Thabaton
Template:Short description Template:Contains special characters Template:About Template:Infobox deity Thabaton (Template:Lang-mni) was a lady in Meitei mythology and folklore of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She had seven elder brothers who took care of her at every cost. She was kidnapped by Keibu Keioiba, a tiger headed man, during the absence of her siblings. Staying at the captivity of the beast for some time, she was later rescued and freed from bondage by her brothers, who slayed the abductor.
Legend
Thabaton (Template:Lang-mni) was born as the only daughter of her parents, alongside seven sons. So, she was the darling sister of her seven elder brothers. Once all her brothers went to a distant place for some time, she was left alone at home. While leaving home, her brothers told her some code words which when told to her only, she should open the door of her house. There was an old woman at her neighboring house. Unfortunately, the old lady heard those code words. Some time after the brothers left, in one fateful night, Keibu Keioiba (Template:Lang-mni), the tiger headed man, entered into the house of the old lady, to devour her flesh. To save herself from being killed, the old lady told Keibu Keioiba about the young, beautiful and lonely Thabaton. Having the curiosity about her, Keibu Keioiba attempted to open the door of Thabaton's house. At first attempt, it failed. Later, when the old lady told him the code words, he recited it standing in front of the door. Hearing to the correctly said words, Thabaton misunderstood that the person might be one of her brothers. So, she opened the door from inside the house. Thus, Thabaton was abducted by Keibu Keioiba. She was held captive in the den (cave in another version of the story) of Keibu Keioiba in the middle of the thick woodlands. On the other side, after some time ("months" or "years" according to different versions of the story), her brothers returned home and found her missing. Neighborhood old lady informed them about the abduction. So, the brothers came to search for Thabaton. After some time, she was discovered by her brothers. She tricked the beast to fetch water from the stream using a bamboo pipe (bamboo container) (Template:Lang-mni). The bamboo pipe was actually hollow from both sides, which was unknown to Keibu Keioiba. Keioiba could never fully fill the bamboo pipe, thereby taking endless times to fetch water. On the other hand, after burning down Keibu Keioiba's home, Thabaton and her brothers fled from the spot.
Portrayal
Thabaton was described as a lady well known for "her chastity, beauty, loyalty, and obedience to her brothers". She is described as grown up in a family of poor brothers who lived from hand to mouth.[1]
In popular culture
- Dr. Iram Babu Singh tape-recorded the story of "Thabaton" from Tombi Devi, a woman from Keinou village in Manipur in February 1980. The tale was later translated by Dr. Singh.
- In the 2009 animation feature film Keibu Keioiba (Tiger Head) (Template:Lang-mni), the story of Thabaton being kidnapped by Keibu Keioiba and later rescued by her brothers was featured.[2][3]
- In the play Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba (Template:Lang-mni), written and directed by Heisnam Tomba, under the production of the Kalakshetra Manipur, the character of Thabaton (alias Thaba) was played by Thangjam Salini.[4]
Similar characters
- Kushinada being rescued from the Yamata no Orochi[5]
- Belle (Beauty and the Beast) being fallen in love with the Beast
- Andromeda being rescued from the sea monster
- Sita being abducted by Ravana[6]
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Beck, Brenda E. F.; Claus, Peter J.; Goswami, Praphulladatta; Handoo, Jawaharlal (1999-04-15) (in en). Folktales of India. University of Chicago Press. pp. 104. ISBN 978-0-226-04083-7. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=jmKu3t-sYi4C&pg=PA104&dq=thabaton&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjY79_B-aH9AhUkzTgGHWm3ABQQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=thabaton&f=false.
- ↑ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part I | Manipur Times" (in en-US). https://manipurtimes.com/bhumenjoy-konsam-on-the-chemistry-of-making-keibu-kei-oiba-part-i/.
- ↑ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times" (in en-US). https://manipurtimes.com/bhumenjoy-konsam-on-the-chemistry-of-making-keibu-kei-oiba-part-ii/.
- ↑ "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba" (in en-GB). 2020-02-16. https://stagebuzz.in/2020/02/16/heisnam-tombas-play-yamata-amasung-keibu-keioiba/.
- ↑ "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba" (in en-GB). 2020-02-16. https://stagebuzz.in/2020/02/16/heisnam-tombas-play-yamata-amasung-keibu-keioiba/.
- ↑ Beck, Brenda E. F.; Claus, Peter J.; Goswami, Praphulladatta; Handoo, Jawaharlal (1999-04-15) (in en). Folktales of India. University of Chicago Press. pp. 103. ISBN 978-0-226-04083-7. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=jmKu3t-sYi4C&pg=PA103&dq=thabaton&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjY79_B-aH9AhUkzTgGHWm3ABQQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=thabaton&f=false.