Thabaton, lovingly called as Thaba,[1][2] was a lady in Meitei mythology and folklore of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).

Some time after the brothers left, in one fateful night, Keibu Keioiba (Meitei: ꯀꯩꯕꯨ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯏꯕ), the tiger headed man, entered into the house of the old lady, to devour her flesh.

To save herself from being killed, the old lady told Keibu Keioiba about the young, beautiful and lonely Thabaton.

She was held captive in the den (cave in another version of the story) of Keibu Keioiba in the middle of the thick woodlands.

On the other side, after some time ("months" or "years" according to different versions of the story), her brothers returned home and found her missing.

[6] The code words that was instructed to Thabaton by her brothers and later used by Keibu Keioiba to make her open the door is quoted as: "Sana O, Naril O Chenga Pellona Ebung gi Ebema Thabaton Ebung Lakle Thong hanglo.

In most versions, Thabaton was tricked by Keibu Keioiba by reciting the code words learned from the neighborhood old woman.

Taking advantage of the situation, Keibu Keioiba, who was hiding behind the old woman, sprang out, forcibly open the door and abducted the helpless Thabaton.

[7][8][10] In some versions of the story, using her wisdom, lady Thabaton planned to kill Keibu Keioiba and the treacherous old woman.

[b][7][8][10] In the "Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines" by Patricia Monaghan, Thabaton was described as a sex slave of Keibu Keioiba.

[10] The story of Thabaton gives the moral that "Smart person won't open door to stranger.

"[11] In the 2009 animation film Keibu Keioiba (Tiger Head), the creation of Thabaton's character was a challenge to the filmmakers.

The animation artists found it hard to develop the features of the faces and physiques of Thabaton and her seven different but lookalike brothers who all belong to one family having the age range between 10 and 14 years.