Meitei folktales

Meitei folktales or Manipuri folktales refer to the large collection of folk stories developed from the Meitei culture since Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak). These are the lion's share in the large tradition of the Meitei folklore. Folktales are called "funga wari" ("phunga wari"), literally meaning "stories of kitchen furnace or stove" in Manipuri (Meitei). In early times, in the Meitei households, children must have gathered around the kitchen fire, listening to the stories narrated by the elders. Generally, Meitei folktales were developed from the creativity of the old folks, especially the grandparents, who narrated the children the diverse sagas of varying genres.

List

List of Folktales	Latin Roman transliteration	English translation (English title)
ꯀꯕꯣꯛꯀꯤ ꯅꯣꯡ	Kabok ki Nong	The Rain of Kabok
ꯀꯥꯡ ꯑꯃꯣꯝꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯡꯊꯥ	Kang Amomgi Tentha	The Female Mosquitoe's Plight
ꯀꯩ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯁꯃꯨꯕꯨ ꯍꯉꯣꯢꯅ ꯃꯥꯢꯊꯤꯕ ꯄꯤꯕ	Kei amadi Shamu bu Hangoi na Maithiba Piba	The clever frog defeats Tiger and Elephant
ꯀꯩ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ ꯀꯣꯝꯒꯤ ꯏꯁꯤꯡ	Kei Onba Kom Gi Eshing	Water That Turns Everyone Into Tiger
ꯀꯩꯕꯨ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯢꯕ	Keibu Keioiba (Kabui Keioiba)	Keibu Keioiba (Kabui Keioiba)
ꯁꯃꯨ ꯑꯄꯥꯢꯕꯤ	Samu Apaibi	The Flying Elephant
ꯁꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ ꯆꯩꯁ꯭ꯔꯥ	Sandrembi Chaisra	Sanarembi Cheishra
ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯁꯖꯤ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ	Sanagi Saji amadi Sanagi Tenawa	The golden Deer and the golden Parrot
ꯁꯅꯥꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ	Sanagi Tenawa	The Golden Parrot
ꯁꯖꯤꯒ ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛꯀ ꯃꯇꯥ ꯁꯥꯟꯅꯕ	Saji ga Kwak ka Mataa Saanaba	The Doe and the Crow
ꯁꯥꯍꯤꯡ ꯆꯥꯕ ꯃꯆꯤꯜ ꯃꯅꯥꯎ	Sahing chaba machil manao	The Two Demon Brothers
ꯂꯝꯈꯨꯅꯨꯅ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ	Lamkhunu Na Chakkouba	The Feast organized by the Pigeon
ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ	Lamhui Loushing	The Fox's Wit
ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ	Lumhui Lousing	The Clever Fox
ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯀꯩꯁꯥꯜ	Lamhui amashung Keishal	The Fox and the Jackal
ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯒꯤ ꯇꯥꯠ	Lamhui gi Tat	The Fox's Trick
ꯂꯥꯟꯃꯩ ꯊꯥꯟꯕꯤ	Lanmei Thanbi	Light Spirit
ꯂꯥꯢ ꯈꯗꯥꯡ ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯕꯤ	Lai Khadang Pandabi	The Witch without chin
ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯗꯤꯕꯤꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯄꯥ	Laifadibigi Nupa (Laifadibigi Bor)	The Doll's Groom
ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯗꯤꯕꯤꯒꯤ ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜ	Laiphadibigi Thouchaal (Laiphadibigi Bor)	The Boon of the Doll
ꯂꯥꯢꯔ ꯃꯆꯥ ꯇꯔꯦꯠ	Laira Macha Taret	The Seven Poor Sons
ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟꯅ ꯋꯥꯁꯛ ꯉꯥꯛꯄ	Lairen na Waashak Ngaakpa	The Python Promise
ꯂꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯥꯕꯤ ꯃꯆꯥ	Lukhrabi Macha	The Widow Son
ꯂꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯥꯕꯤ ꯃꯆꯥ	Lukhrabi Macha	The Widow Son
ꯂꯨꯈ꯭ꯔꯥꯕꯤ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯍꯉꯣꯢ	Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi	The widow and the frog
ꯂꯩꯃ ꯍꯤꯡꯆꯥꯕꯤ (ꯔꯥꯅꯤ ꯍꯤꯡꯆꯥꯕꯤ)	Leima Hingchabi (Rani Hingchabi)	The Demon Queen
ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡꯒꯤ ꯆꯥꯡꯗꯝꯅꯕ	Loushing gi Changdamnaba	A Contest of Wit
