Keibu Keioiba
.jpg) An illustration of the tiger head of the Keibu Keioiba of Meitei folklore | |
| Grouping | Mythology and Folklore |
|---|---|
| Sub grouping | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) |
| Similar entities | Werewolf, Manticore, Lai Khutsangbi, Yenakha Paotabi |
| Family | Hybrid creature |
| Folklore | Meitei folklore (Manipuri folklore) |
| Other name(s) | Kabui Keioiba |
| Country |
|
| Region | Manipur |
Keibu Keioiba, also known as Kabui Keioiba, is a mythical creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a human in the Meitei mythology and folklore of Manipur. He is often described as half man and half tiger.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Legend says he was once a skilful priest named Kabui Salang Maiba. With his witchcraft, he transfigured himself into the form of a ferocious tiger. As a punishment of his pride, he could not completely turn back to his original human form.[4][1]
Story
Keibu Keioiba was human in daytime and tiger during nighttime. During night, he wandered around for food in his tiger form. One night, he came across an old woman's house. He was to devour her. The old woman said that her wrinkled skin would not be tasty. She suggested him a neighbourhood's young beautiful lady named "Thabaton" in her place.[7] Thabaton was the only sister in a family with seven brothers. The old woman informed Keibu Keioiba about the absence of the seven brothers at home. The brothers had gone for a work for a very long time. Keibu Keioiba was instructed some tricks by the old woman. The trick was to open the door of Thabaton's house. As instructed by the old woman, Keibu Keioiba did so. At first, he failed. But at the second time, he succeeded to make Thabaton open the door.[8] Keibu Keioba forcefully took Thabaton away from her house. Meanwhile after the incident, the seven brothers returned home from their work.[9] They found Thabaton missing in the house. They asked the old woman about their sister. She told them that Keibu Keioiba had taken her away. The seven brothers prepared their weapons. They set out in search for their sister. On the other hand, Keibu Keioiba did not eat Thabaton. Instead, he made Thabaton his wife. They lived together in the woods. The seven brothers never stopped searching for their sister in the woods. One day, they saw Thabaton. When they came close to her, they saw a man and a baby with her. The brothers gave a signal to Thabaton about their arrival. When Keibu Keioiba went away for a hunt, Thabaton met her brothers. They planned to escape from that place.[10] When Keibu Keioiba returned, Thabaton gave him an Utong (bamboo pipe). The Utong was hollow on both the sides. She told Keibu Keioiba to fetch some water from the stream with that Utong. Keibu Keioiba went out to fetch water with the hollow Utong. In Keibu Keioiba's absence, the seven brothers burnt the house of Keibu keioiba and killed the baby. They ran away with their sister.[11] On the other hand, Keibu Keioiba could not fetch the water with the Utong. Whenever he fetched water, the water leaked afterwards. A crow was observing his activities from a treetop. The crow said, "Keibu Keioiba Naning Namang Hotrong Ho, Natu Leima Kangkok". The crow's statement indicates the foolish nature of Keibu Keioiba and the escape of his prisoner-wife. The crow said it multiple times. Keibu Keioiba noticed the crow's strange statement. So, he quickly returned home. When he reached home, he found his burned house, his dead son and his wife missing. His anger knew no bound. So, he charged towards the house of Thabaton. The seven brothers were already aware that Keibu Keioiba would come back. So, they were all prepared with their weapons. As soon as Keibu Keioiba came towards them, they fought Keibu Keioiba with their weapons. Finally, Keibu Keioiba died at the hands of the seven brothers. After the death of Keibu Keioiba, Thabaton and her seven brothers lived happily ever after.[12][13]
In contemporary culture
Keibu Keioiba (Tiger Head), a 2009 Meitei language animation film, was produced, featuring the legend of Keibu Keioiba.[14][15][16]
Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba (English: Yamata-no-Orochi and Keibu Keioiba) is a Meitei language play that interweaves the stories of the two legendary creatures, Yamata-no-Orochi of Japanese mythology and Keibu Keioiba of Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology). The role of Keibu Keioiba was firstly played by Kshetrimayum Priyobrata and then secondly played by Pangambam Tyson Meitei.[17][18]
See also
References
- ^ a b S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী. archive.org (in Manipuri). p. 57.
- ^ Regunathan, Sudhamahi (2005). Folk Tales of the North-East. Children's Book Trust. ISBN 978-81-7011-967-8. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ a b Devy, G. N.; Davis, Geoffrey V.; Chakravarty, K. K. (2015-08-12). Knowing Differently: The Challenge of the Indigenous. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32569-7. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ Sangeet Natak. 1985. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ Krasner, David (2008). Theatre in Theory 1900-2000: An Anthology. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-4051-4043-0. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 74.
- ^ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 75.
- ^ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী. archive.org (in Manipuri). p. 58.
- ^ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 76.
- ^ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 77.
- ^ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 78.
- ^ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী. archive.org (in Manipuri). p. 59.
- ^ Keibu Keioiba (2009) - KLMDb, archived from the original on 2022-04-12, retrieved 2022-06-13
- ^ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part I | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 2022-04-06.
- ^ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 2019-07-30.
- ^ "YAMATA AMASUNG KEIBU KEIOIBA – 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22.
- ^ "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba". StageBuzz. 2020-02-16. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13.
External links
- "Keibu Keioiba". e-pao.net.
- "Kabui Keioiba and Lai Khutsangbi: Stories of Hunger?". e-pao.net.
- "Taming 'Keibu Keioiba': Translation as Recovery". e-pao.net.