Related Research Articles
Meitei also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic. Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali. There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census, 1.52 million of whom are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, Manipuri people, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group native to the Indian State of Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Republic of India and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meiteis in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meiteis represents about 53% of Manipur's population.
The Meitei script, also known as the Kanglei script or the Kok Sam Lai script, after its first three letters is an abugida in the Brahmic scripts family used to write the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur, Assam and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is first known from engravings on 6th century CE coins and copper plate inscriptions. as verified by the various publications of the National Sahitya Akademi. It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali alphabet. A few manuscripts survive. In the 20th century, the script was revived and is again being used. Beginning in 2021, the Government of Manipur began to use the Meitei alongside the Bengali-Assamese script, per the Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021.
Sanamahism, also known as Meiteism, or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Sidaba Mapu and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi. Traditionally every Meitei household, irrespective of the religion, worships Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi. Sanamahism does not have a religious head but has a body, the Maru Loishang, that oversees the main religious activities and governs all affairs of the religion, including the conduct of priest and priestess. The Maru Loishang also acts a court for religious disputes. There are three main departments under the Manu Loishang, namely, the Amaiba Loishang, the Pena Asheiba Loishang, and the Amaibi Loishang. These departments have existed since the reign of King Meidingu Hongnemyoi Khunjao Naothingkhong of Manipur in 662 CE.
Manipuri Vaishnavism, also known as Meitei Vaishnavism is a regional variant of Gaudiya Vaishnavism with a culture-forming role in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur.
Cheitharol Kumbaba, or Cheithalon Kumpapa (Ch.K.), the "Royal Chronicle of Manipur" is a court chronicle of the kings of Manipur, which claims to start from 33 CE and to cover the rule of 76 Kings until 1955. The work of chronicling actually began during the reign of King Kiyamba in 1485 CE. The earlier events were reconstructed later during the reign of Bhagyachandra, presumably from oral sources or from scattered written records. According to scholar Saroj Nalini Parratt, the earlier parts have relatively little detail but contain numerous inaccuracies. But they are still said to be useful in reconstructing Manipur's early history.
The Ningthouja dynasty, also known as Mangang dynasty, comprises the descendants of the kings of Manipur. Ningthouja literally means progeny of King. It has 125 extended families. It was apparently founded by King Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangba in 33 CE.
Thongalen is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the Guardian God of the nadir..
Miss Meetei Chanu or Miss Meitei Chanu is an international annual beauty pageant that is run by the Manipur based Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP). The event aims to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of Sanamahism. It is one of the most watched beauty pageants in North East India. It co-exists with Miss Manipur, Femina Miss India Manipur and Miss Kangleipak.
Leima Lainaotabi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the youngest wife of God Thongalel of the underworld kingdom. Thongalel sent her to be the wife of Poireiton, her brother-in-law. Lainaotabi gave birth to a son with Poireiton. Her legend says she made the first clay pot. She was worshipped by the people of Ashangbam clan.
Meitei script movement, also called Meetei script movement, is a series of cultural wars and campaigns, undertaken by various cultural and sociopolitical associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities, against the Government of Manipur and other authorities concerned, regarding the revivalism and the development of the Meitei script.
The Naoriya Phulo script, also known as the Naoria script, the Invented Meitei Yelhou Mayek script, or the Invented Meetei Yelhou Mayek script, is a constructed script, invented by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo (1888-1941), to write Meitei language. It is different from the Meitei Mayek, the official script for Meitei language. It shares many similarities with the Devanagari script and the Eastern Nagari script.
The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB) is a temple development board of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongban Uphong Yumpham, Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It is dedicated not only to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi of Sanamahism, but also to the other ancient Meitei gods and goddesses of the traditional Meitei religion.
The International Sanamahism Students' Association (ISSA) (Meitei: Malem Sanamahi Laining Maheiroi Lup), also called the International Sanamahism Students' Association, Kangleipak (Meitei: Malem Sanamahi Laining Maheiroi Lup, Kangleipak), is an international non-governmental organization of students of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion). It gives its services to the conservation and the upraising of the practices of Sanamahism in the society. It also draws the attention to the government of Manipur state to take up essential steps to protect Sanamahism from getting extinct.
The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) is an international cultural organization that works for the development of the Meitei culture of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It aims to preserve the unique history, culture, identity, and religion of Manipur. It also advocates to take "extra caution about the issue of preservation of the cultural identity of the Indigenous people in the wake of the present globalization".
The culture of Meitei civilization evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Ancient Kangleipak, continuing most notably into Medieval Kangleipak, while influencing the neighboring states and kingdoms, till present times.
Laininghan Naoriya Phulo was a Meitei religious, social and political leader and the founder of the antique Meitei religion revivalist school of Apokpa Marup. According to Meitei doctrines, he was regarded as a prophet who was born to preserve and revive the suppressed ancient paganism of the Meitei ethnicity. He is seen as an example for all Meiteis to follow. He invented a modern script to write Meitei language and its numerals taking help from the old script which he discovered from the Shakok Salai Thiren, based on the cosmic evolution of the Meitei mythology. Still today, people celebrate his birthday on the month of Thawan (August) according to Meitei calendar both in Assam and Manipur.
Meitei language, officially and formally known as Manipuri language, is one of the official languages of the state government of Assam. It serves as the additional official language in all the three districts of the Barak Valley as well as in the Hojai district of Assam.
The Meitei people, also called Manipuri people, is one of the minority ethnic groups in Assam. They are referred to as Mekhlee, Mekhelee, Meckley, Monipuri, Monipuriya, Magalu, Mogolu, Moglie, Moglai, among many other names dedicated to them by the other people of Assam. Meiteis call Assam as "Tekhao" or "Tekhau" or "Tekhaw". In October 2020 their population was estimated 168,127 with its population, the Meitei tribe is a fairly large ethnic minority in Assam and Meitei culture can be found in everywhere places.
The intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Meitei civilization is recognised, honoured, preserved as well as promoted by the UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture of the Union Government of India, the Government of Armenia, the State Government of Manipur, the State Government of Assam, the State Government of Tripura, among many other notable institutions.
References
- ↑ Naoria, Amusana (2015). Apokpa Laining (in Manipuri).
- ↑ Singh, N. Joykumar (2005). Revolutionary Movements in Manipur. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-87606-92-5.
- ↑ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1998). Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy. Parimal Publications.
- ↑ Raha, Manis Kumar (1995). The People of the Himalayas: Bio-cultural and Ecological Aspects. Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Culture, Government of India. ISBN 978-81-85579-30-6.
- ↑ Dena, Lal (1991). History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949. Orbit Publishers-Distributors.
- ↑ Danda, Ajit K. (1999). Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Integration. Asiatic Society.
- ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ahan Taranithoi, Haunasang, Apokpa Marup (2010). A Brief Life Sketch of LAININGHAN NAORIA PHULO THE PROPHET (1888–1941).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)