Koupalu (also, Koubaru or Koubru) is a primordial deity in

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 ...

and

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. He is the Guardian of the North West direction. Legend says he is the founder of civilization in

Ancient Manipur The Manipur Kingdom was an ancient independent kingdom at the India–Burma frontier that was in subsidiary alliance with British India from 1824, and became a princely state in 1891. It bordered Assam Province in the west and Brit ...

, starting from the

Mount Koubru Mount Koubru (''Meeteilol'':ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ) also known as Mount Koupalu is one of the highest mountains in Manipur, India and the abode of the god ''Lainingthou Koubru'' and the goddess ''Kounu'' in Manipuri mythology. Sapormeina town lies be ...

, a peak where he abodes, in north-western

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 ...

. God Koubru resides in the

(Koubru Hill). The

(Koubru Hill) is the first place of settlement of the

Meitei ethnicity 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 ...

, including the

Loi Loi is the word in the Meitei language (Meiteilon) for the term "scheduled caste". The term ''Loi'' is given to the indigenous and aboriginal people of Manipur in northeast India who refused to adopt Hinduism or were semi-Hinduised when the new ...

s of Andro,

Khurkhul Khurkhul is a village in the Imphal West district in Manipur, India. It is located north of Lamphelpat and from the state capital Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian s ...

Phayeng Phayeng is a small village in Imphal West district 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 ...

and

Sekmai Sekmai is a village in the Imphal West district in the Indian state of Manipur. See also *Phayeng Phayeng is a small village in Imphal West district of Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city ...

Origin

The traditional hymns supplement the theory of origin.

Awang Koubru Assupa
Leimalai Khunda Ahanba.
Nongthrei Ma-U Lingliba,
Irik Mapan Thariba,
Lainingthou!

English translation of the above passage:

North Koubru all-inclusive (pervasive)
Leima Lai first habitation,
Heaven-flower all things seen established,
Blood drop (Blood cell) planters,
O! Lainingthou (King of Gods)!

This is the hymn of invocation of God Koubru (Koupalu in

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 ...

s).

Description

Lord Koupalu (Koubru) is the

Omniscient Omniscience () is the capacity to know everything. In Hinduism, Sikhism and the Abrahamic religions, this is an attribute of God. In Jainism, omniscience is an attribute that any individual can eventually attain. In Buddhism, there are diffe ...

and the

Omnipotent Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power. Monotheistic religions generally attribute omnipotence only to the deity of their faith. In the monotheistic religious philosophy of Abrahamic religions, omnipotence is often listed as one of ...

Guardian God. He lives on the top of

. God Koubru, the Heavenly Lord, is said to be the controller of the nine underground wells/tunnels. These are associated with the birth and death of the mankind. The 9 tunnels are sacred to the Meitei people. So, these are still worshipped by the Meiteis.

Worship

In the

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means ''merry making of the Gods'' in Meiteilon. In this festival, the people worship ...

festival, a ritualistic folk song dedicated to God Koubru is sung like this:

Awang Koubru Assupa
Eeyen Khunda Ahanba

English translation of the above passage:

Koubru of the North, You are the overlord
You are the first place of settlement.

The Meiteis offer a beautiful puppy to God Koubru to free themselves from the sufferings. The

caste of the

worship God Koubru on every occasion, including birth, marriage and death. All the Loi villagers excluding Andro are the worshipers of God Koubru.

References

External links

INTERNET ARCHIVE

E-pao.net
{{Sanamahi1 Animal deities Animal gods Arts gods Creator gods \ Earth gods Guardians of the directions Hunting gods Kings in Meitei mythology Love and lust gods Maintenance gods Marriage gods Meitei gods and goddesses Names of God in Sanamahism Nature gods Ningthou Pastoral gods Peace deities Peace gods Sky and weather gods Time and fate gods Trickster gods Wind gods