House of Karta

House of Karta
ꯀꯔꯇꯥꯃꯌꯨꯝ
Coat of Arms of the Ningthouja dynasty
Parent familyNingthouja dynasty
Country India
Current regionManipur and across
Place of originImphal
FounderBhagyachandra
Final rulerKulachandra Singh
Historic seatKangla Palace
Connected familiesMantrimayum
House of Nara Singh
Lourungpurelmayum
Urungpurelmayum
Dissolution1891

The House of Karta (Meitei: ꯀꯔꯇꯥꯃꯌꯨꯝ, /kər.taː.mə.juːm/ Kar-taa ma-yuum (IPA), lit. 'Karta dynasty') is one of the 5 royal houses of the Ningthouja dynasty of Manipur, India, alongside its counterpart, House of Nara Singh, with the latter being the current ruling house of Manipur.[1][2] The House of Karta claims their descent from King Bhagyachandra (r. 1759-1761; 1763-1798).[2][3][4][5] King Kulachandra Singh was the final ruler of the house but the family still lives on.

History

The House of Karta traces its origin to King Bhagyachandra (1748–1798), who ruled Manipur from 1759 to 1761 and from 1763 to 1798.[6][7] His reign took place during a period of repeated Burmese invasions and internal disputes within the royal family.[8][9] During his exile in Assam, he formed political ties with the Ahom kingdom.[10] He is also known for strengthening Meitei Vaishnavism, establishing major cultural practices such as the Raas Leela, and reorganising administration after returning to the throne.[11][8] Although he could not complete all of his planned reforms, his policies shaped Manipur’s political and cultural direction in the late 18th century.

After Bhagyachandra’s abdication in 1798 and his death in the same year, his eldest surviving son Rabinchandra succeeded him.[12] He was later assassinated by conspirators Prince Daoji and Gambhir Singh.[13][14] After that, his younger brother Madhuchandra Singh immediately took over the throne[15] and placed his younger brothers Chourajit Singh and Marjit Singh as the Yuvaraj and Senapati respectively.[16][17] However, he was defeated and killed by Chourajit Singh with support from Marjit Singh.[18] In the following years, Chourajit Singh and Marjit Singh had internal palace disputes and led to the latter being put on the throne after support from the Burmese, but also led to the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, in which Gambhir Singh played a key role on freeing Manipur from the Burmese.[19]

At various points, the throne alternated between the House of Karta and the House of Nara Singh, another branch of the Ningthouja family. The House of Karta ruled from 1763 upto the first reign of Gambhir Singh in 1821 and from 1822 to 1823, Joy Singh, the grandson of Prince Ananta Sai ruled. Until 1825, the House of Nara Singh ruled under Burmese occupancy (1819-1825).[a] Then, the House of Karta regained its rule from the restoration of Gambhir Singh as the king of Manipur from 1825 to 1844 (Nara Singh was the regent of young King Chandrakirti Singh, 1834-1844). After that, The House of Nara Singh became the rulers with Nara Singh reigning from 1844 to 1850 until his brother Debindro Singh in 1850. The House of Karta again returned to reign from the second reign of Chandrakirti Singh in 1850, upto the reign of the last ruler of the house, Kulachandra Singh in 1891.

The House of Nara Singh came back to prominence after that when the British chose young boy Churachand Singh as the king.[20]

Both the House of Karta and the House of Nara Singh trace their descent from King Pamheiba.[21][4][5]

Historical significance

Cultural contributions

During the reign of Bhagyachandra, the Ras Leela dance was organized as a court tradition. It included themes from Vaishnavism and was later recognized as a classical form of Manipuri dance.[22][23] When Bhagyachandra adopted Vaishnavism, he also built temples and instituted devotional rituals, many of which are still practiced in modern-day Manipur.[24][25][26]

Political influence

Members of the House of Karta have been involved in Manipur's political events. Bhagyachandra's youngest son, Gambhir Singh, spearheaded attempts to re-establish the kingdom after the early 19th-century Burmese invasions.[27][28]

List of Karta monarchs

Portrait Name Reign
From To Duration
Bhagyachandra
(b. 1748 – d. 1798) 		4 April 1759 1761 1–2 years
6 September 1763 5 February 1798 34 years, 152 days
Labanyachandra 5 February 1798 10 January 1801 2 years, 339 days
Madhuchandra Singh

(b. 1764 – d. 1804)

10 January 1801 18 March 1804 3 years, 68 days
Chourajit Singh 18 March 1804 27 March 1814 10 years, 9 days
Marjit Singh 6 April 1814 9 December 1819 5 years, 247 days
Herachandra (Burmese occupancy) 1820 1821 less than 1-1 year
Yumjaotaba (Burmese occupancy) February 1821 April 1821 1–2 months
Gambhir Singh (Burmese occupancy) April 1821 October 1821 5–6 months
Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba (Independent ruler)

