Sanamahism is the indigenous religion of the Meitei people. It originated in the Kingdom of Kangliepak, and is still practiced in modern Manipur, India, distinct from both the Indosphere and the Sinosphere. Sanamahism is a polytheistic religion with thousands of gods and goddesses of varying power, quality, features, and character.
There are five main deities in Sanamahism:
- Atingkok Maru Sidaba (ꯑꯇꯤꯡꯀꯣꯛ ꯃꯔꯨ ꯁꯤꯗꯕ), creator of the universe.
- Lainingthou Sanamahi (ꯂꯥꯢꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ), protector and guardian of mankind.[1]
- Pakhangba (ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯕ), dragon god, ruler of the universe and destroyer of evil. A son of Salailen and Leimarel Sidabi.
- Leimarel Sidabi (ꯂꯩꯃꯔꯦꯜ ꯁꯤꯗꯕꯤ), principle goddess of earth, nature and household. Mother of all living beings. Consort of Salailen and the mother of Pakhangba.
- Imoinu (ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ), an incarnation of Leimarel, Goddess of household, hearth, family, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity.[2][3]
In Sanamahism, there are ten directions, for which there are ten deities who are the protectors and the guardians.[citation needed]
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Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme goddess has incarnated several times in various forms with diverse attributes.
- Hikubi Yaikubi (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯀꯨꯕꯤ ꯌꯥꯢꯀꯨꯕꯤ), Goddess of gems.
- Irai Leima (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of water, daughter of Salailen, the sky God, who sent her down to earth to bring prosperity to human civilization.[6]
- Leimarel Sidabi
- Panthoibi (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ) Goddess of civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom. A consort of God Nongpok Ningthou.[7]
- Ngaleima (Meitei: ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of fish and dweller in the underwater world. A daughter of Salailen, who sent her to earth to bring prosperity to humanity.
- Nongthang Leima (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of enchantment, seduction, thunder, and lightning. Created from the dazzling eyes of Salailen to seduce Pakhangba.
- Phouoibi (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ), Goddess of agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, rice, harvests, and wealth. A daughter of Salailen sent to earth to bring prosperity.
- Pithai Khongdaibi (Meitei: ꯄꯤꯊꯥꯢ ꯈꯣꯡꯗꯥꯢꯕꯤ), Goddess of motherhood.
- Silreima (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯜꯔꯩꯃ), Goddess of work and occupation.
- Thumleima (Meitei: ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of salt; a daughter of Salailen.
- Yumjao Leima (Meitei: ꯌꯨꯝꯖꯥꯎ ꯂꯩꯃ), mother goddess of house, household, royalty, and power.
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 the Khenchonglol the Sun, Moon, seven planets, and are twenty seven stars which are referred to as deities
- Nongmaiching (Sun)
- Ningthoukaba (Moon)
- Leipakpokpa (Mars)
- Yumsakeisa (Mercury)
- Sagolsen (Jupiter)
- Irai (Venus)
- Thangja (Saturn)
- Shakok (Uranus)
- Shamei (Neptune)
In Meitei mythology, there are seven celestial goddesses, the Lai Nuraa Tare , the creation of the Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba and seven nymphs or helloi taret, who are the daughters of the Salailen Sidaba.
- Laikhurembi (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯈꯨꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ), Goddess of argument, justice, good counsel, divine law, order, retribution and secrecy. Queen of the Underworld kingdom and a consort of God Thongalen.
- Lainaotabi (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯅꯥꯎꯇꯥꯕ), Goddess of weaving, magic, and witchcraft, a consort of God Thongalen and later a concubine of Poireiton.
- Thongak Lairembi (ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯛ ꯂꯩꯃ), gatekeeper of the Underworld Kingdom and consort of Thongalen.
- Thongalen (Meitei: ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯟ), King of the Underworld and the God of Death.
There are more than 365 forest deities or Umang Lai in Sanamahism. They are always associated with a sacred grove. The term Umang Lai is also used to refer to the sacred abodes of the deities.
- Nongshaba (ꯅꯣꯡꯁꯥꯕ), Lion God who protects humanity from evils. A son of Salailen.
- Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi (ꯀꯣꯟꯊꯧꯖꯝ ꯇꯝꯐꯥ), Queen of Heaven.
- Mongba Hanba (ꯃꯣꯡꯕ ꯍꯟꯕ), a forest God associated with healing.
- Haoreima (ꯍꯥꯎꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of tragic love and separation, disease, souls and spirits.
- Ichum Lairembi (ꯏꯆꯨꯝ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ), presiding goddess of the Khurkhul region.
- Koujeng Leima (ꯀꯧꯖꯦꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ), a consort of God Koupalu and one of the nine goddesses who participated in the festival of Thangjing.
- Nungthel Leima (ꯅꯨꯡꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ), Goddess of the first villager, daughter of Koupalu and Kounu.
- Taoroinai (ꯇꯥꯑꯣꯔꯣꯏꯅꯥꯏ), serpentine dragon god from the Moon.
Craft deities
- Lainaotabi (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯅꯥꯎꯇꯥꯕ), Goddess of weaving, magic, and witchcraft, a consort of God Thongalen and later a concubine of Poireiton.
- Pisatao (ꯄꯤꯁꯥꯇꯥꯎ), God of architecture, artisans, forges, handicrafts, and metallurgy.
- Khamlangba (ꯈꯝꯂꯥꯡꯕ), God of iron, mining, metallurgy, hunting, and war.
Bird and animal goddesses
Agricultural deities
- Panam Ningthou (ꯄꯅꯝ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ), igniter of the first fire and the divine protector of crops (especially rice) from hailstorms and thunder.
- Phou Ningthou (ꯐꯧ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ), god of agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, rice, and harvests.
- Pureiromba (ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ), giver of rain and agricultural prosperity, ancestral deity of the Angom clan.
- Phouoibi (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ), Goddess of agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, rice, harvests, and wealth.
Lake and river goddesses
There are various Lake and river guardian goddesses.
Market goddesses
People worshipped one goddess for each market area considering the spirit of the goddess as the protector, guardian of the region.
- Pishum Keithel Lairembi of Pishumthong Market Region
- Singjamei Keithel Lairembi of Singjamei Market Region.
- Kongba Keithel Lairembi of Kongba Market Region
Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0706-9.
- The Meitheis, by T.C. Hodson, Akansha Publication, Kolkata, 1908
