Religion:List of deities in Sanamahism
Sanamahism (Meitei religion) is a polytheistic religion with thousands of deities, gods and goddesses of varying power, quality, features, and character.
The religion originated in the Kingdom of Manipur, and is still practiced in modern Manipur, India, distinct from both the Indosphere and the Sinosphere.
The following is a list of deities, gods, goddesses, demigods, mortals, immortals and a few mythical creatures. This does not include the full list of mythical creatures of ancient Meitei folklore, for which see List of creatures in Meitei folklore.
Shayon (incarnations)
Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme goddess has incarnated several times in various divine forms with diverse attributes.
| Goddesses | Romanization | Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯑꯍꯣꯡꯕꯤ | Imoinu Ahongbi[1] | Goddess of wealth and prosperity. |
| ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ | Panthoibi[2] | Goddess of war, wisdom and courage. |
| ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯢꯕꯤ | Phouoibi | Goddess of paddy, harvest and bounty. |
| ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ | Ereima | Goddess of water |
| ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ - ꯉꯥꯔꯩꯃ | Nga Leima or Ngareima | Goddess of fish |
| ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ | Thumleima | Goddess of salt |
| ꯅꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ | Nongthang Leima | Goddess of charm, music, seduction, thunder and lightning. |
| ꯄꯤꯊꯥꯢ ꯈꯣꯡꯗꯥꯢꯕꯤ | Pithai Khongdaibi | Goddess of motherhood |
| ꯍꯤꯀꯨꯕꯤ ꯌꯥꯢꯀꯨꯕꯤ | Hikubi Yaikubi | Goddess of gems. |
| ꯁꯤꯜꯔꯩꯃ - ꯁꯤꯜꯂꯩꯃ | Silreima or Silleima | Goddess of work and occupation. |
Related deities
Celestial maidens
In Meitei mythology, there are seven prominent celestial maidens, which are referred to as either goddesses or nymphs.
Lai Nuraa Taret
The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven goddesses or "Lai Nuraa Taret ", the creation of the Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba.
Helloi Taret
The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven nymphs or "Helloi Taret ", who are the daughters of the Sky God Soraren. They are then believed to be spinsters.
Apokpa (ancestral deities)
In ancient Meitei religion, the ancestral deities of every families and clans were called Apokpa. They are worshipped by their respective families (Yumnak) and clans (Yek Salai).
According to T.C. Hodson's book The Meitheis, the Meitei people are the only people who have a tradition of worshipping their ancestral deities in Manipur.[3]
Dragons in Meitei mythology
The following is a list of a few dragons of Meitei mythology:
| Dragon Deities | Description |
|---|---|
| Pakhangba | He's the Great dragon Lord of the universe. |
| Kangla Sha | He's the Protector of the Kangla Palace. |
| Lord Khamlangba | He's a cousin of Lord Pakhangba. |
| Salailen Sidaba | He's the Creator of the Universe, father of Lord Pakhangba. He can assume both human as well as dragon figures. |
| Nongshaba | He's a lion like dragon God, cousin of Lord Pakhangba. |
| Loktak Maru Sidaba | He's the great dragon of the Loktak lake. |
| Samurou Lakpa | He's a form of Lord Pakhangba. |
| Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba | Dragon Lord of the ancient Moirang kingdom. |
| Tangja Leela Pakhangba | The primitive ruler of the Kanglei world. |
| Nongda Lairel Pakhangba | The great dragon Lord and the ruler of the Kangleipak kingdom. |
Planet deities
According to a PuYa "Khenchonglol" (literally meaning, study of Heavenly bodies, Planets, Celestial bodies in the Ningthou Turel or Milky Way Galaxy of the Universe), there are nine Planets which are considered as deities. Even the Sun and the Moon are considered as planets in Meitei Philosophy. They are as follows:
| Deities | Roman equivalent |
|---|---|
| Nongmaiching | Sun |
| Ningthoukaba | Moon |
| Leipakpokpa | Mars |
| Yumsakeisa | Mercury |
| Sagolsen | Jupiter |
| Irai | Venus |
| Thangja | Saturn |
| Shakok | Uranus |
| Shamei | Neptune |
Star deities
According to Khenchonglol, there are twenty seven stars which are referred to as deities, out of which the constellation Orion is the most significant. They are as follows:
- Sajik (Arietis)
- Thaba (Musca)
- Khongjom Nubi (Pleiades)
- Apaknga (Lunar, pauri, masion)
- Sachung Telheiba (A Orionis)
- Likla Saphaba (Orion)
- Chingcharoibi (G Geminorum)
- Chungshennubi (Cancer)
Umang Lai
There are more than 365 forest deities or "Umang Lai" in Sanamahism. They are always associated with a Sacred grove each in Kanglei World. The term Umang Lai is also used to refer to the sacred abodes of the deities. Some of the significant ones are:
- Nongshaba - The highest deity associated with Sacred grove or "Umang Lai" in Sanamahism.
- Konthoujam Lairembi gi Khubam
- Ebudhou Khamlangba
- Ima Khunthok Hanbi
- Hiyangthang Lairembi
- Ima Langol Lairembi
- Langol Ningthou
- Thanga Ching Ningthou
- Ipathakok
- Ikop Ningthou
- Laininthou Naothingkhong Pakhangba
- Ima Tamphaton Petangaa
Directional gods
In Meitei religion and mythology, there are ten directions in Meitei philosophy, for which there are ten deities who are the protectors and the guardians of the respective directions.[citation needed]
| Deities | Directions |
|---|---|
| Marjing | North east |
| Thangjing | South west |
| Koubru | North west |
| Wangbren | South east |
| Kounu | North |
| Nongpok Ningthou | East |
| Lok Ningthou | South |
| Loya Lakpa | West |
| Salailen Sidaba | Zenith |
| Thongalel | Nadir |
Local deities
River goddesses
There are various river goddesses worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism. The main rivers associated with these goddesses originated from Manipur.
Some of them are as follows:
- Thongjarok Lairembi of Thongjaorok River
- Iril Lairembi of Iril River
- Imphal Turel Lairembi of Imphal River
- Kongba Turel Lairembi of Kongba River
Lake goddesses
There are various Lake Goddesses worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism, considering the spirits as the guardian and protector of the periphery region of the lake. Some of the deities are:
- Loktak Lairembi of Loktak Lake
- Pumlenpat Lairembi of Pumlenpat Lake
Market goddesses
People worshipped one goddess for each market area considering the spirit of the goddess as the protector, guardian of the region. Some of the goddesses are as follows:
- Pishum Keithel Lairembi of Pishumthong Market Region
- Singjamei Keithel Lairembi of Singjamei Market Region.
- Kongba Keithel Lairembi of Kongba Market Region
See also
- Art and culture of Manipur
- Meitei deities
- Art forms of Manipur
- List of creatures in Meitei folklore
- PuYa
- Sanamahi creation myth
References
- ↑ (Admin), Jitendra. "Ima Emoinu Irat thouni being observed across Manipur". https://www.impacttv.in/breaking-news/item/929-ima-emoinu-irat-thouni-being-observed-across-manipur/.
- ↑ "Panthoibi celebrations under way". https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/panthoibi-celebrations-under-way/cid/319225.
- ↑ The Meitheis, by T.C. Hodson, Akansha Publication, Kolkata, 1908
Bibliography
- The Meitheis, by T.C. Hodson, Akansha Publication, Kolkata, 1908
External links
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