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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.
Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means merry making of the Gods in Meiteilon. In this festival, the people worship Sanamahi, Pakhangba, Nongpok Ningthou and around 364 Umang Lais or the deities of the forest. This festival is organized as a piece of memory of the contribution of Gods in creating the Universe and also it is celebrated in the memory of the development of plants, animals and human beings.
"Sidaba Mapu" or Salailel is the Supreme God, Creator of the universe and the Sky God in Meitei mythology and religion. According to Meitei mythology, Sidaba Mapu, being the Creator of the Universe, from a philosophical theory known as Leithak Leikharol Nongsemlon and Leisemlon.
Panthoibi is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is a consort of the God Nongpok Ningthou. She is considered to be one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi and is also identified as a form of Goddess Nongthang Leima. She is worshipped mainly by the Meitei people in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Nongshaba, also spelled as Nongsaba, is a Lion God in Meitei religion (Sanamahism) and mythology. He is also regarded as a king of the gods. He is credited with producing light in the primordial universe and is regarded as the maker of the sun. He is worshipped by the people of both the Ningthouja clans as well as the Moirang clans. God Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of God Thangching (Thangjing). He is the greatest of the Umang Lais in Ancient Kangleipak but he made his only son Thangching (Thangjing) the chief deity of Moirang.
Meitei deities are the deities affiliated to Meitei mythology and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) of the Meitei people of Manipur. Among many gods, main Meitei gods are Atingkok, Asheeba (Sanamahi) and Apanba (Pakhangba). Among many goddesses, main Meitei goddesses are Leimarel Sidabi, Imoinu (Emoinu), Panthoibi and Phouoibi (Phouleima).
Irai Leima or Ireima is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the goddess and the divine female personification of water and aquatic life. She is also considered to be the incharge of the diseases.
Nongpok Ningthou, also known as Sovereign of the East or King of the East, is a deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi got united in the Nongmaiching hills. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in Meitei religion.
Kounu is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion of ancient Kangleipak. She is a consort of the 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.
There are many different dance styles from Manipur, a state in northeastern India bordering with Myanmar (Burma), Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram. Manipuri dances encompasses both classical and folk dance forms. The Raas Leela is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. The folk dance forms are mainly attributed to ancient Meitei deities such as Umang Lai and performed during Lai Haraoba, and also the dances of the different tribal communities of Manipur.
Khuman Pokpa or Khuman Apokpa is the Apokpa of the Khuman clan. He is regarded as the founder of the Khuman dynasty. He is one of the three members of the Mangang Luwang Khuman in Meitei mythology and religion. He represents the time of the sunset and the night.
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.
Pureiromba is a God in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the giver of rain and agricultural prosperity. He is one of the major Umang Lai deities. He is the Ancestor God of the Angom clan of the Meitei ethnicity.
Panam Ningthou is a God in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the protector of crops, especially paddy from hailstorm and thunder. According to legends, He ignited fire for the first time by rubbing flints. He is one of the Umang Lai deities.
Phou Ningthou is a deity in Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism) of Ancient Kangleipak. He is the God and the divine male personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvesting, paddy, rice and wealth. He is the consort of Phouoibi (Phouleima), the goddess of crops and agricultural fertility.
The ancient legend of Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the fateful love of Kadeng Thangjahanba, a skilled blacksmith, for the beautiful Tonu Laijinglembi. Kadeng Thangjahanba was a highly talented and skilful royal chief metalsmith appointed by King Laijing Ningthou Punsiba of Moirang. Tonu Laijinglembi was the only daughter of Laijing Lakpa, a favourite nobleman of the King of Moirang.
"Atingkok" is the Supreme Creator God of the universe in Meitei mythology and religion. He is regarded as the legendary male ancestor of the living beings on the earth.
The Ougri Hangen or the Ougri Hangken, also known as the Leiroi Nongloi Esei, is a Meitei cultural ritual song with various appellations of the sun and the mythology of creation. It is often sung in the conclusion of the Lai Haraoba festival. Its theme is closely associated with the creation myth of the earth itself. It is also regarded as the song of thanksgiving to the Almighty God. It is always sung in the chorus formed by the male singers with the maiba as the precentor and is strongly enjoined that the chains of the singers forming a circle should never be snapped. It is also known for its incantatory power, for with the alteration of a few lines, it is believed to have been able to cause either prosperity or destruction of the kingdom and the people. Many rulers performed by themselves the rites of singing it with an accompanying dance on the occasion of their conquests or coronation. According to the manuscript "Laisra Pham", a treatise on administration and social conduct, "Ougri" is referred to as being sung at the coronation of Nongta Lailen Pakhangpa in 33 AD. The Naothingkhong Phambal Kaba mentions it as being taught by the sage Luwawg king to the Meitei prince as a part of the Meitei lore, which according to the chronicle Cheitharol Kumbaba, took place just prior to 663 AD. In some cases, it is also referred to as the actual war songs of the Meitei people. It is regarded as one of the greatest works of early Meitei literature
Jagoi refers to the arts of dance in Meitei culture.
References
- ↑ Khaute, Lallian Mang (2010). The Sangai: The Pride of Manipur. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-772-0.
- ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-259-0416-8.
- ↑ Khaute, Lallian Mang (2010). The Sangai: The Pride of Manipur. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-772-0.
- ↑ Session, North East India History Association (1990). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
- ↑ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0.
- ↑ Ray, Asok Kumar; Chakraborty, Satyabrata (2008). Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-572-8.
- ↑ Singh, Elangbam Nilakanta (1982). Aspects of Indian Culture. Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.
- ↑ Devi, Maimom Shanti (2001). Development of Education in Manipur. Rajesh Publications. ISBN 978-81-85891-29-3.
- ↑ Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, Society, and Cosmology in India's North East. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.
- ↑ Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. 1997. ISBN 9788126003655.
- ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-259-0416-8.