EARLY MEITE1 HISTORY : Religion, Society and the Manipur Puyas is a concerted attempt towards presenting an objective reconstruction of the religion and society in early Meitei history. Studies undertaken so far have been inadequate in terms of handling the mass of manuscripts called Puyas which are the only major written source for the study. Notwithstanding the existence of reliable historical material alongside mythical narrative, the problem has been the treatment of the Puyas by majority of the scholars as authentic historical records per $e. This book offers a fresh approach to the treatment of the subject. It integrates critical study of the Puyas, experiences of the living tradition archaeological evidence and secondary data sources to comprehend the subject from a wider perspective. The study focuses on ancestor worship; a critical study of which is crucial for understanding other aspects of Manipur history. The traditional religion passed through a long process of evolution and survived even after Vaisnavism was declared the state religion of Manipur in the 18Thcentury A.D. The book will serve its purpose if it contributes towards a meaningful interpretation of the history of the Meiteis. The work is also aimed at stimulating discourses on issues such as .identity, ethnicity and nationality affecting contemporary Manipur society. It is hoped that the study will provide a more perceptive understanding of the past, which is essential in order to understand the present and subsequent periods of Meitei history.

The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal has a project to map the cultural heritage of North-East India. One volume is planned on each state. Manipur is one of the unique multi-ethnic states of North-East India which has a complex but distinctive cultural heritage of its own. This book presents the different facets of the cultural heritage of the border state of Manipur ingrained within its historicity, identity and political ecology. This book will be of much value for scholars across the disciplinary frames and pave the way for further research. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Articles chiefly on the dance styles accompanying Maharas, a form of Rāsalīlā, Vaishnava drama, from Manipur, India, and the contribution of Sija Laioibi, b. 1771, Vaishnava woman saint and princess from the royal state.