With the passage of time and the development and consolidation of the kingdom, encounters and contacts with other cultures and peoples became an inevitable feature.

However, the ancient religion of the Meeteis still continued to hold a dominant sway over the lives of the people in the valley and ancient animistic tribal religions had an overarching presence amongst the hill tribes. [ 12 ]

Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries witnessed the emergence of immense proselytizing activities in the Indian subcontinent. Historians have assessed the origins of these proselytizing waves in terms of increasing persecution of Hindu missionaries during Aurangazeb's reign.[ 13 ]

As a result of this persecution, the Hindu missionaries had to look eastward as the region beyond Bengal remained outside the domain of Aurangazeb's power. The predominantly difficult geographical terrain of this region prevented any major power from the west to extend influence.

History bears testimony to the repeated attempts by the Mughals to invade Ahom (present Assam) only to face successive failures. The series of conflicts between the mighty Mughals and the determined and fiercely independent Ahoms perhaps formed the basis of increasing Hindu proselytizing missions.

Ahom opposition to the Mughals provided fertile ground for the hectic activities of the persecuted Hindu missionaries who found enthusiastic support among the Ahom ruling class.

The Ahom court of Assam, the Kachari kingdom and Tripura gradually fell under the influence of these Hindu missionaries. It has been pointed out that by the seventeenth century these neighbouring kingdoms in the west of Manipur were already under the influence of Vainshnavite Hinduism.

These kingdoms and their successive rulers gave active support to the Brahmins who migrated to Manipur on proselytizing missions.[ 14 ] These missionaries contributed significantly to the introduction and growth of Hinduism in Manipur.

Bamon Khunthok, an account of Brahmin migrancy to Manipur, accurately describes a steady flow of Brahmin missionaries from different parts of India into the Manipur valley.

The strong legacy of traditional Meetei faith never perceived these Brahmin missionaries as a substantial threat and, on most occasions, was viewed with amusement. As they were never taken seriously, the ruling monarchs presumably allowed them to settle.

In fact, most of these Brahmins were allotted clan names and absorbed into the Meetei fold. [ 15 ]

On most occasions, they were allowed to marry Meetei women. They primarily came without family or women. It has been recorded that these Brahmin immigrants were made to marry women of the Kei class.

These women were labourers who had to provide and pound rice for the royal family. [ 16 ]

Thereby, the status of the Brahmins were greatly lowered. It is a clear indication of the fact that they were not given a respectable status in society nor was their faith or doctrines accepted readily by the people.

The scene gradually began to change with the accession of Charairongba to the throne of Manipur in 1697. His short reign from 1697 to 1706 laid the seeds for what would become a catastrophic upheaval shortly afterwards.

Charairongba became the first Meetei king who converted to Vaishnavite Hinduism. Mentioned in the chronicle as the first Meetei king who formally took the sacred Hindu thread with rites and rituals, he did not make any attempt to establish Hinduism as the official religion in the kingdom. [ 17 ]

The chronicle maintains clearly that Charairongba, inspite of his conversion to Hinduism, could never break off from the traditional Meetei religion and its practices.

Traditional Meetei religion and culture flourished as there was no prohibition on consumption of meat and wine during his reign. Hinduism was yet to make a decisive impact on the traditional Meetei religion.

Moreover, the people still saw the new faith and its missionaries with amusement rather than a substantial threat to their culture and identity. It was with Charairongba's death and his son Pamheiba's accession to the throne that eventually turned the tables.

— to be continued