Archive:Sanamahism

Sanamahi is the worship of Sanamahi, the Creator aspect of Sidaba Mapu, the trinity God of the Meeteis. Sanamahism is one of the oldest sects of South Asia. It originated in Manipur, India and is mainly practiced by the Meeteis, Kabui, Zeliangrong and other communities who inhabit Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Myanmar and Bangladesh, with small populations in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

Revivalism

Religion in Manipur is thought to have passed through three stages.

According to the last census, about eleven percent of Manipur belong to religions stated as 'other'. Most of this population can be assumed to represent followers of the Sanamahi religion. This represents a significant increase over the previous census. The revivalism of Sanamahism is recognized by the census records of the government of India due to the efforts of R. K. Birendro Singh, I.A.S.

Attitude of indigenous people of Manipur to the religion and concept of God is not possible without the proper understanding of Sanamahi religion. Pakhangba Laining was also currently employed to signify revivalism.

Form of Worship

In assimilate features such as the worship of forces of nature like fire, water, mountain etc. ancestor worship (Apokpa), Lamlai, Yumlai, Ningthoulai and Umanglai. Religion of antiquity – in its pure native form it is as all as the history of Meetei/Meitei people.

Deities worshiped

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 respectively. Pakhangba, Sannamahi and Nongpok Ningthou are the incarnations who play the role of the male deities of the Meeteis whereas Leimarel Shidabi and Panthoibi, the role of female deities.

Panthoibi is the Mother of the Universe and Nongpok Ningthou is her mate. Besides these, three hundred and sixty four deities with their consorts are the most important deities worshipped by the Meeteis.

The Plain Kabui are observed in worship of Sanamahi and Ima Leimarel.

Sanamahi (also known as Aseeba) has a creator brother (like him) named Pakhangba (Konjin Tukthapa).

Food offerings

Devout Meeteis offer food at sacred spots daily.

Festivals

Cheiraoba

Chahihouba is the real New Year' Day for Meetei and is observed every year on Sajibu nongma Panba - the first day of the first month - Sajibu of Meetei Calender. The Meeteis have their own calendar known as Thaballon. A calendar year has twelve months viz. Sajibu, Kalen, Inga, Ingen, Thawan, Langban, Mera, Hiyangei, Poinu, Wakching, Phairen and Lamta. Sajibu mainly falls during the month of March - April. But after 18th Century (when Hinduism came) they burnt out most of the Puyas and forcely converted the name Charak Pujah as Cheiraoba. Since then to make alive the festival Charak Pujah of the Hindus converted as the New Year's Day for Meetei to match with the Hindu Calendar and is observed every year on 13th or 14 April i.e. the day on which CHARAK PUJAH falls and converted the name Charak Pujah as Cheiraoba. Some people observed Cheiraoba on Wakching Thaneel (full moon & mostly during December–January) to adjust the Gregorian Calender's New Year. Now as mentioned in the puya Cheiraoba Masil, real New Year i.e. Chahihouba is revived slowly and started celebrating on Sajibu Nongma Panba (1st Day of the First Month of the year i.e. Sajibu) in many families of the Manipur/Kangleipak. It is required to offer fresh vegetables, dishes etc. outside the gate of House and offer those to three deities - Kumsana Kumliklai, Lamsenba Tusenba and Lammaba Tumaba (Cheiraoba Masil). But, some sources wrongly mentioned that these were the technique used by King (or Pandit Shri Santi Das Goshai) during Cheiraoba to know the figure of families celebrating Cheiraoba. Cheiraoba in Meeteilol (local language) Chei Pairaga Laopa meant Ordering using stick to regard Cheiraoba as New year Day. During this occasion, Meetei houses are renovated and white washed to mark the New Year's Day. The householders offer fresh vegetables, fresh fish and cook vegetarian food to offer to gods and goddesses. In the afternoon, young boys and girls climb a small hillock called "Cheiraoching" to pay floral tribute to the statue of meetei freedom fighter. On the day of meetei new year/cheiraoba, each and every family prepared many special curry/items and after offering to the gods and goddesses, the items are exchange with our relatives which is called as Mathel Lanba. It is believed that on the day of new year everybody should be healthy so that the whole year will be healthy i.e. why it is a must to climb the nearest hill to digest whatever the items/curry taken on that day. Again prior to the day of cheiraoba/meitei new year, there is a custom that a married woman should present a gift to her father and her brothers.

Lai Haraoba

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 community of Manipur and nearby states including Mayanmar. The other gods and the 364 deities are worshipped in the Umanglai Laisangs (temple of gods in the reserved woods with spacious grounds) in the villages.

See also

• Folk Hinduism

External links

• Meeteis Surname
• The Revivalism of Sanamahism
• 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, a community in Northeast India, 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. [1]