(b. 1788 – d. 1834)

12 June 1825 9 January 1834 8 years, 211 days
Chandrakirti (Ningthempishak) 9 January 1834 27 January 1844 10 years, 18 days
Chandrakirti (KCSI)

(b. 1831 – d. 1886)

3 July 1850 17 May 1886 35 years, 318 days
Surachandra Singh 17 May 1886 7 September 1890 4 years, 113 days
Kulachandra Singh 9 September 1890 27 April 1891 230 days

Karta Crown Princes

Portrait Name Birth and Death
Birth Death Lifespan
Tikendrajit Singh
Koireng Sana 		29 December 1856 13 August 1891 34 years, 227 days

See also

References

  1. ^ Three House of Nara Singh rulers during Burmese occupancy were: Yadu Singh (son of king Badra Singh, 1823); Ragav Singh (son of king Yadu Singh, 1823-1824); and Badra Singh (1824-1825).
  1. ^ "The Six Royal Houses of Ningthemchamayums". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  2. ^ a b "My memories of Imphal from 1941 Part 16 By Mohendra Irengbam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  3. ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur. p. 45.
  4. ^ a b Singh, Lairenmayum Iboongohal (1963). Introduction to Manipur. S. Babudhan Singh. p. 212.
  5. ^ a b Somorjit, Raj Kumar (2017). "A Short Historical Note on the House of Narasingh". UNT Digital Library. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  6. ^ Devi, Jamini (2010). Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas. Mittal Publications. p. 1. ISBN 978-81-8324-342-1.
  7. ^ Sharma, Laimayum Bishwanath; Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Sharma, Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar (2021-01-01). Vaisnavism in Manipur: Volume 1: Experiences on Life, Culture & Belief. Concept Publishing Company. p. 182. ISBN 978-93-5439-016-6.
  8. ^ a b "Manipur". culturalpursuits.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  9. ^ Anil_chandra_banerjee (1943). The Eastern Frontier Of British India 1784 1826. pp. 34–35.
  10. ^ Arambarn Parratt, Saroj Nalini (2009). The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur. Foundation Books. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-7596-638-3. Chingthangkhompa fled to the land of Mayang [Kachar] and reached Tekhao [Assam]. Most of the inhabitants of the land went and stayed at Moirang.
  11. ^ Singh, Kunj Bihari (2004) [1963]. "Manipur Vaishnavism: A Sociological Interpretation". In Rowena Robinson (ed.). Sociology of Religion in India. Themes in Indian Sociology, 3. New Delhi: Sage Publ. India. pp. 125–132. ISBN 0-7619-9781-4. p. 128.
  12. ^ Sana, Rajkumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs ( From 1666 to 1850 CE). Imphal: Waikhom Ananda Meetei. p. 188. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
  13. ^ Singh, N. Joykumar (2002). Colonialism to Democracy: A History of Manipur, 1819-1972. Spectrum Publications. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-87502-44-9.
  14. ^ Dena, Lal (1991). History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949. Orbit Publishers-Distributors. p. 7.
  15. ^ Singh, R. k Jhaljit. A Short History Of Manipur. p. 210.
  16. ^ Devi, Moirangthem Tineshowri (2024-01-01). 1857 and Prince Narendrajit (Sana Chahi Ahum). Concept Publishing Company. p. 37. ISBN 978-93-5594-769-7.
  17. ^ Dena, Lal (1991). History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949. Orbit Publishers-Distributors. p. 7.
  18. ^ Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma (2022-01-01). Manipur Myanmar Historical Connections. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-93-5439-078-4.
  19. ^ Tarapot, Phanjoubam (2003). Bleeding Manipur. Har-Anand Publications. p. 125. ISBN 978-81-241-0902-1.
  20. ^ KAMEI, PROF GANGMUMEI (2025-08-09). "Colonial Policy and Practice in Manipur – Part 2 (last) » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics". Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  21. ^ "Being a Rajkumari by Tanya Sana". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  22. ^ "Manipuri Dance: Origin, Costume, Features & Famous Dancers (UPSC Notes)". Testbook. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  23. ^ Kabui, Gangmumei; Kamei, Gangmumei (2004). The History of the Zeliangrong Nagas: From Makhel to Rani Gaidinliu. Spectrum Publications. ISBN 978-81-87502-76-0.
  24. ^ "Vaishnavism and Raas Leela's history in Manipur". VarnikaDesigns. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  25. ^ Sharma, Laimayum Bishwanath; Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma; Singh, Aheibam Koireng; Sharma, Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar (2021-01-01). Vaisnavism in Manipur: Volume 2: Performing Arts. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-93-5439-021-0.
  26. ^ "Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Life Sketch Cultural History of Manipur". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  27. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  28. ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur. pp. 72–90.
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