ARANGPHAM

 ARANGPHAM

          “Arangpham” is the cultural architect of Manipuri social ceremonies.

               

            The term “Arangpham” is a Manipuri word which means arranger of all rituals, rites, festivals and ceremonies. They are architects and master craftsman of Manipuri culture. The Meiteis have their own system of religion which is original and distinct in characters. Their religion seems to follow a cultural continuity. They have their own belief, practices and way of worship. Now they gradually adopted the Hindu way of life. However, they did not altogether abandon their traditional religious faiths and practices. The present Manipuri culture is an assimilation form of the tradition and the Hindu culture in case of valley Meitei people.               

      All the cultural activities, covering festivals, rituals, rites and celebrations etc. are arranged, decorated and served in order of structural pattern according to the specified cultural programme as per traditional style of Manipur. The arrangements made of each cultural item according to its own ideas, beliefs and indigenous mythological specific norms are a difficult task. All these works, as a social custom of Manipuri culture are endorsed to or handled by a group of arrangers which is known as “Arangpham” in our Manipuri society.

          

Role of Arangpham in any ceremony(Duties and must)

      The role of an “Arangpham” cover a wide range of culturally related works like preparation, designing, decoration of many items, skillfully with its own traditional art and beliefs, for example, they are to prepare the surroundings of a performing place of any cultural programme and also the venue and its stage, then skillful decoration of art crafts of banana leaves, flowers, fruits, paana, chandan, etc. and to keep proportionately and produce and serve in accordance with the related ritual, festivals and celebration. It has separate specific norms which are to be decorated, produced and served in a sequence order for each separate cultural item. As such, an Arangpham has to know all those mythological tradition of ideas and practices with historical backgrounds of the different concepts of each festival, ritual and celebration. The details of arranging of each ritual and the ceremony are minutely required to have systematic training gone through a structural combination of other sector in this field of cultural craftsmanship to become an accomplished and expert in this art. Unfortunately, there is no proper records and books on the profession and no institution is still now for imparting training but it is continuing through only old practices i.e., guru-disciple relationship, generation after generation. So the main duties of Arangpham are to arrange, serve and perform all sorts of ceremonies at the best/with a sheer intention of bestowing perfect appeasement to the Almighty God/Deity worshiped in that particular ceremony, to impart full satisfaction to all guests/invitees and ultimately to inculcate solace and ecstasy in the heart of the host/hosts.

       Over and above these performance by a father, the sons and daughters carry out other ceremonies and functions after the death of their parents like Asti Sanchaya, Shradha ceremony, Sambat-Sarik (phiroi) ceremony etc. Besides, there are many poojas and celebrations like inauguration of a house (Shangaba), purification of a pond (pukhri hongba), shani pooja, worshiping of God “Narayana” functions etc. There is always an arranger/Arangpham on behalf of the family.

Concept of Arangpham and historical background of Arangpham (Origin of Arangpham)

      

 From the very beginning of Manipuri Meitei society, it is having the tradition to live together happily with mutual love and unity and co-operation and helping with one another. The community has its own system of giving co-operation by all when one is suffered or something is happened. From time immemorial, whenever there was a religious ceremony or a social function in the society, there had been some men who were well experienced in arranging and beautification of the function. These men are known as “Arangpham.” (An example of Arangpham may be cited here that- Emperor Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal constructed, but the actual construction was done under the supervision of Ustad Esha who was the architect and the chief mason. Ustad Esha was the Arangpham of the construction of Taj Mahal.) The expert who arranges and conducts the function, on behalf of the family, is the Arangpham of the function/ceremony. We need to trace out from the Arangpham had helped the family-either free or by payment in the celebration.

       

The followers of Sanamahi (traditional religion of Meitei) cult have the following opinions regarding the origin of Arangpham. Many stories are told about the creation of the earth. But according to this group of Sanamahi cult it says that- when creation of the earth was over, the gods settled at the valley known as “Hoiral Thel” on the northern mountain of Manipur known as Koubru hill. And so the god was also known as Koubru. At Hoiral Thel the god Koubru invited all gods and goddesses. He sorted out an auspicious function in the month of Mera (the seventh month i.e., Karthik) and nine gods and seven goddesses were remembering the creation with merry makings. That is a kind of a celebration. So it is assumed that there had an Arangpham who arranged and decorated the celebration. Again, according to the Meitei chronicle “Thamballon” when Pakhangba ascended the throne, seven goddesses were sitting around the right side. They were offering garlands to the god Pakhangba. So, at that time there had been some persons who could make ornaments and decoration of flowers and fruits for distribution, even though they were not named as Arangpham.

