What are the Puyas (ꯄꯨꯌꯥ)?

In the Manipuri tradition, the word Puya (ꯄꯨꯌꯥ) translates to "that which has been handed down from generation to generation".

Puyas are ancient sacred texts, royal chronicles, treatises, and philosophical discourses handwritten in archaic Meitei Mayek script. They cover a staggering breadth of knowledge:

  • Ningthourol Lambuba (ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯔꯣꯜ ꯂꯝꯕꯨꯕ): Royal chronicles recording military conquests, kingly lineages, and court affairs.
  • Leithak Leikharol (ꯂꯩꯊꯛ ꯂꯩꯈꯥꯔꯣꯜ): Creation mythology, cosmogony, and the philosophical origin of heaven and earth.
  • Cheitharol Kumbaba (ꯆꯩꯊꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯀꯨꯝꯕꯥꯕ): The official court diary of the kings of Manipur, recorded continuously from 33 AD to the 20th century.
  • Hijan Hirao (ꯍꯤꯖꯟ ꯍꯤꯔꯥꯎ): Ancient epic poetry recounting the spiritual felling of trees to carve sacred dragon boats (Hiyang Hiren).

    • Traditional Manuscript Craftsmanship: Agarwood Bark (*Agor*)

    Ancient Meitei scholars (Maichous) did not write on papyrus or modern paper. They developed an indigenous papermaking process using the bark of the Aquilaria agallocha (Agarwood / Sahi tree):

  • Bark Extraction: Mature bark strips were carefully harvested from the forest.
  • Curing & Boiling: The bark was boiled with natural alkaline ash, beaten flat, and sun-dried to prevent decay and insect infestation.
  • Natural Ink Formulation: Ink was prepared from soot, crushed indigo, and plant resins, creating a waterproof black pigment that has survived for over 500 years in tropical humid climates.

    • Preserving the Heritage for Future Generations

    Today, digital platforms like Phungasang are dedicated to revitalizing this magnificent legacy. By converting ancient orthography into modern Unicode fonts, interactive web applications, and digital lexicons, we ensure that the wisdom of the Puyas continues to inspire generations across the world.