Lai Khutshangbi (/laai-khoot-shaang-bee/) is a demoness (hingchabi) in Meitei mythology and folklore of Antique Kangleipak (Ancient Manipur). She has very long hands. The word "Lai" means "deity or divinity," "Khut" means "hand," and "Sangbi" or "Shangbi" means "long" in Manipuri (Meitei).[1][2][3] The legend says that when she walks, her long hands touch the ground. Her fingers are as sharp as thorns. She has a large mouth with a long tongue. Her appearance is very frightening.[4]
There was a man and woman with a little child named Shasi (or "Shachi" or "Leirik" or "Naocha" in other versions) living in an isolated house in a hamlet. Nearby was the forest where Lai Khutsangbi lived.[4] She usually stole and ate livestock and human babies from the village. She took advantage of people's loneliness, sowing terror in the people in the village.
Lai Khutsangbi especially wanted to eat the child Shasi. But Shasi's father, Shasipa was so brave that the Lai Khutsangbi was afraid of him. One day, Shasipa left home to work somewhere far away. He would be gone for days. Lai Khutsangbi came to the house at night and asked Shasi's mother, Shasima if her husband was at home or not. Shasima was wise, so she lied and said her husband was at home. Lai Khutsangbi left. But she came back night after night and asked the same question again and again. Shasi's mother also gave the same reply, hiding the true fact that Shasipa was away. After some time, Shasi's father returned home and Shasi's mother told him what had happened. Hearing this, Shasi's father devised a plan to defeat the demoness. That night, he waited for Lai Khutsangbi with a sharpened sword. At midnight, the demoness, as usual, came to ask Shasima if her husband was home.[5] This time, Shasi's mother replied that he was away from home. Unaware of the trick, Lai Khutsangbi broke through the wall of the house with one of her powerful hands, trying to find Shasi, the child. Shasi's father, who was waiting for this opportunity, chopped off the hand with his sword.[6] Then, the demoness screamed painfully,
Ayo Ema, I am dead! Ayo yo Ema ayo yo Leimadeng deng Ningjaobi You a big liar Ayo yo Ema ayoyo[6][7]
Lai Khutsangbi fled from the house, dragging her remaining long arm. The blood flew out of her cut arm and fell onto many plants growing on her way to the forest. It is said that the red patches seen on some plants is her blood. Shasi's father followed her blood trail into the woods. The demoness could not run fast as fast as she usually could because she was injured. Shasi's father caught her and stepped on her other remaining hand. Then, he chopped off that arm too. The villagers thanked Shasipa for his bravery. From that day onwards, Lai Khutsangbi, the long handed demoness, was never seen again.[7]
Galleryedit
Lai Khutsangbi
The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi
The family of Shasi, the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi
Lai Khutsangbi aiming to the lonely house
Lai Khutsangbi coming to human settlement
Lai Khutsangbi coming to the village
Lai Khutsangbi penetrating the wall of the house with her powerful hand
Lai Khutsangbi's hand about to chopped off by Shasipa, Shasi's father
The first hand being chopped off
Lai Khutsangbi being followed by Shasi's father
The second hand being chopped off
Referencesedit
^Oinam, James (2016-05-26). New Folktales of Manipur. Notion Press. ISBN978-1-945400-70-4.
^Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN978-81-7049-063-0.
^ abB. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 96.
^B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 97.
^ abB. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 98.
^ abB. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 99.
Other websitesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lai Khutsangbi.
