Me-Dam-Me-Phi

Me dam me phi ( Ahom: 𑜉𑜦𑜧 𑜓𑜪 𑜉𑜦𑜧 𑜇𑜣) is a socio-traditional festival celebrated by the Tai-Ahom and people of Assam. The festival has its roots in the ancestral worship of Confucianism in ancient China, which later developed into the ''Dam-phi'' (Ancestor worship) tradition of the Tai people. In the tmodern era it's celebrated on the 31st January while initially it's celebrated in the Tai month of Duin-Ha (March–April) of sexagenary cycle.

Etymology

Me-dam-me-phi is a Tai-Ahom word, ''Mae'' (𑜉𑜦𑜧) means offering, ''Dam'' (𑜓𑜪) means the dead and ''Phi'' (𑜇𑜣) means the god. The rituals of the observance of Me Dam Me Phi are written in the book ''Khyek-lai'' or ''Lit Lai Me-Dam-Me-Phi'' in Tai Ahom language. In other Tai groups distant ancestors are referred asPhi-dam''. The ancestor worship ceremonies are mainly divided into two categories: the domestic ancestor worship (''Dam-phi'') and the social festival (''Me-dam-me-phi'').

Origin

The Ahoms have their own tenets and faith. A very important part of this religion is ancestor worship. Ancestor worship culture began with the Chinese philosopher Confucius still practiced among the Chinese and the Tai. From the Ahom Chronicle ''Pyen kaka'' it can be known that when Lengdon, the king of Mong Phi (The heavenly kingdom; Tian), sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to Mong Ri, present Xishuangbanna, China at that moment Ye-Cheng-Pha the ancestor literacist of knowledge advised them to perform Umpha, Phuralong, Mae Dam Mae Phi and Rik-khwan worships in different months of a year on different occasions to pay respect to the Phi-Dam (Ancestral Spirit) and Khwan elements in the month of ''Duen-Ha''. Since that day till now Mae Dam Mae Phi has been observed by all the Tai-Ahom.

History

Middle Ages

Rituals and ceremonies

A total of ten gods called Phi are worshiped in Me Dam Me Phi. They are:
# Khao-Kham
# Aai Laeng-Din
# Ya-sing-pha
# Jan-chai-hang
# Laengdon
# Chit-lam-cham
# Mut-kam tai-kum
# Dam Chau Phi or Chau Phi Dam (grandparents thirteen generations ago)
# Ra-khin
# Ba-khin.
Worship is done by Ahom priests Deodhai and Bailung by chanting Ahom language mantras and following the codes given in the Manuscripts (books) like Phralung and Banfi, etc. God Dam Chang Phi is the ancestor God from sixth to the fourteenth generation of a family. Grihadam is also the ancestor God up to the fourth generation of a family. Worship to Grihadam is offered in the month of Kati at the time of harvesting new Ahu rice, in the month of Aghon at the time of harvesting new Sali Dhan and at the time of three Bihus.

On the day of Me-Dam Me Phi worship is offered only to Chaufi and Dam Chaufi because they are regarded as gods of heaven. Changphi and Grihadam are not worshipped on that day because they are regarded as earthly gods.

The Ahoms believe that a man after his death remains as ‘Dam’(ancestor) only for a few days and soon he becomes ‘Phi’ (God). They also believe that the soul of a man which is immortal unites with the supreme soul, possesses the qualities of a spiritual being and always blesses the family. So every Ahom family in order to worship the dead establish a pillar on the opposite side of the kitchen (Barghar) which is called ‘Damkhuta’ where they worship the dead with various offerings like homemade wine, egg with handoh(a kind of rice powder) with various items of vegetarian dishes.

Significance

Mae Dam Mae Phi not only reflects the manners and customs of the Ahoms but also helps to create unity, feeling of brotherhood and mutual understanding among the new generation.

''Me Dam Me Phi'' and its significance

''Me Dam Me Phi'' is one of the important festivals observed by the Ahoms from very ancient times. The word ‘''Me''’ means offerings. ‘''Dam''’ means ancestors and ‘''Phi''’ means gods. So the word ‘''Me Dam Me Phi''’ means oblations offered to the dead and sacrifices to gods. This festival is observed individually by a family and publicly by a king and the general people. Nowadays this festival is observed so extensively by all the people of Assam that it can better be termed as a festival rather than worship.

The Ahoms perform this worship annually in honour of their ancestors. They believe that a man after his death remains as ‘''Dam''’ (ancestor) only for a few days and soon he becomes ‘''Phi''’ (God). They also believe that the soul of a man which is immortal Unites with the supreme soul, possesses the qualities of a spiritual being and always blesses the family.

So every Ahom family in order to worship the dead establish a pillar on the opposite side of the kitchen (''Barghar'') which is called ‘''Damkhuta''’ where they worship the dead with various offerings like homemade wine, ''mah-prasad'', rice with various items of meat and fish. The Ahom kings performed this worship after victory in wars and to ward off any imminent danger of the State.

The Ahoms had their own tenets and faith. From the Ahom chronicles it can be known that when Lengdan, the God of heaven, sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to earth by a golden chain at that moment Gasingpha, the God of knowledge advised them to perform ''Umpha'', ''Phuralong'', ''Medam Me Phi'' and ''Rikhwan'' worships in different months of a year on different occasions. Since that day till now ''Me Dam Me Phi'' has been observed by all the Ahoms.
*Rikhan is performed before going to war. It is believed that this worship gave long life to soldiers. They ( the soldiers) took bamboo made fish catching equipment and went to "Borpukhuri" (A large pond). Whatever they get during fishing like fishes, frog, aquatic animals, etc., they put them on cooking utensils Alive during cooking and Served soldiers. It is believed that this ritual gives longevity and they became undefeated.

When ''Me Dam Me Phi'' is observed publicly worship is offered in the name of three gods and they are ''Me Dam Me Phi'', ''Dam Changphi'' and ''Grihadam''. God ''Dam Chao Phi'' is associated with the belief of some natural powers like creation and destruction, water, lightning and storm, sun, moon, learning, diseases, earth, etc.

Worship is done by Ahom priests ''Deodhai'' and ''Bailung'' by chanting Tai ''mantras'' and following the codes given in the Manuscripts like ''Phralung'' and ''Banfi'', etc. God ''Dam Chang Phi'' is the ancestor God from sixth to the fourteenth generation of a family. ''Grihadam'' is also the ancestor God up to the fourth generation of a family. Worship to ''Grihadam'' is offered in the month of ''Kati'' at the time of harvesting new ''Ahu'' rice, in the month of ''Aghon'' at the time of harvesting new ''Sali Dhan'' and at the time of three Bihus.

On the day of ''Me Dam Me Phi'' worship is offered only to ''Chaufi'' and ''Dam Chaufi'' because they are regarded as gods of heaven. Changphi and Grihadam are not worshipped on that day because they are regarded as earthly gods.

Notes

References

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External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20090309155047/http://assamgovt.nic.in/festival.asp

http://www.india9.com/i9show/Mae Dam Mae Phi-65451.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20090131201130/http://allaboutassam.com/Festivals.html

{{Fairs and Festivals in Assam

Festivals in Assam
Religious festivals in India
Religious rituals
Ahom kingdom
January observances