Meiteism

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The 'Meitei Laining' is a term used to describe the original animistic religious belief system of the Meitei ethnicity in particular. [1] [2] [3] [4] It refers to the pre-Hindu faith of the Meitei ethnic group. [5] It incorporates various teachings from the Meitei scriptures. [6] Meitei Laining is a large facet of the collective synthesis of beliefs known as Sanamahism.

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Though Meitei Laining is treated as another name of Sanamahism, the latter term has wider coverage of the traditional beliefs and practices of the hill tribesman communities also. The term was used during the Meitei revivalism movement to promote the ethnic religion of the Meitei people explicitly. [6]

In every Meitei household, there is a sacred abode of God Sanamahi, called the Sanamahi Kachin. [3] It is an analogous term to Koshinto being used as a term for primitive Shinto in contrast with the current established tradition.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, Manipuri people, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group native to 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 Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanamahism</span> Indigenous religion of the Meitei people

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. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Sidaba Mapu and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi.

The Apokpa Marup is a religious institution dedicated to the practice and propagation of Apokpa Laining, a traditional Meitei religious concept. Founded on April 13, 1930, by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo, Apokpa Marup has played a significant role in reviving and preserving ancient Meetei religious traditions and cultural heritage. It was founded in the goal of reviving the suppressed old paganism of the Meitei ethnicity in the then Manipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pākhangbā</span> Primordial god in Meitei mythology

Pakhangba is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in paphal, mythical illustrations of the deity. It is believed that the ancestor of one of the Meitei clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leimarel Sidabi</span> Meitei earth Goddess

Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the highest female divinity in the Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, of nature and the household. She is revered as the mother of every living being in the universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nongshāba</span> Lion God of Manipur

Nongshaba is a lion god in Sanamahism and Meitei 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. Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of the god Thangching. He is the greatest of the Umang Lais but he made his only son Thangching the chief deity of Moirang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koupalu</span> Meitei guardian god of the north-west direction

Koupalu is a primordial deity in Sanamahism. He is the protector of the Meiteis, guardian of the North West direction and the founder of Meitei civilization. He lives on the summit of Mount Koubru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panam Ningthou</span> Igniter of the first fire in Meitei mythology

Panam Ningthou is a God in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the protector of crops, especially rice, from hailstorms and thunder. According to legends, He ignited the first fire with flint. He is one of the Umang Lai deities.

Meitei mythology is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion of Sanamahism. Meitei myths explain various natural phenomena, how human civilization developed, and the reasons of many events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thangching</span>

Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Loktak lake. He is one of the four cardinal Umang Lais. The guardianship of the south western direction is alluded to Thangjing and the other directions to Koubru, Marjing and Wangbren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wangpulen</span> Meitei God of the underwater world

Wangpulen is the god of water, rain, flood, disease and sickness in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism. He is the ruler of the underwater world. He is the Lord of the rivers. The guardianship of the south eastern direction is alluded to Wangbren and the other directions to Koupalu, Marjing and Thangjing. He is one of the Umang Lais.

Nongmaiching Hill or Nongmaijing Hill, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a hill in the Imphal Valley in Manipur, India. It rises to the east of the Imphal City with a peak at an elevation of 5,133 feet (1,565 m) above sea level. It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi. In Meitei folklore, the Nongmaiching is described as the hill that produces "the seven days of a week".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board</span> Meitei temple administrative board in Imphal

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South East Asia Cultural Organisation</span> International cultural organization

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hingchabi</span>

A Hingchabi is a mythical creature in Meitei mythology, folklore and religion (Sanamahism) of Antique Kangleipak. She has characters similar to those of the vampires as well as the witches. The terms, "hing" means "raw" and "chaa" means "to eat" in Meitei language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei culture</span> Meitei cultural heritage

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atingkok</span>

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loktak Ima</span> Meitei water goddess

Loktak Ima, also known as Loktak Lairembi, is the personification of the Loktak lake, who is revered by the Meitei people as the mother goddess of the sacred waters of the Loktak lake. She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake. She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture. Her embodiment, the Loktak lake is associated with the epic of Khamba and Thoibi as well as that of Poubi Lai of Meitei mythology and folklore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Meitei culture</span> Accounts on women in Meitei culture

Women have significant roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei religion, etc.

References

  1. Singh, A. Prafullokumar (2009). Elections and political dynamics. Mittal Publications. p. 3. ISBN   978-81-8324-279-0.
  2. Indian Council of Social Science Research (1982). ICSSR Journal of Abstracts and Reviews: Sociology and social anthropology. National Publishing House.
  3. 1 2 Chaudhury, Sukant Kumar (2006). Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Development. Mittal Publications. p. 140. ISBN   978-81-8324-132-8.
  4. Meinam, Binota Devi (2007). Population Dynamics and Economic Development: A Case Study in Manipur. Mittal Publications. p. 34. ISBN   978-81-8324-187-8.
  5. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1993). People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift. Inter-India Publications. ISBN   978-81-210-0325-4.
  6. 1 2 Chaki-Sircar, Manjusri (1984). Feminism in a Traditional Society: Women of the Manipur Valley. Shakti Books. ISBN   978-0-7069-1967-7.