ꯃꯀꯣꯛ (ꯋꯥꯔꯤ)	Makok	Head
ꯃꯀꯣꯛ ꯑꯍꯨꯝ	Makok Ahum	Three headed men
ꯃꯃꯥ ꯄꯣꯛꯇꯕꯤ	Mama Poktabi	The Stepmother
ꯃꯆꯤꯜ ꯃꯧꯄ꯭ꯋꯥ	Machil Moupwa	The brother and the sister
ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯧꯄꯥ	Machin Moupa	The two siblings
ꯃꯤꯅ ꯇꯦꯅꯋꯥ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ	Mee na Tenawa Onba	Human Turning into a Parrot
ꯃꯤꯅ ꯎꯊꯨꯝ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ	Mina Uthum Onkhiba	Human Turning Into A Bird
ꯃꯤꯠꯇ꯭ꯔꯪꯒꯤ ꯆꯩ	Mitrang-gi Chei (Jadugi Chei)	The Magic Stick
ꯃꯤꯠꯇ꯭ꯔꯪꯒꯤ ꯐꯥꯜ	Mitrang gi Fal	The Magical Stool
ꯃꯤꯒꯤ ꯍꯧꯔꯛꯐꯝ	Mee gi Hourakpham	The Origin of Human
ꯄꯦ ꯅꯥꯔꯦꯛꯄꯤ	Pay Nareckpi	King Umbrella
ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯀꯩ	Pebet amashung Kei	Pebet and the Tiger
ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯁꯃꯨ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ	Naapal Chaoba Shamu amadi Pebet	The egotistical elephant and praying Pebet
ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯋꯥ ꯄꯥꯝꯕꯤ	Naapal Chaoba Waa Pambi	The Proud Bamboo Tree
ꯅꯥꯄꯜ ꯆꯥꯎꯕ ꯏꯔꯣꯢ	Napal Chaoba Eeroi	The Proud Buffalo
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯃꯆꯥꯅꯨꯄꯥ ꯑꯅꯤ (ꯔꯥꯖꯀꯨꯃꯥꯔ ꯑꯅꯤ)	Ningthou Machanupa Ani (Rajkumar Ani)	Two Princes
ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ	Numit Kappa	The Stories of Suns Shadows from the Past
ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯕꯥ	Numit amadi Yenba	The sun and the cock
ꯇꯝꯅꯂꯥꯢꯒꯤ ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜ (ꯚꯨꯠꯀꯤ ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜ)	Tamnalai Gi Thoujal (Bhoot Ki Thoujal)	Blessings from Spirit
ꯇꯞꯇꯥ	Tapta	Tapta
ꯇꯟ ꯇꯔꯦꯠ	Tan Taret	Seven Breads
ꯇꯥꯢꯕꯪ ꯃꯤꯅ ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ	Taibang Mee na Lairen Onba	The Human Turning into a Python
ꯇꯦꯝꯕꯂꯥꯢꯊꯛ	Tembalaithak	Tembalaithak
ꯇꯣꯛꯄ ꯂꯥꯟꯗꯥꯕ	Tokpa Laan-daaba	Revenge on the Cat
ꯊꯦꯕ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡꯕ	Theba Lousingba	The Clever Hare
ꯊꯧꯅꯥꯐꯕ ꯃꯔꯨꯞ	Thaunaphaba Marup	The Brave Friend
ꯍꯅꯨꯕ ꯍꯅꯨꯕꯤ ꯄꯥꯟ ꯊꯥꯕ	Hanuba Hanubi Paan Thaba	Old Couple Plants Taro
ꯍꯥꯎꯁꯤ ꯅꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ (ꯇꯥꯢꯕꯪ ꯃꯤꯅ ꯍꯔꯤ ꯅꯣꯡꯅꯥꯡ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ)	Haosi Namoinu (Taibang Mee na Hari Nongnang Onba)	A Human turning into a cicada
ꯍꯥꯎꯗꯤꯒꯝ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯐꯠꯇꯕꯤ	Haodigam Chanu Phattabi	The mean Haodigam Chanu
ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡ ꯑꯊꯧꯕ	Hiyangthau (Hiyang Athouba)	Hiyangthau (Hiyang Athouba), the Vampire
ꯍꯦꯟꯖꯨꯅꯍꯥ	Henjunaha (Hensunaha)	Henjunaha (Hensunaha)
ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ ꯁꯦꯛꯄꯤ ꯃꯔꯨꯞ ꯑꯅꯤ	Houdong Sekpi marup ani	The cat and the bat
ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ ꯂꯝꯕꯣꯢꯕ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯄꯦꯕꯦꯠ	Houdong Lamboiba amadi Pebet	Mystic Cat and Pebet Bird
ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡꯒꯤ ꯂꯝꯆꯠ	Houdong gi Lamchat	Cat Nature
ꯎ ꯁꯨꯕ ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯟ	U suba amadi Chaoren	The Carpenter and Chaoren
ꯎꯅ ꯁꯥꯕ ꯁꯛꯇꯝ	Una saba saktam	A wooden sculpted face
ꯎꯆꯦꯛ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯩꯗꯣꯡ	Uchek Langmeidong	Uchek Langmeidong
ꯏꯇꯥ ꯊꯥꯎꯃꯩ	Eta Thangmei (Ita Thaomei)	My Friendly Lamp
ꯑꯄꯪꯕ ꯃꯅꯥꯎ	Apangba Manao	Foolish Younger Brother
ꯑꯄꯪꯕꯒꯤ ꯂꯥꯢꯕꯛ	Apangba gi Laibak	The Foolish Man's Fortune
ꯑꯆꯨꯝꯕ ꯉꯥꯡꯕꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯩ	Achumba ngangba gi mahei (Achumba ngangba gi fal)	The fruit for telling the truth
ꯑꯉꯥꯡꯗꯒꯤ ꯃꯥꯢꯔꯦꯟ ꯑꯣꯟꯕ	Angangdagi Mairen Onba	Child Who Turned into a Pumpkin

Stories from the Funga Wari (Naharol Khorjei Thaugallup Jaribon)

This is a list of the stories from the "Funga Wari" (literally, "folktales"), a book on Meitei folklore, published by the "Naharol Khorjei Thaugallup Jaribon".

Stories	English translation
Apangba Manao	Foolish Younger Brother
Haudonggi Lamchat	Cat's Nature
Kabokki Nong	Kabok's rain
Kang Amomgi Tentha	The Female Mosquitoe's Plight
Mama Poktabi	The Stepmother
Mitrang (Jadu)gi Chei	The Magic Stick
Ningthou Machanupa Ani	The Two Princes
Pay Nareckpi	King's Umbrella
Sanagi Tenawa	The Golden Parrot
Thaunaphaba Marup	The Brave Friend

Stories from Fungawari Singbul

There are numerous folk stories, mainly fables, from Meitei folklore, compiled by B. Jayantakumar Sharma in the book "Fungawari Singbul". Here is a list of the folk stories from the book:

Stories	English translation
Achumba ngangbagi fal (mahei)	The fruit for telling the truth
Apangbagi Laibak	The Foolish Man's Fortune
Ashingba Hangoi na Kei amadi Shamu maithiba piba	The clever frog defeats the tiger and the elephant
Bhoot ki Thoujal	Blessings from Spirit
Gadadhar	Gadadhar
Hanuba Hanubi Paan Thaaba	Old Couple Plants Taro
Haodigam Chanu Phattabi	The mean Haodigam Chanu
Houdong Lamboiba amadi Pebet	The Mystic Cat and the Pebet
Houdong Sekpi Marup Ani	The cat and the bat
Keibu Keioiba	Keibu Keioiba
Kei Onba Kom gi Eshing	Water that turns everyone into tiger
Lai Khadang Pandabi	The Witch without chin
Laiphidibigi Bor (Nupa)	The Doll's groom
Laiphidibigi Bor (Thoujal)	The Boon of the Doll
Laira Macha Taret	The Seven Poor Sons
Lairen gi Waashak	The Python's promise
Lamhui gi Tat	The Fox's trick
Lamhui Loushing	The Fox's Wit
Lamkhunu na Chakkouba	The feast invited by a pigeon
Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi	The Widow and the Frog
Lukhrabi Macha	The Widow's son
Lukhrabi Macha Yatra	Yatra, the Widow's son
Machil Moupwa	The brother and the sister
Makok	Head
Mee gi hourakpham	The origin of human
Mee na Tenawa Onba	Human turning into a parrot
Meena Uchek Langmei Onba	Human turning into a hornbill bird
Mina Uthum Onkhiba	Human turning into a bird
Mitrang gi Fal	The Magical Stool
Naapal Chaoba Eeroi	The Proud Buffalo
Numit amadi Yenba	The sun and the cock
Pebet amadi Kei	The Pebet and the Tiger
Pebet na Shamu Angaobada Laman Khumba	Pebet avenges to the wild elephant
Sahing Chaba Machil Manao	The two demon brothers
Samu Apaibi	The flying elephant
Sanagi Saji amadi Sanagi Tenawa	The golden deer and the golden parrot
Sanarembi Cheishra	Sandrembi Chaisra
Shaji Amom amadi Kwaak	The Doe and the Crow
Subhadra Chhuri Huranba	Subhadra The Thief
Taibang Meena Harinongnang Onba	A Human turning into a cicada
Taibang Meena Lairen Onba	The Human turning into a python
Tan Taret	Seven Breads
Tapta	Tapta
Tembalaithak	Tembalaithak
Tenawa Chandrasakhi	Parrot Chandrasakhi
Theba Loushingba	The clever hare
Theba Thenggu Lamjel Taanaba	Hare and Tortoise
Tokpa Laandaba	Revenge on the Cat
