1. Cultural History of Manipur : Sija Laioibi and the Maharas
by Jamini Devi. Translated by Sheela Devi Chaudhary 
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Description: ISBN10: 8183243428, ISBN13: 9788183243421, [publisher: Mittal] Hardcover Contents: Preface. 1. Sija Laioibi's life sketch. 2. Rajarshi Bhagyachandra's life sketch. 3. Story of Kaina's Theibong. 4. The origin of Maharas dance of Manipur. 5. Creation of the Raseshwari Pala by Sija Laioibi. 6. Sija Laioibi moves to Nabadweepdham with Shrianuprabhu. 7. Conclusion. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. It deals with an extremely significant period of Manipuri culture and religion. One of the most loved and important character of the time was the Princess Bimbavati, later known as Sija Laioibi, who played an unusual and significant role in it. This will also generate interest in the princess and the various religious and cultural developments of her time. The image of Rasheshwari in the Govindji temple made in her likeness in gold proves her importance in the cultural and religious scene of that time. Such problems have been there through the ages as in the case of William Shakespeare, Kalidas or Jayadeva, about whom very little is known. As time went by their larger that life image got modified to suit people's perception at different times and climes and they themselves became subjects of creative imagination. Even the sensibilities of the Manipuri themselves are not the same as compared to what it was two hundred years back while the basic identity and indigenous character remains uncharged despite changes. Changes are not necessarily good or bad. In this book Shri Shri Govindashram, Pandit Moirangthem Chandra writes that on the 8th day of his arrival to Shri Patra Khetra in Murshidabad from Nabadweep, Bhagyachandra took his last breathe. This book was written after exhaustively researching available articles written on Sija Laioibi, the history of Manipur, and the Cheitharol Kumbaba. An important source for the book is the various individuals and scholars from whom I gathered information and significant details about this project. (jacket) [New Delhi, India] [Publication Year: 2010]