Once upon a time, in the heart of Manipur, seven brothers of the Rongmei clan lived together. The youngest, Rongmeikai, often handled the simplest tasks while his elder brothers worked in the fields. This timeless moral story teaches the importance of wisdom and fate. One fateful day, as they tended to their crops, they suddenly encountered two enormous snakes slithering through their fields. Acting quickly, they managed to kill the female snake, but the male managed to escape. Before returning to the fields, the brothers instructed Rongmeikai to cook the slain serpent for their meal.
As Rongmeikai prepared the snake, he stepped away to fetch water. When he turned back, he saw the surviving male snake approaching the dismembered body. Carrying pieces of the Langchi tree bark in its mouth, the snake chewed and rubbed the bark over the severed parts. To Rongmeikai’s amazement, the female snake came back to life. Without wasting a moment, the two creatures vanished into the wilderness, leaving Rongmeikai in shock.
When his brothers returned, tired and hungry, he eagerly shared what had happened. Unfortunately, they accused him of lying. Overcome with anger, they beat him so badly that they broke his legs. Soon after, they abandoned him near the Langchi tree, leaving him helpless. Desperate and in pain, Rongmeikai crushed the bark, applied it to his wounds, and watched in awe as his injuries healed completely.
Determined to leave behind those who had wronged him, Rongmeikai set off on a journey. Along the way, he spotted a lifeless dog lying by the roadside. He wondered if the bark’s magic could work again and applied the Langchi bark to the dog’s body. To his delight, the creature sprang back to life! Filled with joy, he named the dog Langbung and took him as his loyal companion.
That night, after seeking shelter in an old woman’s home, Rongmeikai woke up to the sound of wailing from a nearby house. Curious, he asked the old woman what had happened. She explained that a young girl had died unexpectedly. Moved by compassion, Rongmeikai asked her to inform the grieving parents that he could revive their daughter. However, he sought a promise in return—they must marry her to him should she came back to life. Desperate and filled with hope, the family agreed. Without wasting any time, Rongmeikai applied the Langchi bark, and in front of the stunned villagers, the girl stirred as if she had only been sleeping. True to their word, her family gave him her hand in marriage.
As news of his miraculous abilities spread, Rongmeikai soon became famous as a healer who could revive the dead. However, he knew the power of the bark must remain a secret. Therefore, he carefully locked the precious Langchi bark away in a wooden trunk. Not even his wife knew of its existence.
One day, while Rongmeikai was away with Langbung, his wife discovered the trunk. Curious, she opened it and found the bark inside. Thinking it had gone damp, she placed it outside in the sun to dry. Unfortunately, in a cruel twist of fate, the Sun and Moon gods seized the opportunity to take the magical bark away, ensuring that its power would no longer belong to mankind.
Determined to reclaim what was lost, Rongmeikai decided to build a ladder to heaven. To accomplish this, he enlisted the help of all animals—except for the weevils, whom he considered too insignificant. Deeply insulted, the weevils vowed revenge.
As Rongmeikai stepped away to fetch weapons to confront the celestial beings, Langbung eagerly climbed the ladder ahead of him. However, the vengeful weevils had already begun gnawing at the structure. Moments later, the ladder collapsed. Langbung managed to reach the heavens but tragically fell to his death as the ladder crumbled beneath him. In that moment, Rongmeikai lost his greatest secret forever.
People say that Langbung’s spirit never stopped chasing the celestial beings. Even today, during eclipses, many believe that the faithful dog tries to swallow the Sun and Moon, seeking retribution for his master’s loss. And thus, this timeless tale remains one of the most cherished folk tales of Manipur, a testament to the fleeting nature of power and the consequences of arrogance.
This legendary moral story is deeply rooted in Meitei and Manipuri folklore and continues to be passed down through generations, preserving the rich heritage of the folk tales and legends of Manipur. If you enjoy such stories, explore more Manipuri myths that have been shared for centuries.
Kalai is passionate about reading and reinterpreting folk tales from all over the country. Write to her at kalai.muse@gmail.com to know more about her.
Folk tale adopted and abridged from E-Pao.