Govinda Nirupan

The video is a presentation about the history of Vaishnavism and how it developed in Manipur. It also discusses the creation of the idol of Lord Govindaji (the incarnation of Lord Krishna as a cowherd) by a Manipuri King. The film is produced by the Manipur Film Development and includes interviews conducted in the Meitei language with scholars and artists. Vaishnavism flourished in the north eastern kingdom of Manipur during the 18th century under the patronage of the Meitei Kings. One of the most well known kings associated with the spread of Vaishnavism in the history of Manipur is King Bhagyachandra who is credited with the creation of the idol of Shri Govindaji and the introduction of the Ras Lila, a Radha-Krishna dance-drama. According to the royal chronicle Cheitharol Kumbaba, Lord Govindaji appeared to King Bhagyachandra in his dream and directed him to carve a statue out of a sacred jackfruit tree at Kaina, a small hillock in Manipur.