Archive:Sanamahism

SANAMAHISM
Total population	235-250,000
Regions with significant populations	Manipur, North-East India
Holy Books	Puya / written in Meetei Mayek (Manipuri)
Place of Worship	Laishang / Umanglai (forest) /Home/Sanglen

Sanamahism is one of the oldest religions of South Asia. It originated in Manipur and is mainly practiced by the Meiteis, Kabui, Zeliangrong and other communities who inhabit Manipur, Assam, Tripura, U.P, Myanmar and Bangladesh, with small populations in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. It is the cult of Sanamahi the Creator of the Meitei trinity, the Sidaba Mapu - the immortal trinity God extensively mentioned in ancient literature.

Present Day

Sanamahism has seen a revival in recent decades, most notably in an increase in following over the 1991-2001 census. The revivalism of the cult of Sanamahism is recognized by the census record of the Government of India due to the praiseworthy efforts of R.K. Birendro Singh, I.A.S. Understanding the attitude of the indigenous people of Manipur to the religion and concept of God is not possible without a proper understanding of Sanamahi religion.

Form of Worship

Sanamahi inocorporates features such as the worship of forces of nature like fire, water, mountain etc. ancestor worship (Apokpa), Lamlai, Yumlai, Ningthoulai and Umanglai.[?] It is a religion of antiquity and in its pure native form it is a part of the history of Meitei people. There is reference to the worship of Sanamahi by King Kangba in the Hayi age.

Manipur is a land of deities with Atiya Shidaba as the Supreme God. Atiya Shidaba, Apanba and Asheeba are the three manifestations or incarnations of God as the Creator, the Preserver and the Annihilator of this universe. Pakhangba, Sannamahi and Nongpok Ningthou are the incarnations who play the role of the male deities, whereas Leimarel Shidabi and Panthoibi are the female deities. Besides these, three hundred and sixty-four deities with their consorts are the most important deities worshiped by the Meiteis.

Festival

Lai Haraoba is the festival of the recollection of the creation stories played by all deities with the first origin of this universe and evolution of the plants and animals through the will of Atiya Shidaba. Sannamahi and Leimarel are worshiped in every house of the Meiteis and other mentioned indigenous communities of Manipur and nearby states including Myanmar. The other gods and the three hundred and sixty four deities are worshiped in the Umanglai Laisangs (temple of gods in the reserved woods) in the villages.

Threats to Sanamahism

Sanamahi religion was threatened by mass baptism to Gaudiya Vaishnavism (a form of Hinduism) known as Nongkhang Iruppa, during the reign of King Pamheiba in the 18th century. Later during British rule the Hill tribes saw mass conversion to Christianity through the work of Baptist missionaries.

On April 23 1992 the ex Maharaja of Manipur, Okendrajit Sana, despite having no formal authority allegedley declared that the Royal customary law of Manipur recognised Sanamahi as state religion. Manipur, a state within the Indian union does not have a ruling Maharaja, only the descendants of the former Kingdom.

The day the Puyas (Holy books written in Meetei script) were burned during the reign of King Pamheiba has been observed since 1978 as Puya Mei Thaba Ningshing Thouram. King Pamheiba is claimed by some to have attempted to eliminate the Sanamahi religion. The majority of Hindu meitei also practice Sanamahi in some form. The two religions have long existed in synchrony.

Philosophy

Sanamahi belief and faith is based on the equality of mankind. This is clearly envisaged in the very word Meetei, which is literally the combination of two words mee (Image) tei (to guide). The practitioners of Sanamahi faith believe that man is made in the image of the Creator, who is often referred to as the Taibang Mapu Shidaba - the immortal lord of the universe.

Followers

According to the 2001 census of India some 235,000 people in Manipur were recorded as 'other' in the relgious category. It can be assumed that the vast majority of these people would be followers of Sanamahi religion because most other major religions are seperately categorised.

References

Sohini Ray "2000-01" "The Body-Cult in Sanamahism: A Case of the Revival of an Indigenous Religion Among the Meiteis in Manipur" is an ethnographic study of the sacred myths about the human body among the Meiteis, commonly known as Manipuri, a community in South-East Asia, and on how these mythological beliefs play a pivotal role in a socio-religious revival movement now occurring in the community. Sohini Ray recently received her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. [2]

External links

• Meeteis Surname
• [3] Revivalism of Sanamahism