Sanamahism (

Meitei religion () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

) is a polytheistic religion with thousands of

deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

, gods and

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

es of varying power, quality, features, and character. Symbol of Sanamahi Religion

The religion originated in the Kingdom of

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

, and is still practiced in modern

, India, distinct from both the

Indosphere Indosphere is a term coined by the linguist James Matisoff for areas of Indian linguistic and cultural influence in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is commonly used in areal linguistics in contrast with Sinosphere. Influence The Tibeto-Burma ...

and the

Sinosphere The East Asian cultural sphere, also known as the Sinosphere, the Sinic world, the Sinitic world, the Chinese cultural sphere, the Chinese character sphere encompasses multiple countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia that were historically ...

. The following is a list of deities, gods, goddesses, demigods, mortals,

immortals Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life. Immortal or Immortality may also refer to: Film * ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film * ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film ''The Wisdom of ...

and a few

mythical creature A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical accounts ...

s. This does not include the full list of mythical creatures of ancient Meitei folklore, for which see

List of creatures in Meitei folklore Meitei people, being the predominant ethnic group in the Himalayas, Himalayan kingdom of Manipur, has diverse cultural contacts with diverse communities of other nations since ancient times. The case is the same with Meetei folklore, Meitei folkl ...

Main deities

There are five main deities in the ancient

and

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

, namely: * Asheeba - He's the Guardian God and the protector of mankind. He is also known as

Sanamahi Laininthou Sanamahee (Meetei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ) is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme deity of the household in Meetei religion and mythology. He originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak ...

. * Apanba - He's the Supreme ruler of the universe and the

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

of evil. He's also known as

Pakhangba Pakhangba ( mni, , omp, ) is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and religion. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in ''paphal'' ( mni, ), the mythical illust ...

. * Atingkok - He's the Creator of the Universe. He's also known as Atiya Sidaba. *

Leimarel Sidabi ) , deity_of = Goddess of earth, nature and household , member_of = Imung Lais , image = Relief art depicting Salailen (Salailel), the Supreme God, creating Leimalen (Leimalel), the first female being in the universe, according ...

- Supreme Goddess,

mother earth Mother Earth may refer to: *The Earth goddess in any of the world's mythologies *Mother goddess *Mother Nature, a common personification of the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life Written media and literature *Mother Earth ...

. *

Imoinu Ahongbi Imoinu or Emoinu ( mni, ꯏꯃꯣꯏꯅꯨ) is a goddess associated with household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). She is frequently ...

- Goddess of Wealth, she is also an

Incarnation Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It refers to the conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or the appearance of a god as a human. If capitalized, it is the union of divinit ...

of Goddess Leimarel Sidabi Among them,

Lainingthou Sanamahi Laininthou Sanamahee (Meetei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ) is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme deity of the household in Meetei religion and mythology. He originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak (M ...

and

are the household deities worshipped.

Atingkok

The creator of Universe in Sanamahism is believed to be Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba, father of

and

Lainingthou

The term "Lainingthou" literally means ''King of Gods'' or the ''Divine King'' and it is applied to various deities such as Lainingthou Khoriphaba, Lainingthou Soraren, etc. However, it is generally used to refer

Pakhangba

There are several serpent deities in the pantheon. However, the supreme most one is Lord

Sanamahi temple inside Kangla Fort, Imphal East, Manipur

Shayon (incarnations)

, the supreme goddess has incarnated several times in various divine forms with diverse attributes.

Related deities

Celestial maidens

, there are seven prominent celestial maidens, which are referred to as either goddesses or

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ty ...

Lai Nuraa Taret

The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven goddesses or "Lai Nuraa Taret ", the creation of the Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba.

Helloi Taret

The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven nymphs or "Helloi Taret ", who are the daughters of the

Sky God The sky often has important religious significance. Many religions, both polytheistic and monotheistic, have deities associated with the sky. The daytime sky deities are typically distinct from the nighttime ones. Stith Thompson's ''Motif-In ...

Soraren. They are then believed to be spinsters.

Apokpa (ancestral deities)

In ancient

, the ancestral deities of every families and clans were called

Apokpa Apokpa Laining (the Apokpa religion) endeavors to discover Apokpa (the Truth; the Almighty). The first of forefathers by cultivating in one's own mother tongue, custom and culture, especially in Manipur. The Apokpa has no name, but different co ...

. They are worshipped by their respective families (

Yumnak In Meetei society, the sagei or family name is known as ''Yumnak'' in Meetei Language. Pronounced "yoom-naak". Ethnic ''yumnaks'' are used in the Meetei /Meitei community including the Meitei Pangal and Meitei Bamon (Manipuri Brahmin). The ...

) and clans (Yek Salai). According to T.C. Hodson's book ''The Meitheis'', the Meitei people are the only people who have a tradition of worshipping their ancestral deities in Manipur.''The Meitheis'', by T.C. Hodson, Akansha Publication, Kolkata, 1908

Dragons in Meitei mythology

The following is a list of a few

dragon A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...

s of

Planet deities

According to a

PuYa Puya may refer to: * ''Puya'' (plant), in the family Bromeliaceae * Puya (river), in Russia * Puya, a variety of Guajillo chili * ''Puya'' (Meitei texts), traditional or mythological texts of the Meetei people * ''Culoepuya'' or ''Culo'e Puya'', V ...

