Archive:Sanamahism

2020-02-29T18:31:51Z

59.144.9.27: /* Origin */

{{short description|Religious or philosophical tradition of Meetei origin}}
{{Distinguish|Kanglei mythology|Umang Lai}}
{{About|the Sanamahism religion|consideration of ethnic, historic and cultural aspects of the Sanamahist identity|Meetei}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox religious group
| group = Sanamahism (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤꯖꯝ)
| flag =
| flag_caption =
| image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg
| image_caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source:Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya)
| population = approx. 235,000<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm 2001 Census]</ref>
| founder =
| regions = [[Manipur]], [[India]]
| tablehdr =
| region1 =
| pop1 =
| ref1 =
| region2 =
| pop2 =
| ref2 =
| region3 =
| pop3 =
| ref3 =
| religions =
| scriptures = [[PuYa|PuYa written in Meitei Mayek]] (Manipuri)
| languages = [[Meitei language]]
| related-c =
| notes = This 2,000 years old religion is one of the oldest religions in the world.
}}

'''Sanamahism''' ({{lang-mni|ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ}}), also known as '''Manipuri religion''' or '''Kanglei religion''', is an [[animism|animistic]], [[ancestor worship]]ping, [[shaman]]-led religious tradition found among the [[Meitei people]] in [[Manipur]] state of [[India]].<ref name=bertil113>{{cite book|author=Bertil Lintner|title=Great Game East: India, China, and the Struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0fLOBwAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19567-5|page=113}}</ref>{{sfn|Otojit Kshetrimayum|2009|pp=17-34}} The term is derived from ''Sanamahi'' (''lit.'' "Spreading like liquid everywhere"), the most important Meitei deities.{{sfn|Saroj Nalini Parratt|1974|pp=17-18}} The details of the identity of [[Lainingthou Sanamahi]] – sun, fire, or an aspect of Sidaba Mapu – along with other aspects of the Sanamahism beliefs, practices and the history, are unclear and disputed. Broadly, Sanamahism worship elements of nature, such as fire, water and mountains, with a notable temple and worship rituals at the Loi village of [[Andro, Imphal East|Andro]], east of [[Imphal]], according to Bertil Lintner.<ref name=bertil113/> Along with Sanamahi, in the past, religious space within Meitei homes called ''Sanamahi Kachin'' were dedicated to Leimaren and Phungga. This is also seen in modern Meitei families who identify with Sanamahism.{{sfn|Saroj Nalini Parratt|1974|pp=17-18}}

==Origin==
The first mentions are found in the [[Cheitharol Kumbaba]] records of the 18th-century Manipuri king [[Pamheiba]] (later named as Garibniwaz), which mentions the ritual of drinking ''yu'' (fermented rice beer) and feasting before a deity.{{sfn|Saroj Nalini Parratt|1974|pp=17-18}} The Sanamahi deity is likely more ancient than the 18th-century, and was known by other names such as '''Taibang Khaiba''' and '''Laiwa Haba''', but this is uncertain and lacks literary or archaeological evidence.{{sfn|Saroj Nalini Parratt|1974|pp=19-21}}
[[File:Sanamahi temple inside Kangla Fort, Imphal East, Manipur.jpg|thumb|left|A recently built Sanamahi temple, Kangla Fort, Imphal East, Manipur]]

==Description ==
Sanamahism is a folk religion. It competes with and co-exists with [[Vaishnavism]] – a tradition of [[Hinduism]] – among the [[Meitei people]]. Opponents and rebellious groups have sought to revive Sanamahism and related practices to emphasize the [[Manipur]]i heritage, along with seeking a ban on Bengali language movies and replacing it with English language entertainment broadcast from [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Bertil Lintner|title=Great Game East: India, China, and the Struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0fLOBwAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19567-5|pages=142-143}}</ref>{{sfn|Otojit Kshetrimayum|2009|pp=17-34}}

== Etymology ==
Sanamahism is also known as '''Sanamahi Laining''', for it originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak.{{cn|date=September 2019}}

== Revival ==
Sanamahism is revived after a long period of 4 centuries slumber, currently occupying 8℅ of Manipur's religion population according to 2011 census.

== Practices ==
Many Sanamahi practices are focused on food offerings to deities, combined with hymns, as well as oracular ritual whereby priestesses become possessed by a god or goddess. An offering formula to call up the gods, uttered by a priestess over a body of water during the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival, goes:

{{block quote|
<poem>
Incarnate Lord,Lairen (Dragon) Deity Pakhangba, O golden one,
Goddess of the waters, Ruler of the rivers:
Golden Goddess (Laisana) fair and beautiful one:
For you, Lord and Lady, in order to call up your souls,
We have poured the rice on the finest of banana leaves,
And on it have placed the fertile egg and the langthrei buds.
We do not offer you the ordinary khayom (offering packet), we offer you your own khayoms,
And we have tied them with the seven bamboo strips.
Which (represent) the seven days of the week.
We offer you the khayoms as they are tied thus.
Lord and Lady, we beseech you,
Ascend from within the khayoms, riding along the hiris.<ref>{{cite book|author=Saroj Parratt|title=The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=COCBAAAAMAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Vikas|isbn=8125904166|page=77}}</ref></poem>}}

