Philosophy:Philosophy of Meitei script

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The 18 foremost letters of the ancient Meitei writing system[1]

The philosophy of Meitei script (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ ꯋꯥꯡꯎꯂꯣꯟ / ꯋꯥꯡꯎꯂꯣꯜ; Meitei Mayek Wangulon / Wangulol[1]) is a part of Meitei philosophy and the philosophy of Sanamahism.[2] It links the letters, alphabets, and numerals of the Meitei script with mythology, folklore, religion, and philosophy. The script is used not only for writing but also to explain the creation of the universe and human beings.[3][4][5][1]

Creation

According to Meitei belief, the Universal Lord, also called the God Father Creator, existed in an indeterminate primordial state. He began to think about creating the universe. As a result, space, stars, the sun, earth, fire, water, and air came into existence.[3][4][5][1]

Seven-day week and creation of man

The creation of humans is linked with the seven-day week, with each day associated with the creation of specific parts of the human body and related Meitei alphabets.[3][4][5][1]

Langmaiching (Sunday)

Langmaiching is the first day of the week, now called Nongmaijing. It represents the beginning of human creation.[3][4][5][1]

The name Langmaiching comes from:

  • Lang – becoming a human body from the immaterial spirit of the God Father.
  • Mai – human face or Laipak.
  • Ching – attraction toward a centre.[3][4][5][1]

On this day, the God Father Creator incarnates as the number 1 (꯱), attracting fire, water, air, earth, and space to begin the creation of man, particularly the Laipak (forehead), which becomes the permanent seat of the God Father Creator as long as the human lives.[3][4][5][1]

The Loi peoples of Kangleipak still use the original term Langmaiching. The general term changed to Nongmaijing during the 18th century cultural evolution.[3][4][5][1]

Ningthoukapa (Monday)

Ningthoukapa is the second day of the week, corresponding to Monday.[3][4][5][1]

On this day, the first three Meitei alphabets (ꯀ, ꯁ, ꯂ) appeared, representing the completion of the head.[3][4][5][1]

Meaning of Ningthoukapa:

  • Ning – mind.
  • Thou – directing the mind.
  • Kapa – taking a seat.[3][4][5][1]

The God Father Creator permanently takes His seat in the Laipak (forehead).[3][4][5][1]

Leipakpokpa (Tuesday)

The third day of the week is Leipakpokpa, meaning “birth of the human trunk” (Leipak for Earth, Pokpa for giving birth).[3][4][5][1]

The second set of three alphabets (ꯃ, ꯄ, ꯅ) appeared to help the creation of the human trunk.[3][4][5][1]

Legend says that Sanamahi Lainingthou first created animals but failed to create man. The God Father Creator advised him to create man in the image seen in the pupils of His eyes.[3][4][5][1]

Imsakeisa (Wednesday)

Imsakeisa is the fourth day, representing the construction of the human body trunk, which becomes a temple for the God Father Creator.[3][4][5][1]

Three alphabets (ꯆ, ꯇ, ꯈ) symbolize mouth, sperm, and chin, relating to the human body's structure and functions.[3][4][5][1]

Meanings are Im for house, sa for built, kei for barn, sa for storage, showing the human body as a temple.[3][4][5][1]

Sakonsen (Thursday)

Sakonsen represents the internal organs and the heart, where the God Father Creator resides.[3][4][5][1]

Alphabets ꯉ, ꯊ, ꯋ correspond to tongue and gullet, chest organs, and the heart.[3][4][5][1]

Meanings are Sa for human body, kon for embracing, sen for keeping under care, showing the Creator's love and protection.[3][4][5][1]

Eelai (Friday)

Eelai represents the outward form and shape of the human body.[3][4][5][1]

Alphabets ꯌ, ꯍ, ꯎ relate to the spine, the living body, and the God Father Creator.[3][4][5][1]

Meanings are Ee for blood, Lai for God, showing that the Creator began creation on Earth as a drop of blood.[3][4][5][1]

Thangcha (Saturday)

Thangcha is the last day, completing the creation of the male human being.[3][4][5][1]

Alphabets ꯏ, ꯐ, ꯑ correspond to blood, semen, and unlimited space, representing human procreation.[3][4][5][1]

Meanings are Thang for "to drive down", cha for descendants, showing the continuation of mankind.[3][4][5][1]

Importance

The Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, a holy text (PuYa) of Ancient Meitei religion (Sanamahism), which tells about the philosophy of Meitei Mayek script[3][4][5][1]

The Meitei Mayek script is more than a writing system. The Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Ama-IIon Pukok states:

"Khunung Eeyekki Khonthok

Asipusu khunthoklon Haikatane Lepna

Khangpio"[3][4][5][1]

In English, it is translated as:

"The social sound of the writing alphabets is also to be known as the procreation of mankind."[4][5]

The letters and numbers of the Meitei script show cosmic creation, human body structure, and spiritual presence, having the deep connection between language, philosophy, and religion in Meitei culture.[3][4][5][1]

