{{Short description|Royal house of the uncrowned Meitei extended royal family}} {{Contains special characters|Meitei}} {{Infobox family | name = House of Karta | native_name = ꯀꯔꯇꯥꯃꯌꯨꯝ | native_name_lang = Mtei | image = In manipur3.gif | image_caption = Coat of Arms of the Ningthouja dynasty | origin = Imphal | parent_family = Ningthouja dynasty | country = {{flag|India}} | region = Manipur and across | founder = Bhagyachandra | dissolution = 1891 | final_ruler = Kulachandra Singh | historic_seat = Kangla Palace | other_families = Mantrimayum<br />House of Nara Singh<br />Lourungpurelmayum<br />Urungpurelmayum }}
The '''House of Karta''' ({{langx|mni|ꯀꯔꯇꯥꯃꯌꯨꯝ|Kartaa mayuum|Karta dynasty}} IPA: {{IPA|/kər.taː.mə.juːm/}}) 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.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=The Six Royal Houses of Ningthemchamayums |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.The_Six_Royal_Houses_of_Ningthemchamayums_By_Kiyamba_Ningthemcha |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=My memories of Imphal from 1941 Part 16 By Mohendra Irengbam |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.EI.My_memories_of_Imphal_from_1941_Part_16_By_Mohendra_Irengbam |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref> The House of Karta claims their descent from King Bhagyachandra (r. 1759-1761; 1763-1798).<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Jyotirmoy |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98685 |title=History Of Manipur |date=1958 |pages=45}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Lairenmayum Iboongohal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQoIAQAAIAAJ |title=Introduction to Manipur |date=1963 |publisher=S. Babudhan Singh |pages=212 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Somorjit |first=Raj Kumar |date=2017 |title=A Short Historical Note on the House of Narasingh |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1213753/ |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=UNT Digital Library |pages=1–2 |language=English}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wLzDLsEYZGQC|publisher=Mittal Publications|date=2010|isbn=978-81-8324-342-1|language=en|first=Jamini|last=Devi|pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Vaisnavism in Manipur: Volume 1: Experiences on Life, Culture & Belief|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMtjEQAAQBAJ|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|date=2021-01-01|isbn=978-93-5439-016-6|language=en|first1=Laimayum Bishwanath|last1=Sharma|first2=Shukhdeba Sharma|last2=Hanjabam|first3=Aheibam Koireng|last3=Singh|first4=Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar|last4=Sharma|pages=182}}</ref> His reign took place during a period of repeated Burmese invasions and internal disputes within the royal family.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Manipur|url=http://culturalpursuits.com/manipur.htm|website=culturalpursuits.com|access-date=2025-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810120408/http://culturalpursuits.com/manipur.htm|archive-date=2009-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Eastern Frontier Of British India 1784 1826|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.76519|date=1943|last=Anil_chandra_banerjee|pages=34–35}}</ref> During his exile in Assam, he formed political ties with the Ahom kingdom.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/court-chronicle-of-the-kings-of-manipur/C1DB5D51F88A82F9A10F89DDDBEDE1E5|publisher=Foundation Books|date=2009|isbn=978-81-7596-638-3|first=Saroj Nalini|last=Arambarn Parratt|pages=3|quote=Chingthangkhompa fled to the land of Mayang [Kachar] and reached Tekhao [Assam]. Most of the inhabitants of the land went and stayed at Moirang.}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|surname=Singh|given=Kunj Bihari|year=2004|orig-year=1963|chapter=Manipur Vaishnavism: A Sociological Interpretation|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc6GAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA125|title=Sociology of Religion in India|editor=Rowena Robinson|series=Themes in Indian Sociology, 3|place=New Delhi|publisher=Sage Publ. India|pages=125–132|url={{Google books|Mc6GAwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|isbn=0-7619-9781-4}} p. 128.</ref><ref name=":3" /> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sana|first=Rajkumar Somorjit|title=The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs ( From 1666 to 1850 CE)|year=2010|publisher=Waikhom Ananda Meetei|location=Imphal|isbn=978-81-8465-210-9|page=188}}</ref> He was later assassinated by conspirators Prince Daoji and Gambhir Singh.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Colonialism to Democracy: A History of Manipur, 1819-1972|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r1xuAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Spectrum Publications|date=2002|isbn=978-81-87502-44-9|language=en|first=N. Joykumar|last=Singh|pages=4}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Dena|first=Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vVluAAAAMAAJ|title=History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949|date=1991|publisher=Orbit Publishers-Distributors|pages=7|language=en}}</ref> After that, his younger brother Madhuchandra Singh immediately took over the throne<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Short History Of Manipur|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466438|first=R. k Jhaljit|last=Singh|pages=210}}</ref> and placed his younger brothers Chourajit Singh and Marjit Singh as the Yuvaraj and Senapati respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Devi|first=Moirangthem Tineshowri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--xiEQAAQBAJ|title=1857 and Prince Narendrajit (Sana Chahi Ahum)|date=2024-01-01|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-93-5594-769-7|pages=37|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Dena|first=Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vVluAAAAMAAJ|title=History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949|date=1991|publisher=Orbit Publishers-Distributors|pages=7|language=en}}</ref> However, he was defeated and killed by Chourajit Singh with support from Marjit Singh.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh|first1=Aheibam Koireng|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYtjEQAAQBAJ|title=Manipur Myanmar Historical Connections|last2=Hanjabam|first2=Shukhdeba Sharma|date=2022-01-01|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-93-5439-078-4|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tarapot|first=Phanjoubam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FsUJ0E3BXkMC&dq=Gambhir+Singh+independence&pg=PA125|title=Bleeding Manipur|date=2003|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-0902-1|pages=125|language=en}}</ref>
