- ↑ Chelliah, Shobhana Lakshmi (2011-07-22). A Grammar of Meithei. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-080111-8.
- ↑ "Iron Smelting Technique, Manipur".
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Devi, Jamini (2010). Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-342-1.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Cheiraoba festival celebrated : 14th apr21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Cheiraoba festival celebrated".
- ↑ "Time Measuring Device".
Other websites
- https://www.imphaltimes.com/it-articles/item/13601-scientific-knowledge-as-reflected-in-the-manipuri-manuscript[dead link]
- https://filmfreeway.com/403965
- https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/translation-of-ancient-manipur-texts-begin/cid/1452394
- https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.465201