Alphabets and body parts

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Logograms of Meitei script
Image(s) Letter(s) Representation(s) Name(s)/Pronunciation(s) Romanization Meaning(s)[lower-alpha 1][6][7][8][9] Latin equivalent letters/sounds IPA[10]
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ꯀ
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ꯀꯣꯛ kok head or brain K /k/
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ꯁ
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ꯁꯝ sam/sham hair S /s/
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ꯂ
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ꯂꯥꯏ lai forehead L /l/
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ꯃ
ꯃꯤꯠ mit/meet eye M /m/
ꯄ
ꯄꯥ pā/paa eyelash P /p/
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ꯅ
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ꯅꯥ nā/naa ear N /n/
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ꯆ
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ꯆꯤꯜ chil/cheel lips Ch /t͡ʃ/
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ꯇ
ꯇꯤꯜ til/teel saliva T /t/
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ꯈ ꯈꯧ khou throat, palate, neck Kh /kʰ/
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ꯉ ꯉꯧ ngou pharynx, larynx Ng /ŋ/
ꯊ
ꯊꯧ thou breast, chest, ribs Th /tʰ/
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ꯋ
File:Ancient Meitei character "WAI" (ꯋ) represents as well as means "heart" or "navel".jpg
 ꯋꯥꯏ wai navel, heart W /w/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "YAANG" (Y) - meaning as well as representing "backbone" or "vertebral column" or "spine".jpg
 ꯌ
File:Ancient Meitei character "YANG" (ꯌ) represents as well as means "backbone" or "vertebral column" or "spine".jpg
 ꯌꯥꯡ yang backbone, vertebral column, spine Y /j/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "HOOK" (H) - meaning as well as representing "joint" or "articulation".jpg
 ꯍ
File:Ancient Meitei character "HOOK" (ꯍ) represents as well as means "joint" ("articulation").jpg
 ꯍꯨꯛ huk/hook joint, articulation H /h/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "OON" (U) - meaning as well as representing "skin" or "hair follicle".jpg
 ꯎ
File:Ancient Meitei character "OON" (ꯎ) represents as well as means "skin" or "hair follicle".jpg
 ꯎꯟ un/oon skin, hair follicle U /u(ː)/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "EE" (I) - meaning as well as representing "blood".jpg
 ꯏ
File:Ancient Meitei character "EE" (ꯏ) represents as well as means "blood".jpg
 ꯏ ee/i blood I or E /i(ː)/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "PHAM" (PH) - meaning as well as representing "anus" or "buttocks" or "seat" or "uterus" or "womb".jpg
 ꯐ
File:Ancient Meitei character "PHAM" (ꯐ) represents as well as means "anus" or "buttocks" or "seat" or "uterus" or "womb".jpg
 ꯐꯝ pham/fam "anus" or "buttocks" or "seat" or "uterus" or "womb" F or Ph /pʰ/
File:Ancient Meitei letter "ATING-NGAA" (A) - meaning as well as representing "Sky" or "Immortality" or "Heaven" or "Eternity" or "Divinity" or "Celestial Being" or "Birth".jpg
 ꯑ
File:Ancient Meitei character "ATING-NGAA" or "ATINGAA" (ꯑ) represents as well as means "Birth" or "Celestial Being" or "Divinity" or "Eternity" or "Heaven" or "Immortality" or "Placenta" or "Sky".jpg
 ꯑꯇꯤꯡꯉꯥ / ꯑꯇꯤꯌꯥ atinga/atiya "sky" or "immortality" or "heaven" or "eternity" or "divinity" or "celestial being" or "birth" A /ɐ/

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 "Meetei Mayek 18 Subagee Kanglon Amasung Wangulon" (in mni). https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.309999/page/n7/mode/1up. 
  2. ↑ Kirti Singh, Moirangthem. Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy. India: Parimal Publications, 1998. p. 103
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 Thokchao Pangkanpa, Thokchom (1958) (in mni). Wakoklon Thilel Sallai Amailon Pukok. Manipur University Library. India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466689. 
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 "Discovery of Kangleipak 11". https://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Discovery_of_Kangleipak_11.html... 
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 "Discovery of Kangleipak 12". https://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Discovery_of_Kangleipak_12.html... 
  6. ↑ Arambarn Parratt, Saroj Nalini, ed. (2009), "Meetei Mayek or Meetei script chart", The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur (Foundation Books): pp. 145–148, ISBN 978-81-7596-854-7, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/court-chronicle-of-the-kings-of-manipur/meetei-mayek-or-meetei-script-chart/788010CFE8284F1940148DAFFAC6F262, retrieved 2025-06-26 
  7. ↑ "Transliteration from Hindi Script to Meetei Mayek: ( A Rule Based Approach )". https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/abffca19fde6f67de9236dc54bc90f9b4c960980. 
  8. ↑ "Meetei Mayek: The Script". http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/script/. 
  9. ↑ ""Meitei Mayek Alphabets"". https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Meitei-Mayek-Alphabets_fig1_328718529. 
  10. ↑ "Manipuri (Meeteilon / Meithei)". https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm. 
  1. ↑ Some of the meanings rendered by some letters (characters) are different according to different sources. So, if found different, they're added together in the same section.



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