" Khenchonglol" (literally meaning, study of

Heavenly bodies "Heavenly Bodies" is a song written by Elaine Lifton, Gloria Nissenson and Lee Ritenour, and recorded by American country music artist Earl Thomas Conley. It was released in May 1982 as the first single from the album '' Somewhere Between Right ...

Planets A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a young ...

Celestial bodies An astronomical object, celestial object, stellar object or heavenly body is a naturally occurring physical entity, association, or structure that exists in the observable universe. In astronomy, the terms ''object'' and ''body'' are often us ...

in the Ningthou Turel or Milky Way Galaxy of the Universe), there are nine

Planet A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a you ...

s which are considered as deities. Even the Sun and the

Moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...

are considered as planets in Meitei Philosophy. They are as follows:

Star deities

According to Khenchonglol, there are twenty seven stars which are referred to as deities, out of which the constellation Orion is the most significant. They are as follows: * Sajik (

Arietis Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It is located in the Northern celestial hemisphere between Pisces (constellation), Pisces to the west and Taurus (constellation), Taurus to the east. The name Aries is Latin for sheep, ram. Its ...

) * Thaba ( Musca) * Khongjom Nubi ( Pleiades) * Apaknga (Lunar, pauri, masion) * Sachung Telheiba ( A Orionis) * Likla Saphaba (Orion) * Chingcharoibi ( G Geminorum) * Chungshennubi ( Cancer)

Umang Lai

There are more than 365 forest deities or "

Umang Lai Umang Lai are the group of sacred groves preserved for the local forest deities (with the same title), worshipped by the Meitei people, the Pangal people and Meitei Christians, the predominant ethnic groups, since ancient times in the Himalayan ...

" in Sanamahism. They are always associated with a Sacred grove each in Kanglei World. The term ''Umang Lai'' is also used to refer to the sacred abodes of the deities. Some of the significant ones are: * Nongshaba - The highest deity associated with Sacred grove or "

" in Sanamahism. * Konthoujam Lairembi gi Khubam * Ebudhou Khamlangba * Ima Khunthok Hanbi *

Hiyangthang Lairembi ) , deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life , member_of = Lairembis , image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg , alt = , caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida , other_names = * Ireima ( omp, I ...

* Ima Langol Lairembi * Langol Ningthou * Thanga Ching Ningthou * Ipathakok * Ikop Ningthou * Laininthou Naothingkhong Pakhangba * Ima Tamphaton Petangaa

Directional gods

and mythology, there are ten

directions Direction may refer to: *Relative direction, for instance left, right, forward, backwards, up, and down ** Anatomical terms of location for those used in anatomy ** List of ship directions *Cardinal direction Mathematics and science *Direction ...

in Meitei philosophy, for which there are ten deities who are the protectors and the guardians of the respective directions.

Local deities

River goddesses

There are various river goddesses worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism. The main rivers associated with these goddesses originated from Manipur. Some of them are as follows: * Thongjarok Lairembi of Thongjaorok River * Iril Lairembi of Iril River * Imphal Turel Lairembi of Imphal River * Kongba Turel Lairembi of Kongba River

Lake goddesses

There are various Lake

Goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

es worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism, considering the spirits as the guardian and protector of the periphery region of the lake. Some of the deities are: * Loktak Lairembi of Loktak Lake * Pumlenpat Lairembi of Pumlenpat Lake

Market goddesses

People worshipped one goddess for each market area considering the spirit of the goddess as the protector, guardian of the region. Some of the goddesses are as follows: * Pishum Keithel Lairembi of Pishumthong Market Region * Singjamei Keithel Lairembi of Singjamei Market Region. * Kongba Keithel Lairembi of Kongba Market Region

Lists in alphabetical order

Here's a lists of the deities in alphabetical order:

A

* Apanba * Ashiba * Apanthoibi * Atiya Kuru Sidaba

C

* Changning Leima * Cheikhetpi * Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba

E

* Emoinu * Engarel Sidaba * Ereima

F

* Fauoibi

H

* Hikubi Yaikubi * Hi Leima *

I

* Irai Leima * Ireima

K

* Khamlangba * Khoriphaba * Khunthokhanbi * Konthoujam Lairembi

L

M

* Malem Leima * Mongba Hanba

N

* Ngareima * Nongda Nongkhal Lembi * Nongpok Ningthou * Nongshaba *

Nongthang Leima ) * Nongthang Lairembi ( omp, Nongthang Lailempi) * Nongthang Lairemma ( omp, Nongthang Lailemma) * Langmai Sana Chingjaroibi ( omp, Langmai Sana Chingchaloipi) , hiro = , Old_Norse = , script_name = , script = , affi ...

O

* Oknarel * Oksharel Sidaba

P

* Phouoibi * Puthiba

S

* Samurou Lakpa * Shamadon Ayangba * Silleima * Soraren

T

* Tampha Lairembi

U

* Uningthou

W

* Wangbren

Y

* Yaikubi * Yoibu Noinu Thumleima

References

Bibliography

* ''The Meitheis'', by T.C. Hodson, Akansha Publication, Kolkata, 1908

External links

Names of God
Lists of deities Sanamahism Names of God in Sanamahism {{Religion topics