Thongalel

"Khamnung Thongalel" (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯅꯨꯡ ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ), also known as "Leinung Thongaren Sidaba" (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯅꯨꯡ ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯔꯦꯟ ꯁꯤꯗꯕ) is the God of Death and the ruler of the Khamnung kingdom, the land of death, with its capital being Khamnung Sawa in Meitei mythology.[1]

Thongalel ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ
God of Death Ruler of the Khamnung kingdom
Member of Meitei Guardians of the Directions
Affiliation	Sanamahism and Meitei mythology
Abode	Khamnung kingdom
Personal information
Siblings	Chīngkhong Poireiton
Consort	Lāikhūrembī (Chief Queen of the underworld) Thongaak Leima (Mistress of the entrance to the underworld) Khamnūng Kīkoī Louonbī (Mistress-in charge of all the souls) Lāinaotābī (Concubine gifted away to younger brother Poireiton)
Greek equivalent	Hades[2]
Hinduism equivalent	Yama[3]

Legend says Laikhurembi is the chief queen of Thongaren, who was later handed to Nongda Lairen Pakhangba changing the name as Laishna.[4]

Sanamahism

The Meitei people in ancient times, worshipped the deity along with a hymn, which reads as follows:-

O Immortal Lord Thongalel!

Thou dispenser of the destiny of the dead and the living!

Skillful thou art in administration,

Favouring many a living being

Sealing the fate of many a dead man

Presidest thou over funeral affairs; Chief of gods! Shut the door of death And open the door of the living!

(PuYa)

Legends

• According to ancient Meitei chronicle "Poireiton Khunthok", a band of colonists led by Poireiton came from the land of death, whose king was Lord Thongaren.[5]
• According to ancient Meitei chronicle "Nongban Pombi Luwaoba", there's a fight between Nongban Pombi Luwaoba and a messenger of Thongaren and subsequent reconciliation with Lord Thongaren himself.[6]
• According to legends, the seven legendary brothers including Kabuiru Salamba were created by the divine creator God "Leinung Thongaren Sidaba" .[7]

See also

• Lainingthou Soraren
• Lainingthou Nongpok Ningthou
• Lainingthou Sanamahi

References

1. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=Thongaren&dq=Thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjstYWVt63pAhUIgUSFHXg4AeAQ6AEICjAA
2. https://www.ancient.eu/Hades/
3. https://www.ancient.eu/Yama/
4. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=bjkBM3qyZ00C&pg=PA79&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTtLST563pAhWDc30KHfQVCT0Q6AEIHzAD#v=onepage&q=thongaren&f=false
5. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TPiAAAAAMAAJ&q=Thongaren&dq=Thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja49LAI67pAhWHbn0KHWBRCZs4ChDoATAAegQIARAC
6. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=f1puAAAAMAAJ&q=Thongaren&dq=Thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5ruKula7pAhWGcn0KHTd5Akg4ChDoATADegQIARAV
7. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=WdEjAQAAIAAJ&q=Thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGlf65mq7pAhXbdCsLHQLIDiE4ChDoATABegQIARAI