Apokpa Laining (the Apokpa religion) endeavors to discover Apokpa (the Truth; the Almighty).
The first of
forefathers
An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder or a forebear, is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from whom ...
by cultivating in one's own mother tongue, custom and culture, especially in
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 ...
. The Apokpa has no name, but different communities call or invoke Him in their own language as God.
It is a main cult in the religion of
Sanamahism
()
, 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)
, ...
, the religion of Ancient
Kanglei world.
Worship
Apokpa Laining does not have
idol worship
Idolatry is the worship of a cult image or "idol" as though it were God. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Ab ...
, so community
worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition ...
is in the form of Khubam symbolic representations in demarcated places where articles for worship are placed. Apokpaism worship takes place with
Meiteis
The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...
rites and rituals maintaining all customary norms.
Main Followers- Meiteis
The
Meitei believe in two categories of deities:
* Yumlai: Leimaren, Sanamahee and Apokpa (deities of dwelling houses)
* Umanglai: (deities of woods: i.e., deities outside the dwelling houses).
Not only the Apokpa, but all the
Meiteis
The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...
generally worship Yumlai and Umanglai.
Beliefs
The first human species was created by
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 ...
, the incarnation of Eepuroi Apokpa by observing the image of Soraren and then spread human beings and inhabited all over the earth.
Laninghan declared that Meetei-Laibak is the first habitation land of human beings and it is not only a paradise for the Meiteis, but also for other human beings on the earth. He declared that as long as the Meiteis' "Chayon-Taret" (seven days of week) exist, the history of the Meiteis will not become extinct.
The Chayon-Taret
*The first day of the week. The day on which Lainingthou Soraren came down from Koubru and reached the foot of the Nongmaiching Hill to create land for human habitation was called "Nongmaiching".
*The second day of the week. The day Lainingthou Soraren climbed the hill top was called "Ningthoukaba" ( = king; = climb).
*The third day of the week. The day the earth was visible over water surface was called "Leibakpokpa" ( = earth; = birth).
*The fourth day of the week. The day the deities started to build their dwelling houses was called "YumsaKeisa" ( = house; = to build).
*The fifth day of the week. The "Saloi Ngaloi" became jealous at this and they started attacking the deities to drive them away. The deities got on their horseback and began to fight. The day the deities fought the battle riding on horseback was called "Sagonsen" ( = horse; = to ride).
*The sixth day of the week. There was a flow of blood in the battlefield and this day was known as "Eerai" ( = blood; = flood).
*The seventh day of the week. The day the deities washed their swords and spears after dispersing the "Saloi Ngaloi" was called "Thangcha" ( = swords; = to wash).
See also
*
Sanamahism
()
, 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)
, ...
*
Sanamahi creation myth
The Sanamahi creation myth is the traditional creation myth of Sanamahism, a religion of the Meitei, Chothe, Komhreng, Kabui, Anāl, and, before their conversion to Christianity, Tangkhul people in Manipur, India.
Koubru, the first pla ...
*
Lists of deities in Sanamahism
Sanamahism (Meitei religion) is a polytheistic religion with thousands of deities, gods and goddesses of varying power, quality, features, and character.
The religion originated in the Kingdom of Manipur, and is still practiced in modern Manipur ...
*
Lists of Creatures in Meitei Folklore
Meitei people, being the predominant ethnic group in the Himalayan kingdom of Manipur, has diverse cultural contacts with diverse communities of other nations since ancient times. The case is the same with Meitei folklore as well as Meitei cultu ...
References
{{Reflist
Meitei culture
Sanamahism