Una Saba Saktam	A wooden sculptured face
U suba amadi Chaoren	The Carpenter and Chaoren

Bibliography

Oinam, James (26 May 2016). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-945400-70-4.
Oinam, James (26 May 2016). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-945400-70-4.
Oinam, James (26 May 2016). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-945400-70-4.

References

[Oinam-1] 1 2 3 Oinam, James (2016-05-26). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-945400-70-4.

[2] Rajkumari, Yaisna (12 April 2021). "Manipuri Folktales". Indian Literature. 59 (1 (285)): 53–59. JSTOR 44479262 – via JSTOR.

[3] "Folk Tales". www.e-pao.net.

[e-pao1-4] 1 2 "Kabokki Nong a Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao2-5] 1 2 "The Female Mosquitoes Plight a Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao3-6] 1 2 "The clever frog defeats Tiger and Elephant".

[e-pao4-7] 1 2 "Water That Turns Everyone into Tiger Kei Onba Kom Gi Eshing by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao5-8] 1 2 "Keibu Keioiba by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao6-9] 1 2 "The flying Elephant Samu Apaibi by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao7-10] 1 2 "Sanarembi Cheishra by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[11] "Sandrembi and Chaisra".

[e-pao8-12] 1 2 "The golden Deer and golden Parrot Sanagi Saji amadi Sanagi Tenawa by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao9-13] 1 2 "Sanagi Tenawa the Golden Parrot Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao10-14] 1 2 "The Doe and the Crow".

[e-pao11-15] 1 2 "The two Brothers Sahing chaba machil manao".

[e-pao12-16] 1 2 "The Feast Lamkhunu Na Chakkouba by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao13-17] 1 2 "The Fox Wit Lamhui Lousing by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[18] "Lumhui Lousing the Clever Fox by Pragya Moirangthem".

[19] "Lamhui amashung Keishal the Fox and the Jackal Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao14-20] 1 2 "The Fox Trick Lamhui gi tat".

[21] "Lanmei Thanbi Re imagining the Light Spirit by James Oinam".

[e-pao15-22] 1 2 "The Witch without chin Lai Khadang Pandabi by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao16-23] 1 2 "The Doll groom Laifadibigi Bor by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao17-24] 1 2 "The Boon of the Doll Laiphadibigi Bor by Akham Gautam".

[e-pao18-25] 1 2 "The Seven Poor Sons Laira Macha Taret".

[e-pao19-26] 1 2 "The Python Promise".

[e-pao20-27] 1 2 "The Widow Son Lukhrabi Macha by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao21-28] 1 2 "Yatra the widow son by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao22-29] 1 2 "Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi the widow and the frog by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao23-30] 1 2 "The Widow and the Frog Lukhrabi amadi Hangoi".

