Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, was the first Meitei monarch of the Ningthouja dynasty, who ascended the throne of the Kangla of Kangleipak realm) in 33 AD, after the withdrawal of the mainstream powers of the Khabas. Before the reign of king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the clans, or salais were already in existence.
A Sagol Kangjei (polo) match depicted on an Indian stamp.
Pakhangba is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in paphal, mythical illustrations of the deity. It is believed that the ancestor of one of the Meitei clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.
Idols of Pakhangba and his consort in the Pakhangba Temple, Kangla.
Pakhangba statue
Two Meitei Hiyang hiren, or royal boats, in the shape of Pakhangba inside the Hijagang (Meitei for 'Boatyard') in the Kangla Fort in Imphal
An illustration of a traditional building based on Meitei architecture, highlighting the Chirong, a sacred symbol for the antlers of deity Pakhangba