Laininthou Sanamahee (Meetei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ) is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme

deity 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 ...

of the household in

Meetei 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) , ...

and

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

. He originated from the ancient kingdom of

Kangleipak 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 ...

(

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 ...

). He is regarded as the most popular and significant divinity 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) , ...

. He is the brother of

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 ...

and Nongshaba. He is the eldest son of Creator God Saalailel Sitapa and Leimalel Sitapee, the protector of the Universe in Meetei mythology and philosophy and Mother

Earth goddess An Earth goddess is a deification of the Earth. Earth goddesses are often associated with the "chthonic" deities of the underworld. Ki and Ninhursag are Mesopotamian earth goddesses. In Greek mythology, the Earth is personified as Gaia, corres ...

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 ...

Etymology

The term Lainingthou is derived from

Meetei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in pa ...

which means "King of Gods" and the term Sanamahi is combination of "Sanna" which means ''spreading'' and "Eemahi" which means "blood that originates living", literally means "spreading everywhere (like liquid)".

Mythology

When Sanamahi was ordered to cross the globe by his father, he at once proceeded. However, his younger brother

as per the instruction of his mother

, went around his father

Atingkok Maru Sidaba "Sidaba Mapu" ( mni, ꯁꯤꯗꯕ ꯃꯄꯨ) (literally,''"Immortal God"'') or Salailel ( mni, ꯁꯂꯥꯢꯂꯦꯜ) is the Supreme God, Creator of the universe and the Sky God in Meitei mythology and religion. According to Meitei mythology, Sid ...

, who is equivalent to the globe. As per the declaration that among the two brothers, the first to succeed in traveling across the globe, would be offered his father's throne of the Universe. That's how Pakhangba got the throne. However, in order to compensate Sanamahi,

offered him to be the king of every household of Mankind in the universe.

Divine names

There are one thousand divine names of the God Lainingthou Sanamahi.

Religious sites

The sacred places of Lainingthou Sanamahi include

Sanamahi Temple Sanamahi Temple ( mni, ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯢꯁꯪ) or Sanamahi Sanglen ( mni, ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯁꯪꯂꯦꯟ) is a temple of Lainingthou Sanamahi, the supreme deity of Sanamahism. It is located in the Sanakhwa Yaima Kollup near Kangl ...

Kangla Palace The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of the bank of the ...

, and Sanamahi Kiyong Temple.

Texts

Ancient texts that discuss him include: *

Sanamahi Laihui 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 ...

* Karthong Lamlen * Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya (written in 1400 BC) * Hijan-Hirao * Besides the above-mentioned sacred books, there are several sacred books or

Puya (Meitei texts) The Puyas ( mni, ꯄꯨꯌꯥ) are archaic Meitei language manuscripts. They encompass a wide spectrum of themes including genealogy, literature, history, royalties, administration, creation and cosmology, philosophy, poetry, religious beliefs ...

discovered from various hidings.

Festivals

The religious festivals associated with Lord Sanamahi are: *

Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba or Sanamahi Cheng Hongba or Kang Chingba is the religious festival of Meitei people, associated mainly with the public procession with the grand chariot, housing the ancient Meitei deity Lainingthou Sanamahi. The Im ...

* Mera Hou Chongba *

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 ...

Sajibu Cheiraoba Sajibu Nongma Pānba, also called Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba, is the lunar new year festival of the people who follow the religion of Sanamahism in the Indian state of Manipur. The name Sajibu Nongma Pānba derives from the Manipur ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanamahi, Lainingthou Meitei gods and goddesses Names of God in Sanamahism Ningthou