Definition
Puya Meithaba (Meitei: 𑰺) was a historical event in the Kingdom of Manipur in which a large number of traditional Meitei manuscripts, known as puyas, were publicly burned. The act was carried out under the orders of King Pamheiba (also known as Garibniwaz) following his conversion to Vaishnavite Hinduism, with the aim of suppressing the indigenous Sanamahist religious tradition.
Overview
- Historical context: In the early 18th century, Manipur’s ruling dynasty began a process of Hinduization. After King Pamheiba’s conversion to Vaishnavism (circa 1717 AD), a policy was pursued to replace the native religion and its associated literature.
- The event: The systematic destruction of the puyas took place in the early 1730s, most commonly dated to 1732 AD. Manuscripts were gathered from private collections, temples, and royal archives and were set alight in a public ceremony in Imphal.
- Consequences: The loss of the puyas resulted in a major cultural rupture, erasing significant portions of pre‑Hindu Meitei religious, historical, and literary knowledge. In later centuries, the event has been remembered as a symbol of cultural loss, and it has inspired modern efforts to revive the Meitei script and reconstruct surviving texts.
Etymology / Origin
- Puya (): A Meitei term meaning “scripture,” “book,” or “manuscript,” traditionally referring to ancient texts written in the Meitei Mayek script that covered mythology, law, genealogy, medicine, and other subjects.
- Meithaba (𑰺): A verb meaning “to burn” or “burning.” The compound Puya Meithaba thus translates literally to “burning of the puyas.”
Characteristics
- Date: Generally placed in 1732 AD; precise documentation is limited, and some scholars note minor variations in the exact year.
- Location: Primarily carried out in the royal capital of Imphal, though similar destructions may have occurred in other religious centers.
- Agents: Orders were issued by King Pamheiba; execution was performed by royal officials and priests aligned with the new Vaishnavite establishment.
- Scope: The burning targeted a wide range of manuscript categories, including religious treatises, chronicles (royal genealogies), medical texts, and literary works.
- Historical records: The event is mentioned in later Meitei chronicles (e.g., Cheitharol Kumbaba) and in colonial-era reports. However, the exact number of manuscripts destroyed is unknown.
- Modern commemoration: Contemporary cultural activists observe Puya Meithaba as a day of remembrance, advocating for the preservation and revitalization of Meitei manuscript heritage.
Related Topics
- Sanamahism: The indigenous animistic religion of the Meitei people, which was the primary target of suppression during the Puya Meithaba.
- King Pamheiba (Garibniwaz): Monarch of Manipur (1709–1748) whose adoption of Vaishnavism precipitated the burning.
- Meitei Mayek: The traditional script used for writing the puyas, later revived in the 20th century after periods of marginalization.
- Manipuri Hinduization: The broader soci‑religious transformation of Manipur in the 18th century, encompassing the introduction of Bengali script and Vaishnavite practices.
- Cultural revival movements: Initiatives from the late 20th century onward aimed at reconstructing lost manuscripts, promoting the Meitei script, and preserving indigenous knowledge.
Note: While the occurrence of Puya Meithaba is widely accepted in historical scholarship, precise details such as the exact number of manuscripts destroyed and the complete chronology of the event remain uncertain due to the loss of primary sources.