: “The Traditional Musical Instrument of Manipur : An Analysis of

Manipur”

The propose Project ,”Traditional Musical Instrument of Manipur

: An Analysis of Pena”, is an attempt to explore the conceptual
interpretation in nature and its relation to the mystic physiology of
its body (the two parts of Pena) and landscape, the different mood of
expression while playing Pena. It also to trace the basic principles
and scientific characters, mystic aesthetic of Pena and its relation to
the mystic physiology of the body of Pena. Emphasising of the role
played by Pena in Manipur society and its value, it is also to
investigate its origin towards the role played by Pena in traditional
culture of Manipuri society. The study has been carried out as per
the original plan while dealing with the study the principal
Investigator have reviewed many literature related to the area of
research and have acquired enough background knowledge of the
research topic. Data collected from both primary and secondary
sources is supplemented with field survey through interviews carried
un-structurally with the selected groups.

Begining the discussion with a background to the study of Pena and

its analysing Chapter-1, Introduction, to understand the land and
people along with the many fall traditional culture of the state which
came to be known as Land of Festivals. To this part of culture and
popular tradition the importance of Pena in tracing pre-historic
beauties of Meiteis, thereby preserving the identities of Meiteis is
sprung up along with the different stages of Pena begin to be used in
many form of entertainment programmes and ritualistic function of
Manipuri society from the beginning of olden day to the present day.
The instrument which has been using since the beginning of olden
day to the present day is a single whole of the combination of two
parts the Pena Cheijing and Pena Massa came to be known as Pena
which still regarded as the God and Goddesses in Manipuri society.
Some of the related literatures are also reviewed to understand for
avoiding duplication of research and it has carried out with
qualitative and quantitative method using both primary and
secondary data.

Chapter-2 highlighted the aesthetic values of the traditional roles of

Pena in Manipuri society that has begun its origin with the reign of
God handing over to men for the various purposes along with the
formation of human evolution by God Sanamahi through using
“Nahui Pena” and the process of interweaving all the God from
heaven and earth along with men came to be known as “Langdaikon
Pena”. It also highlight about the origin of all the components of
Pena with an aesthetic values of creating Pena Cheijing and Pena
massa with a concept of the incarnation of the two things God and
Goddesses, the father and mother, Pa and Pi, male and female and
with its sound “Ri-ri,Ru-ru,Re-re” symbolise as the producer of all
living creature.

Chapter-3 highlighted about the moods of Pena playing through

classifying four category of its using which are Pena for
entertainment, Royal family, Ritualistic specially Laiharaoba and
other religious functions. Here it attempts to trace the realistic
nature of Pena playing and its significance roles to the Manipuri
society.

Chapter-4 attempts to investigate into the character and principles

of Pena starting from making a Pena with a classification of three
parts the main body or maroo, the cheijing or the bow and the uchan
marek or oily waxed of pine tree and the relatives songs of Pena
playing in accordance with the programme concerns like “Yakairol”
eshei of functional song relating to the deities, “Yakairol” and
“Naosumlon” of Royal functional song, “Nahutnareng” and others
songs of social function of pre-hindu and post-hindu upto the reign
of King Chandrakriti and in the social entertainment after the reign of
King and till today are Hapli thangei, haply pabot and many other
songs are involving in the process of reconstructing the super
structure through becoming a part of various social function in
different stages of Manipuri society.