Archive:Sanamahism

Sanamahism (Template:Lang-mni), also known as Meitei religion, Manipuri religion or Kanglei religion, is an animistic, ancestor-worshipping, shaman-led religious tradition found among the Meitei people in Manipur state of India.Template:Sfn The term is derived from Sanamahi (lit. "Spreading like liquid everywhere"), the most important Meitei deities.Template:Sfn 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, east of Imphal, according to Bertil Lintner. Along with Sanamahi, in the past, religious space within Meitei homes called Sanamahi Kachin were dedicated to Leimarel Sidabi and Phungga. This is also seen in modern Meitei families who identify with Sanamahism.Template:Sfn.According to Kanglei mythology life form began from water in the form of "Namu Mitam Nga" commonly known as "Ngamu"

Origin

The first mentions are found in the Cheitharol Kumbaba records of the 18th-century Meitei king Pamheiba (later named as Garibniwaz), which mentions the ritual of drinking yu (fermented rice beer) and feasting before a deity.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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 Manipuri heritage, along with seeking a ban on Bengali script and replacing it with the old Meitei script which was forcefully banned during the reign of King Garibniwaz.Template:Sfn

Etymology

Sanamahism is also known as Sanamahi Laining, for it originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak.

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:

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.

Religious festivals

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

Lists of deities in Sanamahism

Main deities

There are five main deities in Sanamahism:

• Asheeba: he is the Protector and the Guardian God of the mankind.
• Atingaa Koilou Sitapa: he is the Creator of the Universe.
• Apanba: he is the ruler of the universe and the destroyer of evils.
• Leimarel Sidabi: she is the earth Goddess.
• Imoinu Ahongbi: Though she is an incarnation of Goddess Leimarel, she herself is a goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Related deities

Besides the five main deities, there are innumerable Gods and goddesses, playing significant roles in the ancient pantheon, religion as well as mythology. Citable examples include Panthoibi, Lainingthou Nongpok Ningthou, Lainingthou Koubru, Ibudhou Marjing, Thongalel, Wangbren, Eputhou Thangjing, Kounu, Nongshaba, Nongthang Leima, Irai Leima and so on.

Umang Lai

Further information: Umang Lai

Besides, there are other deities associated with sacred groves called Umang Lai including Konthoujam Lairembi gi Khubam, Ima Tamphaton Petangaa and Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba groves.

Ancestral deities

Apokpa

Besides, there are deities for each clans (Yek Salai) as well as families (Yumnak) called Apokpa.

Divine figures

Though Sanarembi is not a deity, she is a divine figure in the religious chanting of hymns in Lai Haraoba festival.

See also

• Lai Haraoba
• Lainingthou Sanamahi
• Lists of creatures in Meitei folklore
• Lists of deities in Sanamahism
• Meitei mythology
• Puya (Meitei texts)
• Sanamahi creation myth
• Umang Lai

Sources

• Otojit Kshetrimayum (2009), "Women and Shamanism in Manipur and Korea: A Comparative Study", Indian Anthropologist 39 (1/2) 
• Kshetrimayum, Otojit (2014), Ritual, Politics and Power in North East India: Contextualising the Lai Haraoba of Manipur, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-50-8 
• Hodson, T.C. (2015), The Meitheis, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-56-0 
• Saroj Nalini Parratt (1974), The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals and Historical Development, Australian National University Press 
• Saroj N. Arambam Parratt; John Parratt (2001), "The Second 'Women's War' and the Emergence of Democratic Government in Manipur", Modern Asian Studies 35 (4), doi:10.1017/S0026749X0100405X 
• Sohini Ray (2009), "Writing the Body: Cosmology, Orthography, and Fragments of Modernity in Northeastern India", Anthropological Quarterly 82 (1), doi:10.1353/anq.0.0047 
• Singh, Dr. Saikhom Gopal (2015), The Meeteis of Manipur: A Study in Human Geography, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-21-8 
• Singh, Dr. Saikhom Gopal (2015), Population Geography of Manipur, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-25-6