Lainingthou Sanamahee (Meetei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ) is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme
deity
A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
of the household in
Meetei religion and
mythology
Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...
. He originated from the ancient kingdom of
Kangleipak (
Manipur
Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...
). He is regarded as the most popular and significant divinity of
Sanamahism
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 ...
. He is the brother of
Pakhangba and
Nongshaba. He is the eldest son of Creator God Saalailel Sitapa and Leimalel Sitapee, the protector of the Universe in
Meetei mythology and philosophy
and Mother
Earth goddess
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
Leimarel Sidabi.
Etymology
The term Lainingthou is derived from
Meetei language which means "King of Gods" and the term Sanamahi is combination of "Sanna" which means ''spreading'' and "Eemahi" which means "blood that originates living", literally means "spreading everywhere (like liquid)".
Mythology
When Sanamahi was ordered to cross the globe by his father, he at once proceeded. However, his younger brother
Pakhangba as per the instruction of his mother
Leimarel Sidabi, went around his father
Atingkok Maru Sidaba, who is equivalent to the globe.
As per the declaration that among the two brothers, the first to succeed in traveling across the globe, would be offered his father's throne of the Universe. That's how Pakhangba got the throne. However, in order to compensate Sanamahi,
Atingkok Maru Sidaba offered him to be the king of every household of Mankind in the universe.
Divine names
There are one thousand divine names of the God Lainingthou Sanamahi.
Religious sites
The sacred places of Lainingthou Sanamahi include
Sanamahi Temple,
Kangla Palace, and Sanamahi Kiyong Temple.
Texts
Ancient texts that discuss him include:
*
Sanamahi Laihui
* Karthong Lamlen
*
Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya (written in 1400 BC)
* Hijan-Hirao
* Besides the above-mentioned sacred books, there are several sacred books or
Puya (Meitei texts) discovered from various hidings.
Festivals
The religious festivals associated with Lord Sanamahi are:
*
Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba
*
Mera Hou Chongba
*
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 ...
*
Sajibu Cheiraoba
See also
*
Lists of creatures in Meitei folklore
Meitei people, being the predominant ethnic group in the Himalayas, Himalayan kingdom of Manipur, has diverse cultural contacts with diverse communities of other nations since ancient times. The case is the same with Meetei folklore, Meitei folkl ...
*
Lists of deities in Sanamahism
*
Sanamahi creation myth
References
Meitei gods
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