Ancestors of Meitei confederacy

The Meitei community in Manipur was formerly divided into seven distinct clans. Every clan possessed its own lineage and collectively was referred to as a Yek Salai. Each Yek Salai can trace its origins back to an ancient semi-mythical or a royal leader. The Yek Salais constitute the socio-political basis of Ancient Kangleipak and still shape Meitei identity and heritage. These Yek Salais form the social and political foundation of Ancient Kangleipak and continue to influence Meitei identity and culture in the present day.

All seven sub-ethnic clans are thought to have descended from the same divine ancestor, the god Pakhangba, according to mythological, religious, and traditional narratives.

These seven Meitei subgroups, nonetheless, were historically distinct ethnic groups with varied origins. Despite this, they shared a common language, although there were dialectal differences, a shared religion with different sects, and a collective homeland known as Kangleipak.

On a brief note, not every people from each clan descends from the clan's common ancestors. An ancestor of a clan means the founder of the main lineage of the clan.