Ancestors of Yek Salai Taret

The Meitei people of Manipur were previously sorted into seven separate clans. These clans were together known as Yek Salai, which means lineages of seven clans.^[a][1][2] Each clan traces its ancestry from an early semi-mythological, or a sovereign ruler.^[3] These lineages form the socio-political foundation of Ancient Kangleipak and continue to influence Meitei identity and heritage. These lineages are the social and political basis of Ancient Kangleipak and still shape Meitei identity and culture today.^[4]

All seven sub-ethnic clans are thought to have descended from the same divine ancestor, the god Pakhangba, according to mythological, religious, and traditional narratives.^[5]

These seven Meitei subgroups, however, were historically separate ethnic communities with different origins. In spite of this, they had a common language, though dialects varied, a common religion with various sects, and a common homeland called Kangleipak.

On a brief note, not every people from each clan descends from the clan's common ancestors. An ancestor of a clan means the founder of the main lineage of the clan.

The first ever recorded Mangang ruler was Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, who was also the first historically attested king of unified Kangleipak. Even though every Mangang today may have not descended from Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (alias Pakhangba in genealogical files), he stands as the common ancestor of the Mangang clan.

Previously, Mangang was split into two main groups:

• Mangang tribe (Loiching Mangang) - They were the groups of the Mangang clan who settled at Loiching Phouoiching hill of the Koubru-Laimaton range.
• Ningthouja - They were the groups of the Mangang clan who established their throne and rule at Kangla.

However, the chief of the Mangang tribe, Konkhucha Atengba, was defeated by the Meitei (Ningthouja) king Naothingkhong in the 7th century CE. As a result, the Mangang tribes were merged into the Ningthouja group.

The Khuman and Luwang clan share a common ancestor called Poireiton through his two grandsons, Aalong and Pamingnaba. Aalong was elder and founded the Khuman dynasty meanwhile, the younger Pamingnaba founded the Luwang dynasty. The Luwang dynasty maintained political independence until 8th century when they were subdued by the Ningthouja dynasty.

The Khuman dynasty maintained political independence until 14th century when they were subdued by the Meitei king Kongyamba, which resulted in the Khuman kingdom being merged into the Ningthouja dynasty.