Sakok Lamlen
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The Sakok Lamlen (Meitei: ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯂꯝꯂꯦꯟ), also spelt Shakok Lamlen (Meitei: ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯂꯝꯂꯦꯟ), is a classical Meitei language religious text (puya) of the indigenous Meitei religion (Sanamahism) and is a sequel to the Meitei mythology expounded in the Leithak Leikharol. It is considered to be the Upanishad of the traditional Meitei religion.[1][2] It is one of the historical texts, which mention about the different names of Ancient Manipur (Kangleipak).[3] According to it, Kangla was the capital of the Meitei civilisation in Ancient Manipur and it was also known as Leimakon Kangla Nongthon Phambiron.[4] It was constructed over the navel of the serpentine dragon god Taoroinai.[4] It also mentions about the history of the Meitei festival celebrated during the reign of Meitei King Irengba in the tenth century CE.[5]
Sakok Lamlen is believed to have been created during the reign of King Khagemba (1526–1556 CE).[1]
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Background
The text was written as a response to the curiosity of King Khagemba. After living a successful and meaningful life, the king asked his three royal preceptors about higher knowledge and religious teachings. He wanted to know how a person could achieve salvation, and what roles the different visible and invisible gods played in spiritual life. The answers given by the preceptors form the content of Sakok Lamlen.[1]
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Opening invocation
The manuscript begins with a prayer to Atiya Sidaba, the eternal and supreme Lord of the Universe:[1]
"Atiya Sidaba, Lord of the Universe, vast as the limitless water and having many forms, I pay obeisance to Thee with my head humbly bowed. Only the good, the chosen among humans, the gifted, and those with supreme souls can understand its essence... This is the embodiment of all knowledge handed down from the earliest ancestors. There is no other teaching worth knowing than this."[1]
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Teachings by Ages
The text describes different religious paths followed in three spiritual ages:[1]
First Age: Hayichak
In the first age, called Hayichak, people worshipped the Absolute, which was identified with Sanamahi. This was believed to be the correct path for achieving salvation in that era.[1]
Second Age
In the second age, the focus was on the worship of Truth. This was defined as the knowledge of one's soul. The god associated with this age was the Lord of Heaven.[1]
Third Age
In the third age, Pakhangba was recognized as the saviour of human souls. In order to realize Pakhangba, a person was required to:[1]
- Live a life of decency and cleanliness[1]
- Show respect to parents[1]
The preceptors told the king:
"To worship Pakhangba is to see one's own soul, to be able to see the Lord's figure, to feel shame even in the dark, to live only on pure food, to remain under the protection of the silent one, and to be acceptable to all beings. These things will please Lord Pakhangba."[1]
Bibliography
- Sakok Lamlen Part. 1 : Bheigya Meitei, Yengbam : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
- Sakok Lamlen : Not Available : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
- https://www.newsdogapp.com/en/article/5d95610f83b48e1d4a56fdfa/?d=false%5B%5D
- Devi, Jamini (2010). Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas. Mittal Publications. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-8324-342-1.
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References
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