Some esoteric practices are also a part of Sanamahism, such as the use of mantras for various purposes. The mystical text ''Sanamahi Naiyom'' provides several formulas, such as a mantra that is believed to stop rain: HUNG KRUNG HUNG-KRUNG TA (8x) AH (2x) CHAT HUK (2x) HING HING HUK SU SA HING HING LIK SAL LIT HING MA PAN. <ref>{{cite book|author=Soibam Birajit|title=Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=PgHgCwAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=ARECOM|page=103}}</ref>
==Religious festivals==
{{Main|Fairs and Festivals in Manipur}}
* [[Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba]]
* [[Lai Haraoba]]
* [[Mera Hou Chongba]]
* [[Mera Chaorel Houba]]
* [[Kwaak Taanba]]
* [[Yaoshang]]
* [[Panthoibi Iratpa]]
* [[Imoinu Iratpa]]
* [[Sajibu Cheiraoba]]
* [[Heikru Hidongba]]

== Deities ==
{{Main|Lists of deities in Sanamahism|Kanglei mythology|Umang Lai}}
===Prime deities ===
There are five prime deities in Sanamahism:
* [[Lainingthou Sanamahi]]: he is the King of the gods.
* [[Kuru (mythology)|Atingkok Maru Sidaba]]: he is the Creator of the [[Universe]].
* [[Pakhangba]]: he is the supreme deity.
[[File:Pakhangba.jpg|thumb|Pakhangba,the serpent deity]]
[[File:Flag of Manipur.svg|thumb|Pakhangba in the flag of Manipur]]
* [[Leimarel Sidabi]]: she is the supreme Goddess.
* Imoinu Ahongbi, also known as [[Emoinu]]: though she is an incarnation of Goddess Leimarel, she herself is a goddess of wealth and prosperity.

===Others===
{{main|List of creatures in Meitei folklore}}
Besides, there are thousands of deities worshipped, including the following:
* [[Polo]] Deity Lord Marjing and his stead Shamadon Ayangba.
* [[Sky God]] [[Atingkok Maru Sidaba|Soraren]]
* [[Sun God]] Korou Hanba
* [[Lion]] God [[Nongshaba]]

[[File:Uttra sanglen.jpg|thumb|Kanglasha, also known as Nongshaba, at Kangla]]
* Goddess of Power, [[Panthoibi]]

===Umang Lai ===
Besides, there are other deities associated with [[sacred groves]] called [[Umang Lai]] including Ima Tamphaton Petangaa and [[Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba]].

===Ancestral deities ===
{{Main|Apokpa}}
Besides, there are deities for each clans (Yek Salai) as well as families ([[Yumnak]]) called [[Apokpa]].

===Divine figures===
Though [[Sandrembi Chaisra|Sanarembi]] is not a deity, she is a divine figure in the religious chanting of hymns in [[Lai Haraoba]] festival.

==See also==
* [[Lainingthou Sanamahi]]
* [[Lists of creatures in Meitei folklore]]
* [[Lists of deities in Sanamahism]]
* [[Puya (Meitei texts)]]
* [[Sanamahi creation myth]]
* [[Umang Lai]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation|title= Women and Shamanism in Manipur and Korea: A Comparative Study| author= Otojit Kshetrimayum| journal= Indian Anthropologist| volume= 39| number= 1/2|year = 2009| pp= 17-34|jstor= 41920088}}
* {{citation | last = Kshetrimayum | first = Otojit | year = 2014 | title = Ritual, Politics and Power in North East India: Contextualising the Lai Haraoba of Manipur | publisher = Ruby Press & Co. | isbn = 978-93-82395-50-8 }}
* {{citation | last = Hodson | first = T.C. | year = 2015 | title = The Meitheis | publisher = Ruby Press & Co. | isbn = 978-93-82395-56-0}}
* {{citation| title= The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals and Historical Development| author= Saroj Nalini Parratt | year= 1974| publisher=Australian National University Press}}
* {{citation| title= The Second 'Women's War' and the Emergence of Democratic Government in Manipur| author1= Saroj N. Arambam Parratt |author2= John Parratt| journal = Modern Asian Studies| volume= 35| number = 4| year= 2001| pp= 905-919| jstor=313195}}
*{{citation| title= Writing the Body: Cosmology, Orthography, and Fragments of Modernity in Northeastern India| author = Sohini Ray| journal= Anthropological Quarterly| volume= 82| number=1| year=2009| pp= 129-154| jstor= 25488260}}
* {{citation | last = Singh | first = Dr. Saikhom Gopal | year = 2015 | title = The Meeteis of Manipur: A Study in Human Geography | publisher = Ruby Press & Co. | isbn = 978-93-82395-21-8}}
* {{citation | last = Singh | first = Dr. Saikhom Gopal | year = 2015 | title = Population Geography of Manipur | publisher = Ruby Press & Co. | isbn = 978-93-82395-25-6}}
{{refend}}

{{Religion topics}}

[[Category:Sanamahism]]
[[Category:Indian religions]]
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
[[Category:Religion in Manipur]]
[[Category:Religion in South Asia]]
[[Category:Gods and Goddesses of Kanglei mythology]]

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Archive:Sanamahism