which was constructed in Manipur during the reign of
Bhagyachandra & installed in a temple constructed in
Nabadwip on 1794 by his daughter Sija Laiongbi aka Bimbamati
Vaishnavism in Manipur has an extended history. While there are records in the
Puranas as to account of the pre-historic forms of Vaishnavism or
Bhagavatism in the area of present state, the modern history of Vaishnava practices in Manipur started with a king of the
Shan Kingdom of Pong gifting a
murti of the
Sudarshana Chakra (the celestial discus of Vishnu or
Krishna) to Kyamaba, king of Manipur, so since the 1470s the kings of Manipur started worshiping Vishnu. Many
Brahmin priests from the western areas of India, came to Manipur and settled there. The account of the arrival of Brahmins is found in the records of the book
Bamon Khunthock. King Kayamba (1467–1523) built a
Vishnu temple in
Vishnupur, a notable architectural monument. In 1704 King
Charairongba was initiated into Vaishnava tradition and since then Vaishnavism became the
state religion. This consolidated the cultural contact with India even further. After a short period of Vaishnavite
Ramaism penetration,
Gaudiya Vaishnavism spread in the early 18th century, especially from beginning its second quarter. King
Gharib Nawaz (Pamheiba) was ruling from 1709 to 1748 and he was initiated into Vaishnavism of Gaudiya tradition, by the
Sylheti preacher
Shantidas Gosai, a follower of
Narottama Dasa. He practiced this religion for nearly twenty years. Preachers and pilgrims used to arrive in large numbers and cultural contact with the neighboring
Ahom kingdom was maintained. It is believed that the wave of devotion that turned the entire kingdom Krishna conscious took place during the reign of Gharib Nawaz’s grandson
Bhagyachandra.
Bhagyachandra King Ching-Thang Khomba, also known as Bhagyachandra, was most devoted ruler and propagandist of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, under the influence of Narottama Dasa's disciples, and visited the Gaudiya holy site of
Nabadwip. He ascended the throne in 1759; however, in 1762 the
Burmese invaded Manipur, and the king, with his queen and a few attendants, sought refuge with their son-in-law, the Ahom king
Rajeswar Singha, who was husband of Bhagyachandra's daughter
Kuranganayani. The dispute over real identity of the king, called for a demonstration of supernatural powers, believed to be attributed to the king. It is believed that Bhagyachandra had a revelation from Krishna in a dream; based on this revelation, he committed himself to making worship of
Govinda the state religion on return to power in Manipur. It is believed that the
murti of Govinda was to be made of the specific sacred tree and carefully planned
rasa-lila dances to be instituted in the kingdom, which was regained with the help of the Ahom army. On reinstating the throne, a Govinda idol was installed at the
royal temple and regularly worshiped; later a
Radha idol was installed and worshiped next to it. ==Impact of Gaudiya Vaishnavism==