The Secret of Lai Khutsangbi
Lai Khutsangbi, female power and punishment
May 09, 2024
khutshangbi, also, list, creatures, meitei, folklore, laai, khoot, shaang, demoness, hingchabi, meitei, mythology, folklore, antique, kangleipak, ancient, manipur, very, long, hands, word, means, deity, divinity, khut, means, hand, sangbi, shangbi, means, long. See also List of creatures in Meitei folklore Lai Khutshangbi laai khoot shaang bee is a demoness hingchabi in Meitei mythology and folklore of Antique Kangleipak Ancient Manipur She has very long hands The word Lai means deity or divinity Khut means hand and Sangbi or Shangbi means long in Manipuri Meitei 1 2 3 The legend says that when she walks her long hands touch the ground Her fingers are as sharp as thorns She has a large mouth with a long tongue Her appearance is very frightening 4 Lai KhutshangbiLai Khutshangbi the long handed demoness GroupingMythologySub groupingMeitei mythology Manipuri mythology Similar entitiesYenakha Paodabi Keibu KeioibaFamilyHingchabi demoness FolkloreMeitei folklore Manipuri folklore Other name s Lai KhutsangbiCountryAncient Manipur historical India present RegionManipur Contents 1 Story 2 Gallery 3 References 4 Other websitesStory editThere was a man and woman with a little child named Shasi or Shachi or Leirik or Naocha in other versions living in an isolated house in a hamlet Nearby was the forest where Lai Khutsangbi lived 4 She usually stole and ate livestock and human babies from the village She took advantage of people s loneliness sowing terror in the people in the village Lai Khutsangbi especially wanted to eat the child Shasi But Shasi s father Shasipa was so brave that the Lai Khutsangbi was afraid of him One day Shasipa left home to work somewhere far away He would be gone for days Lai Khutsangbi came to the house at night and asked Shasi s mother Shasima if her husband was at home or not Shasima was wise so she lied and said her husband was at home Lai Khutsangbi left But she came back night after night and asked the same question again and again Shasi s mother also gave the same reply hiding the true fact that Shasipa was away After some time Shasi s father returned home and Shasi s mother told him what had happened Hearing this Shasi s father devised a plan to defeat the demoness That night he waited for Lai Khutsangbi with a sharpened sword At midnight the demoness as usual came to ask Shasima if her husband was home 5 This time Shasi s mother replied that he was away from home Unaware of the trick Lai Khutsangbi broke through the wall of the house with one of her powerful hands trying to find Shasi the child Shasi s father who was waiting for this opportunity chopped off the hand with his sword 6 Then the demoness screamed painfully Ayo Ema I am dead Ayo yo Ema ayo yo Leimadeng deng Ningjaobi You a big liar Ayo yo Ema ayoyo 6 7 Lai Khutsangbi fled from the house dragging her remaining long arm The blood flew out of her cut arm and fell onto many plants growing on her way to the forest It is said that the red patches seen on some plants is her blood Shasi s father followed her blood trail into the woods The demoness could not run fast as fast as she usually could because she was injured Shasi s father caught her and stepped on her other remaining hand Then he chopped off that arm too The villagers thanked Shasipa for his bravery From that day onwards Lai Khutsangbi the long handed demoness was never seen again 7 Gallery edit nbsp Lai Khutsangbi nbsp The family of Shasi the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi nbsp The family of Shasi the child who is desired by Lai Khutsangbi nbsp Lai Khutsangbi aiming to the lonely house nbsp Lai Khutsangbi coming to human settlement nbsp Lai Khutsangbi coming to the village nbsp Lai Khutsangbi penetrating the wall of the house with her powerful hand nbsp Lai Khutsangbi s hand about to chopped off by Shasipa Shasi s father nbsp The first hand being chopped off nbsp Lai Khutsangbi being followed by Shasi s father nbsp The second hand being chopped offReferences edit Oinam James 2016 05 26 New Folktales of Manipur Notion Press ISBN 978 1 945400 70 4 Indian Literature Sahitya Akademi 1981 Singh Moirangthem Kirti 1993 Folk Culture of Manipur Manas Publications ISBN 978 81 7049 063 0 a b B Jayantakumar Sharma Dr Chirom Rajketan Singh 2014 Folktales of Manipur p 96 B Jayantakumar Sharma Dr Chirom Rajketan Singh 2014 Folktales of Manipur p 97 a b B Jayantakumar Sharma Dr Chirom Rajketan Singh 2014 Folktales of Manipur p 98 a b B Jayantakumar Sharma Dr Chirom Rajketan Singh 2014 Folktales of Manipur p 99 Other websites edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lai Khutsangbi The Secret of Lai Khutsangbi Lai Khutsangbi female power and punishment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lai Khutshangbi amp oldid 1190401321, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
