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Sanamahi Religion
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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ethnic Religion
In religious studies, an ethnic religion or ethnoreligion is a religion or belief associated with notions of heredity and a particular ethnicity. Ethnic religions are often distinguished from universal religions, such as Christianity or Islam, which are not limited in ethnic, national or racial scope. Terminology A number of alternative terms have been used instead of ''ethnic religion''. Another term that is often used is '' folk religion''. While ''ethnic religion'' and ''folk religion'' have overlapping uses, the latter term implies "the appropriation of religious beliefs and practices at a popular level." The term ''folk religion'' can therefore be used to speak of certain Chinese and African religions, but can also refer to popular expressions of more multi-national and institutionalized religions such as Folk Christianity or Folk Islam. In Western contexts, a variety of terms are also employed. In the United States and Canada, a popular alternative term has been '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sacred Groves
Sacred groves, sacred woods, or sacred forests are groves of trees that have special religious importance within a particular culture. Sacred groves feature in various cultures throughout the world. These are forest areas that are, for the most part, untouched by local people and often protected by local communities. They often play a critical role in protecting water sources and biodiversity, including essential resources for the groups that protect them. They were important features of the mythological landscape and cult practice of Celtic, Estonian, Baltic, Germanic, ancient Greek, Near Eastern, Roman, and Slavic polytheism. They are also found in locations such as India (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu), Japan ( sacred shrine forests), China ( Fengshui woodland), West Africa and Ethiopia ( church forests). Examples of sacred groves include the Greco-Roman '' temenos'', various Germanic words for sacred groves, and the Celtic '' nemeton'', which was larg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irai Leima
Irai Leima is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the goddess and the divine female personification of water and aquatic life. She is the consort of Irai Ningthou (literally, ''king of water''). Both are regarded as the divine spirits of water bodies. She is also considered to be in charge of diseases. Mythology Irai Leima is the daughter of King Heibok Ningthou and the princess of Heibok Ching. Her father was an expert in witchcraft and black magic. Irai Leima is known for her exceptional beauty. One day, she was fishing in the Liwa river. King Kwakpa (Kokpa) of Khuman dynasty saw her and fell in love with her. He proposed her. She replied that her parents' wish will be her wish. So, King Kwakpa consulted his subjects. They presented Heibok Ningthou with many presents. King Kwakpa planned to marry Irai Leima if her father agreed or to bring her by force if her father rejected. Seeing the arrogance of Kwakpa, Heibok Ningthou turned all the gift ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nongthang Leima
In Meitei mythology and religion, Nongthang Leima () is the goddess of seduction, thunder, and lightning. She was created by Atingkok (or Salailen) to attract Haraba (Pakhangba). She mastered thunder and lightning in the chaos in the early world. She predicted the first rain. She limits the chaos and helps creation. Description Nongthang Leima is a pre-historical maibi. She is the first goddess maibi to compose a dance form. Later, her dance form was repossessed by other goddesses. Mythology Birth Sanamahi (Ashiba) was creating the earth. But he was frequently disturbed by his younger brother, Pakhangba (Haraba). Unable to do any work, Sanamahi complained about the matter to their father, Salailen (or Atingkok according to different versions of stories). Salailen produced a divine feminine being. He released her into the great space (void) of the universe (cosmos). In the vast emptiness of the great space (void), the divine feminine being became a beautiful an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kounu
Kounu is a goddess in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. 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'' (village chief). Kounu and Koubru ruled ancient Manipur for a very long time after the reign of King Ningthou Puthiba. She dwells in the snows of the far north and she is also known as Kongthem. Description Kounu is one of the deities who change climate and weather. Her husband Koupalu and her son Loyalakpa are also weather deities. Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eputhou Thangjing
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 attributed to Thangjing and the other directions to Koubru (north west), Marjing (north east) and Wangbren (south east). Two of his most prominent pantheons are the Thangching Temple and the Thangching Hill (Thangjing Peak). Origin Thangjing is a deity of pre-Hindu origin. The Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba mentioned that Moirang was the amalgamation of different groups of people with different traditional beliefs. During the reign of King Fang Fang Ponglenhanpa (52 BC- 28 AD), all the diversities were merged into one with God Thangjing as the central figure. When the cult of Thangjing was merged into the Umang Laism, the folk deities associated with God Thangjing began to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wangbren
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 (north west), Marjing (north east) and Thangjing (south west). He is one of the Umang Lais. He has a strong connection with the Anāl Naga people for marrying a lady from Khullen village. Among the cult centres dedicated to him, the one at Sugnu is the most significant in Meitei pantheon. Description In the Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, Wangbren is called Khana Chaopa Wangpulen. According to the text, He is one of the seven Laipungthous and one of the manifestations of the Supreme God, Atingkok, Ipung Loinapa Apakpa. Mythology Once Wangpulen went to the village of the Anāl people, disguising Himself as a human. He fell in love with a beautiful girl, Shangnu. The maiden was also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thongalel
Thongalen (also, Thongalel, Thongaren or Thongarel) 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.. He is the ancestor-god of the Khuman clan. Laikhurembi and Lainaotabi are his wives. Mythology In the Poireiton Khunthok King Thongaren () asked his highest-ranked Queen Laikhurembi () to go with his brother Chingkhong Poireiton on a long trip. Poireiton was a widower; his wife had died, and he had six children to raise and also had to go to the Tai Pang Pan. King Thongalel thought his brother needed a wife to go with him on their trip. However, Queen Laikhurembi did not want to go. She said she was already the king's wife. Trees had already been planted in her honor because she and the king had lived together for a very long time. So, instead of Queen Laikhurembi, King Thongalel sent his second wife, Leinaotabi, to go with Poireiton and be his wife. In ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ibudhou Marjing
Marjing () is the God of horses, polo, hockey, sports and war in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. The guardianship of the north eastern direction is alluded to Marjing and the other directions to Koupalu (north west), Thangching (south west) and Wangpulen (south east). According to the legend, he invented the game of polo ( Sagol Kangjei) and introduced it as the national game. He and his divine creature, Samadon Ayangba, reside in the top of the Heingang Ching (Marjing hills). Origin According to the Leithak Leikharol PuYa, God Marjing (mentioned as ''"Maraching"'') originated from the intestines of Atiya Sidaba. He was created to control Samadon Ayangba, the divine horse (). The horse was created from the foot of Ashiba (Sanamahi). Description God Marjing is one of the five gods who enter into the human body and position themselves as one of the souls. Marjing dwells in the heart of human body. The God is also associated with Sagol Kangjei (Polo), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lainingthou Koubru
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. Description Koupalu (or Koubru) is a primordial deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the omniscient and omnipotent guardian god of the Meiteis and the guardian of the north-west direction. According to legend, he is the progenitor of the civilization of Kangleipak, which he founded at Mount Koubru, near modern Imphal in north-western Manipur, where he resides. He is said to be the controller of nine underground wells or tunnels which are associated with the birth and death of mankind. The tunnels are considered sacred and are, themselves, worshipped by Meiteis. Worship The traditional hymns emphasise Koubru's role as the creator of Meitei civilisation. For example, this hymn of invocation: In the Lai Haraoba festival, a ritualistic folk song dedi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