       According to the chronicle “Thiren Pukhaiba” it is said that during the time of “Hayichak”(Satya Yuga) the Maibas and Maibis settled at Koubru hill and there were “Maichou Purel” (religious head), “Arang Purel” (chief administration) and Mainou Arangpham (assistant arranger) – the three divisions which involved in the royal services. According to another Meitei chronicle “Masil” Arangpham is described as “Khenapura”. In the festival of “Mera Houchongba” (a festival performed for communal harmony), the Arangpa lit up a light throughout the night and everything necessary was arranged in the Keirungpa Yairikshang (finance/food ministers).

       According to Vaishavite cult, there are many references regarding the need and importance of Arangpham (duhon) existed in Govindajee Temple: 1. During the reign of king Chingthengkhomba (Bhagyachandra) the work of Arangpham was introduced by the king on the 14th day of Poinu (Pous) in 1712 sakabda (page 147 of cheitharol kumbaba). 2. During the reign of king Nara Singh in 1769 sakabda the priest Teba and the Duhon was punished since the bones of fish was traced out from the prasadi. This shows that there were Duhons at that time. 3. Churachand Maharaja appointed 32 Kshetriya as Duhons (Arangpham, 20-1, 1891) page 567 (Cheitharol Kumbaba).

Qualities of an Arangpham

       Arangpham are also human beings. They also have pride and passion but a typical Arangpham is so gentle, humble, obedient and faithful. Generally an Arangpham is a good mannered person, soft spoken, neat and clean, regular and punctual to his duties and services, after all he is a guide. A devoted god fearing Arangpham is so much well disciplined and self controlled person that he fasts (eats nothing) on the shradha ceremony day from the starting up to the end, of the ritual ceremony. In fact, Arangpham is the light house/torch bearer of the propagation and schooling of Manipuri cultural heritage.

Some basic cultural heritage related procedures/services

       Since the area of the subject matter is so vast, I would like to assert about two very important items which are must and related particularly to a ritual ceremony as for example.
1. Marriage ceremony
2. Shradha ceremony etc
They are
1. Lei Chandan
2. Paana Tangga
So as a matter of fact serving of Lei-Chandan and Paana Tangga are the first and foremost two procedural steps in a ritual ceremony served by the way of greeting and sanctification to whosoever comes to participate in any traditional Manipuri cultural ritual ceremony either of the vaishanavite cult or sanamahi cult. lei chandan is prepared in three different forms.
• Sudha chandan: This is a kind of Chandan offers to goddess lakhmi then afterwards serves to all the persons who are attending in the ceremony.
• Nirmal chandan: such kind of chandan is for offering to Shri Madhabhagavat, Vedas and puranas etc, and then the same is served to all participating Brahmanas, Vaishnavas, etc.
• Gandha chandan: this is such kind only in the sankirtanas and raas leelas etc. similar to mahayagna but not in other ceremonies.
A special feature of cultural heritage items on different materials is to be displayed in the front of Maharaja.

       The highest traditional and cultural way of serving pana tanga and different materials to maharaj (king) when he is participating in a state function or any public or private cultural or ritual ceremony. Particularly the Paana tangga will be a special design. Some basic items of different materials are being stated:

      This ingredients and seat shown in the photograph are the things needed in worshipping the God. 

      It is the Sudha Chandan which are to be distributed to the persons present in the ceremony.

      The image shown here is the Gandharba Chandan. It is mainly for the Sankirtan in the ceremony.

      This pana tangga is used as an invitation or offering to the God for attending the ceremony.

       This is one of the pana tanggas offered mainly for a particular clan, Angom Ningthou (offered on the        arrival of Angom king)

      This pana tangga is to be offered to the king in a ceremony.

      This pana tangga is to be distributed to the common folks who are participating in a ceremony.

      This pana tangga is to be distributed to the common people who are attending the ceremonies       like marriage and Heijingpot.(Heijingpot- a tradition of meities performed before the marriage       ceremony). 

      This pana tangga is to be offered to god. Slices of betel nuts are used mainly in offering to God.

      This pana tangga is to be given to the Palaas ( singer in the Saradha, marriage ceremonies etc) by       the Arangpham when the song is in the middle part of the ceremony. 

      This pana tangga is used in the marriage ceremony specially for the bride and bridegroom. The betel       leaf and nuts are exchanging between the bride and the bridegroom in the marriage ceremony. 

      This is new style and design of pana tangga known as Kwa Sarei.. 

      This pana tangga is to be offered to the princes of the king in any ceremony. 

      This pana tangga is to be offered to the wives (Ranis) of the king.  

      These types of materials or ingredients are used in worshipping God. 

      This is known as Beri, a funnel shaped (cone Shape) container made of banana leaf which has       chambers for keeping betel nuts and leaves as well as eatable fruits.

Acknowledgement

      The Chief Investigator and Staff of the project would like to acknowledge N.Harimati Devi, Guest Lecturer, Department of Dance(Manipuri), Manipur University for providing materials. 

Reference:-
http://en.manipuruniv.ac.in/DMLTwebsite/arangpham%20n%20kwa.html