Sanamahism or Meiteism or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after God Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Yaibirel Sidaba and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi. Traditionally every Meitei household, irrespective of the religion, worships Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi. The importance of Sanamahi in the religion is also emphasized in the name itself which means Liquid Gold. Sanamahism does not have a religious head but has a body, Maru Loishang that oversees the main religious activities and govern all affairs pertaining to the religion including conducts of priest and priestess. The Maru Loishang also acts a court for religious disputes. There are three main departments under the Pandit 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 AD.
Imoinu or Emoinu is a goddess associated with household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is frequently associated with Leimarel Sidabi. She is regarded as one of the incarnations or representations of goddess Leimarel Sidabi.
Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the highest female divinity in Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, nature and household. She is the mother of every living beings in the universe.
The Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple is an ancient temple of Goddess Hiyangthang Lairembi of Meitei religion (Sanamahism). The sacred building is situated on the hilltop of Heibok Ching in the Hiyangthang, Manipur. Thousands of devotees thronged at the holy site during the festival time of Lai Haraoba of Sanamahism as well as Durga Puja of Hinduism.
The "Meitei inscriptions" refer to the inscriptions and the epigraphy, written in Meitei language. These are the major sources of study of ancient history of Meitei people and the kingdom of Kangleipak. Meitei inscriptions mainly occur in the stone slabs and rock edicts. They are mainly found in the hills as well as the plain of the present day Manipur. They were written in either Meitei script or Bengali script.
Kounu is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is a consort of God Koupalu. She is the guardian of the northern direction. Kounu has two homes. Her main home is on Mount Kounu. Her other home is in Mount Koubru, which is where her husband Koupalu (Koubru) lives. She is worshipped with Koubru as the deities of the Khullakpa. Kounu and Koubru ruled Ancient Manipur for a very long time after the reign of King Ningthou Puthiba.
Yenakha Paotapi or Yenakha Paodabi Saijin Polibi is an old demoness. Stories often show her as an evil spirit. She lingers around the eaves of roofs in Meitei mythology and folklore. Her story is from Antique Kangleipak. She is described as the one who interferes everywhere. Legend says that she could not live with human beings. Instead, she lives like a dog or a jackal, sitting on graves. In some cases, she is depicted as a minor goddess in the Meitei religion.
Nungthel Leima is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion. She is an adopted daughter of God Koupalu (Koubru) and Goddess Kounu. She is a wife of God Loyalakpa. She is regarded as the deity of the Khunjahanba. She is one of the incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.
The Konthoujam Lairembi Stone Inscription or Konthoujam Lairemma Stone Inscription is a Meitei language stone inscription found in a sacred site dedicated to Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi of Sanamahism in Konthoujam village of Manipur.
The Kohima Stone Inscription or the Gambhir Singh's Stone is a Meitei language stone inscription, erected by Meitei King Raja Gambhir Singh of Manipur kingdom in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. It was erected in 1833 AD as a mark of Manipuri conquest and supremacy over the Naga Hills in 1832 AD. It was inscribed in sanskritised Manipuri language in Bengali script. Manipuri King Raja Gambhir Singh conquered the whole Naga Hills with his military power of Manipur Levy. It was after he had finally defeated the Angami Naga tribes of Kohima that the historic testimonial stone inscription was erected.
Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi or Chingphuron Konthousu is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Kangleipak. She was formerly a mortal being belonging to the Haorok Konthou clan. She is a consort of the sky god Salailen. Her only child is Khoriphaba.
Khoriphaba is a God in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the son of Sky God Salailen and Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi. He came down from heaven to earth to search for his mother and then for a bride. He is best known for wrestling with Loyalakpa in the Lai Haraoba festival. He is also a polo playing God.
Noinu Thumleima or Thumkhong Lairembi is the goddess of salt and salt wells in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Manipur. She is a sister of the goddesses, Phouoibi (Phouleima), Ngaleima and Ereima (Ireima). People pray to her so there will be enough salt. Salt is an important part of the human diet.
Yumjao Leima or Yumjao Lairembi or Yumjao Lairemma is the mother goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power in Meitei mythology and religion. She is designated as the all time ruling Queen Mother. Legend says she assumes a human form in white clothes and blesses kings. She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.
Thongak Lairembi, also known as Langol Lairemma, is a primordial goddess in Meitei mythology and religion. She is the divine female personification of the death. She guards the door of the entrance to the underworld, which is the land of the death, ruled by her consort, Thongalen. Legend says she gets departed from her husband when Thongalel was lost in the battle between the gods of the underworld and those of the upper world, in the hands of Salailen Sidaba. The winner asked the goddess, who is the wife of the loser, to be the gatekeeper of the entrance gate to the underworld, and for Thongalel, he gave him Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, in return.
Koujeng Leima is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion. She is a wife of God Koupalu (Koubru). She is of tribal origin, but later worshipped by the Meiteis. She is one of the nine Laibenthous.
Ichum Lairembi or Echum Lairembi or Eechum Lairembi is a Lairembi (goddess) in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. Her major cult centre of worship is located in Khurkhul region, present day Manipur.
Konthoujam is a Meitei ethnic family name (surname). Notable people with this family name are:
