Aalong

Aalong (also spelled Aarong), also known as Areng or Arengba, was the first king of the Khuman dynasty in ancient Kangleipak (now called Manipur). He was said to be the brother of King Pamingnapa^[a], who started the Luwang dynasty. Aalong was the son of King Singtangpung Tapung Singminnapa^[b], who was the last ruler before the Khuman and Luwang dynasties separated.^[1][2][3][4] He was the grandson of Poireiton and lived during the time of King Khuyoi Tompok of the Ningthouja dynasty.

Aalong came from the Khuman–Luwang royal family line, which started from Poireiton, a famous figure in Meitei mythology and a king of the early united Khuman-Luwang people. Poireiton was the brother of Thongalen, the god of the underworld. In a story called Poireiton Khunthok, he is said to have come to Kangleipak.^[5] But in some history books, he is said to be the brother of Thawaren.^[1][2][3][4]

This royal family had nine rulers before it split. The last one was King Singtangpung Tapung Singminnapa. After his rule, his two sons divided the line: Aalong^[c] started the Khuman dynasty and Pamingnapa^[d] started the Luwang dynasty.^[1][2][3][4]

Aalong was the first ruler of the Khuman dynasty. His first capital was at Thoubal, and later it moved to Meikoipung near today’s Loktak Lake.^[1][2][3][4]

The Khuman clan is one of the seven main Yek Salai or clans of the Meitei people. The Khumans became one of the three most powerful groups in old Kangleipak, along with the Ningthouja dynasty and the Luwang dynasty.^[6]

As the first king, Aalong probably had contact—peaceful or not—with the kings of the Ningthouja line, like Khuyoi Tompok, at a time when the different dynasties were growing and competing for power.^[1][2][3][4]

The Khuman dynasty became one of the three main rulers in early Manipur, along with the Ningthouja dynasty and the Luwang dynasty.^[5] These dynasties each belonged to an important clan of the Meitei people.

Aalong’s family line is very important to the Khuman Salai identity. Their clan symbol is a black dragon, which appears in Meitei mythology and traditional stories and art.^[1][2][3][4]

The Khuman clan comes from one of the seven original Meitei clans. These clans, including Khuman and Luwang, are believed to come from the god-serpent Pakhangba.^[5] However, from historical evidences, these clans had different ancestry.^[1][2][3][4]

Poireiton, a human prince, is said to have led many people into Kangleipak, bringing together groups and forming royal families.^[7] Among his children or descendants were Pamingnapa^[e] of the Luwang dynasty and Aalong^[f] of the Khuman dynasty.^[1][2][3][4]

The two dynasties finally became separate during the rule of Luwang Ningthou Khunthiba and Khuman Lungba.^[8]

The Khuman dynasty ruled by itself for a long time. But by the end of the 14th century CE, it was taken over by the Ningthouja dynasty.^[1][2][3][4] Their capital Meikoipung became part of the Ningthouja kingdom.

Even after losing their kingdom, the Khuman people stayed as an important group within the Meitei community and kept their culture.^[5]

• Poireiton
• Khumanlol
• Poireiton Khunthok
• Yek Salai
• Luwang dynasty
• Khuman dynasty
• Meitei people
• Ningthouja dynasty
• Khuyoi Tompok