[31] "Interpreting the Princess and the Frog by James Oinam".

[32] "Rani Hingchabi the Demon Queen Folktale by James Oinam".

[33] "A Contest of Wit".

[e-pao24-34] 1 2 "Head Makok by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[35] "Three headed men Makok ahum by Manganleibi Loktongbam".

[e-pao25-36] 1 2 "Mama Poktabi the Stepmother Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao26-37] 1 2 "The brother and the sister Machil Moupwa by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[38] "The two sibling Machin moupa by Manganleibi Loktongbam".

[e-pao27-39] 1 2 "Human Turning into a Parrot Mee na Tenawa Onba".

[e-pao28-40] 1 2 "Human Turning into a Bird by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao29-41] 1 2 "Jadugi Chei the Magic Stick Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao30-42] 1 2 "The Magical Stool Mitrangi Fal by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao31-43] 1 2 "Mee gi hourakpham the origin of human by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao32-44] 1 2 "Pay Nareckpi King Umbrella Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao33-45] 1 2 "Pebet and the Tiger".

[46] "The egotistical elephant and praying pebet".

[e-pao34-47] 1 2 "Pebet Avenge to the Wild Elephant".

[48] "The Proud Bamboo Tree by James Oinam".

[e-pao35-49] 1 2 "The Proud Buffalo".

[e-pao36-50] 1 2 "Two Princes a Folktale by James Oinam".

[51] "The Stories of Suns Shadows from the Past by James Oinam".

[e-pao37-52] 1 2 "The sun and cock Numit amadi Yenba by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao38-53] 1 2 "Blessings from Spirit Bhoot Ki Thoujal by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao39-54] 1 2 "Tapta by Akham Gautam".

[e-pao40-55] 1 2 "Seven Breads Tan Taret".

[e-pao41-56] 1 2 "The Human Python Taibang Meena Lairen onba".

[e-pao42-57] 1 2 "Tembalaithak by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao43-58] 1 2 "Revenge on the Cat Tokpa Laandaba by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao44-59] 1 2 "The Clever Hare Theba Lousingba by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao45-60] 1 2 "Thaunaphaba Marup the Brave Friend Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao46-61] 1 2 "Old Couple Plants Taro Hanuba hanubi paan thaba by Akham Gautam".

[e-pao47-62] 1 2 "A Human turning into Harinongnang Taibang Meena Harinongnang Onba".

[e-pao48-63] 1 2 "The mean Haodigam Chanu Haodigam Chanu Phattabi by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[64] "Hiyangthau Folktale by James Oinam".

[65] "Henjunaha Part 1 Folktale by James Oinam".

[66] "Henjunaha Part 2 Folktale by James Oinam".

[67] "Henjunaha Part 3 Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao49-68] 1 2 "The cat and the bat Houdong Sekpi marup ani".

[e-pao50-69] 1 2 "Mystic Cat and Pebet Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[e-pao51-70] 1 2 "Haudonggi Lamchat Cat Nature Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao52-71] 1 2 "The Carpenter and Chaoren U suba amadi Chaoren by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao53-72] 1 2 "A wooden sculpted face Una saba saktam by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[e-pao54-73] 1 2 "Human turning into Uchek Langmei Meena Uchek Langmei Onba".

[74] "Abok Friendly Lamp Eta Thangmei thaomei".

[75] "Ita Thaomei".

[e-pao55-76] 1 2 "Apangba Manao Foolish Younger Brother Folktale by James Oinam".

[e-pao56-77] 1 2 "The Foolish Man Fortune Apangbagi Laibak".

[e-pao57-78] 1 2 "The fruit for telling the truth Achumba ngangbagi fal".

[79] "Angangdagi Mairen Onba Child Who Turned into a Pumpkin Folktale by James Oinam".

[80] "Fungawari Shingbul a Collection of Folktale by Nongmaithem Rakesh".

[81] "Gadadhar by Nganthoi Lourembam".

[82] "Subhadra the Thief by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[83] "Parrot Chandrasakhi Tenwa Chandrasakhi by Bidyarani Thingujam".

[84] "Hare and Tortoise Theba thenggu Lamjel Taanaba by Bidyarani Thingujam".