Khuman Pokpa or is the Apokpa, or ancestor god 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 Meitei mythology (or Manipuri 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 Sanam ...

and

religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...

. He represents the time of the sunset and the night.

Etymology

The name "Khuman Pokpa" is made up of two words, "Khuman" and "Pokpa". In

Meitei language 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 scheduled ...

(

Manipuri language 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 scheduled ...

), "Pokpa" means "to beget (be the father of) or to give birth to". The word "Apokpa" comes from "Pokpa". Apokpas are the dead male members of a family for the last three generations. They can be the father, grandfather, or great grandfather of any living person. They looked after the family in the past. So, "Khuman Pokpa" or "Khuman Apokpa" means "The one who gave birth to the Khumans".

Description

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 ...

worship fire in the fireplace called ''Phunga Mei'' (lit. ''

hearth A hearth () is the place in a home where a fire is or was traditionally kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos (a low, partial ...

fire'') at home. In the fireplace, people keep three stones kept. One stone is in the right west, another in the north east and another in the south east. This forms a triangle. These three stones represent the three great times of day. The northeastern stone represents the Mangang. The southeastern stone represents the Luwang. The western stone represents the Khuman. Here, Khuman represents the time of the sunset and the night. The remaining Mangang and Luwang represent the sunrise and the noon respectively. The Meiteis addressed the ''hearth fire'' (''phunga mei'') as ''"Meitreng Arabana Yoimayai Mahut Sinna Mei"''. The English translation of this

(

) passage is ''"The burning fire in the hearth place substitutes the Sun"''. Thus, the Sun is worshipped in the Meetei Phunga.

Cults and pantheons

Among many, one of the most important pantheons of God Khuman Pokpa is in

Mayang Imphal Mayang Imphal is a town and municipal council in Imphal West district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Manipur. Pin code of Mayang Imphal is 795132. Geography Mayang Imphal is located at on the bank of the Imphal river, a ...

is the ancient capital of the kingdom of the

Khuman Salai Khuman () is a group of people, which is recognized as one of the seven Yek Salai clans of the composite Meitei confederacy. Historically, they ruled parts of Kangleipak (present day Manipur) prior to subjugation by the Ningthouja dynasty ( ...

Worship

In ancient times, God Khuman Pokpa was worshipped for good health and prosperity. According to the beliefs of the fishermen of the Karang Island, diseases with unexplainable causes are caused by gods and goddesses. According to their beliefs, the danger of natural calamities, epidemics, diseases and other miseries are all due to the getting angry of gods and goddesses. The reasons for their anger are usually because of not performing rites and rituals.

Festival

The religious festival of

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...

is celebrated in honor of God Khuman Pokpa in the Karang Islands. The celebration lasts for ten consecutive days during the month of September. In modern days, the celebration draws attention to a large number of tourists.

References

{{Sanamahi1 Domestic and hearth gods in Meitei mythology Fertility gods in Meitei mythology Fire gods in Meitei mythology Meitei gods Night gods Sleep gods