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).{{Efn|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).}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KAMEI |first=PROF GANGMUMEI |date=2025-08-09 |title=Colonial Policy and Practice in Manipur – Part 2 (last) » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics |url=https://imphalreviews.in/colonial-policy-and-practice-in-manipur-part-2-last/ |access-date=2025-11-26 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Both the House of Karta and the House of Nara Singh trace their descent from King Pamheiba.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Being a Rajkumari by Tanya Sana|url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.Essays.Being_a_Rajkumari_by_Tanya_Sana|website=e-pao.net|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
==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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Dance: Origin, Costume, Features & Famous Dancers (UPSC Notes) |url=https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/manipuri-dance |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=Testbook |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Kabui |first1=Gangmumei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6pf_muabVNIC&q=Bhagyachandra |title=The History of the Zeliangrong Nagas: From Makhel to Rani Gaidinliu |last2=Kamei |first2=Gangmumei |date=2004 |publisher=Spectrum Publications |isbn=978-81-87502-76-0 |language=en}}</ref> When Bhagyachandra adopted Vaishnavism, he also built temples and instituted devotional rituals, many of which are still practiced in modern-day Manipur.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-19 |title=Vaishnavism and Raas Leela's history in Manipur |url=https://varnikadesigns.wordpress.com/2022/08/19/vaishnavism-and-raas-leelas-history-in-manipur/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=VarnikaDesigns |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Laimayum Bishwanath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8xjEQAAQBAJ&q=Bhagyachandra+invented+Karta&pg=PA23 |title=Vaisnavism in Manipur: Volume 2: Performing Arts |last2=Hanjabam |first2=Shukhdeba Sharma |last3=Singh |first3=Aheibam Koireng |last4=Sharma |first4=Kakchingtabam Ruhinikumar |date=2021-01-01 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-93-5439-021-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Life Sketch Cultural History of Manipur |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.History_of_Manipur.Rajarshi_Bhagyachandra_Life_Sketch_Cultural_History_of_Manipur |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
=== 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=78 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Jyotirmoy |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98685 |title=History Of Manipur |date=1958 |pages=72–90}}</ref>
== List of Karta monarchs == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%; width:100%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid" ! rowspan="2"| Portrait ! rowspan="2"| Name ! colspan="3"| Reign |- ! From ! To ! Duration |- | rowspan="2"| 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | Bhagyachandra<br />{{small|(b. 1748 – d. 1798)}} | 4 April 1759 | 1761 | 1–2 years |- | 6 September 1763 | 5 February 1798 | {{age in years and days|1763|9|6|1798|2|5}} |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Labanyachandra |5 February 1798 |10 January 1801 |{{age in years and days|1798|2|5|1801|1|10}} |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Madhuchandra Singh {{small|(b. 1764 – d. 1804)}} |10 January 1801 |18 March 1804 |{{age in years and days|1801|1|10|1804|3|18}} |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" |Chourajit Singh |18 March 1804 |27 March 1814 |{{age in years and days|1804|3|18|1814|3|27}} |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" |Marjit Singh |6 April 1814 |9 December 1819 |{{age in years and days|1814|4|6|1819|12|9}} |- | 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Herachandra (Burmese occupancy) |1820 |1821 | less than 1-1 year |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Yumjaotaba (Burmese occupancy) |February 1821 |April 1821 |1–2 months |- | rowspan="2"| 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Gambhir Singh (Burmese occupancy) |April 1821 |October 1821 |5–6 months |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba (Independent ruler) {{small|(b. 1788 – d. 1834)}} |12 June 1825 |9 January 1834 |{{age in years and days|1825|6|12|1834|1|9}} |- | rowspan="2"| 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Chandrakirti Singh (Ningthempishak) |9 January 1834 |27 January 1844 |{{age in years and days|1834|1|9|1844|1|27}} |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Chandrakirti Singh (KCSI) {{small|(b. 1831 – d. 1886)}} |3 July 1850 |17 May 1886 |{{age in years and days|1850|7|3|1886|5|17}} |- | 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Surachandra Singh |17 May 1886 |7 September 1890 |{{age in years and days|1886|5|17|1890|9|7}} |- |80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Kulachandra Singh |9 September 1890 |27 April 1891 |{{age in years and days|1890|9|9|1891|4|27}} |}
== Karta Crown Princes == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%; width:100%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid" ! rowspan="2"| Portrait ! rowspan="2"| Name ! colspan="3"| Birth and Death |- ! Birth ! Death ! Lifespan |- | 80px ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | Tikendrajit Singh<br/>{{Small|Koireng Sana}} | 29 December 1856 | 13 August 1891 | {{Age in years and days|1856|12|29|1891|8|13}} |}
==See also==
* Meitei royal etiquette * List of Meitei princesses
==References== {{Notelist}} {{reflist}}
Category:Ningthouja dynasty