'Laishram Tomba' - The Python Man
- Eben Pok tales -

Sanatombi Angomcha *

My 'Bubok' (grandma) used to narrate me the tale of 'Laishram Tomba', the man who became a 'Lairen' (python). I was being told that "Laishram Tomba ' in person resided somewhere in Wangkhei Laishram Leikai ( which is nearby my locality) and he was quite interested in trying out various 'mantra jaadus' (black art).

Of all the 'Saiyons' (avatars) he was pretty keen to become a 'Lairen' (python). He learned some black art from his father who was equally interested in the same field. Every single day after his school he kept trying his various arts.

Sometimes he minimized himself beneath a tyre, sometimes he would jump into the pond and get vanished for hours and sometimes he would spew himself as 'Santhi' (cow dung) on the road.

It was also heard that he could swap his role or avatar to any object whether it's a flower, a piece of stick or even a cycle tyre.

One day after his school, 'Laishram Tomba' was badly scolded by his Mother for being very notorious and he ran away from his home. Out of utter frustration (or maybe some another reason) he jumped into the same usual pukhri (pond) where he often practiced his black art.

And after that day he never came back.

No one knew and no one either knows yet of where 'Laishram Tomba' has gone though it has been told by some "Meitei Maibas' (priests) that he has become a 'Lairen' so far and is making 'Sangai paat" (a name of a small Paat (marshy land) in Wangkhei) an ideal habitat for himself.

During our childhood days, whenever, we had to go to 'Bamon Leikai' (a name of a locality) bypassing 'Sangai paat' as a short cut route, our elders used to scare us of "Laishram Tomba'.

My Eben made it a particular point that whenever we see some sweet scenting strange flower or some unusual cow dung in some strange location in and around' Sangai paat', we should spit three times telling "Laishram Tomba Nasak Khang ee" (Laishram Tomba don't be in disguise I know you).

We were being told that this way we can over-power the evil things which would follow suit after encountering him.

Lairen Mathek - A dance ritual during Lai Haraoba

No matter what and how, the realistic-myth of 'Laishram Tomba' still continues in every nook and corner of 'Wangkhei' till date.

And when it is monsoon, and the local paats (marshy lands) are over poured with rain water, people start getting scary of 'Laishram Tomba', the python man.

There is this saying in Manipuri "Lairen Matung Ngaa Inba" (fishes following the Python). And according to our elders it really happened and is still happening in 'Sangai paat'.

Everyone in my locality is still scared of 'Laishram Tomba'.

I was also been told that in one of his avatars 'Laishram Tomba' made an open announcement sort of oath that until and unless Laishram Saagei (a surname) exists in Manipur, he will always be immortal.

And those who do not belong to "Laishram Saagei' claim that 'Laishram Tomba haatringei Laishram sagei haana tumnaba haatlu' ( before killing Laishram Tomba, one must destroy the "Laishram' community).

I do not equally align with this later assertion since it seems to rise up some sort of natural animosity between 'Laishrams' and the rest of the communities in Wangkhei as well as Manipur.

I still have so many doubts about 'Laishram Tomba' and am updating my own knowledge through further more sources.

My Ebenpok is no more otherwise I could still rely upon her for so many themes. However, I will try to make it a point that I bring alive the spirit of my 'Eben' re-narrating the tales she used to tell me during my childhood.

Epen Poki paotaak (Moral of eben pok's tale)
'Akibana khak ngamhanganu' (Don't let yourself over-powered by fear)''

---

* Sanatombi Angomcha contributes regularly to e-pao.net. The writer can be reached at eben(dot)poktales(at)gmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on January 14th, 2009.

---