)
, planet =
, weapon =
, battles =
, artifacts =
, animals =
, symbol =
, adherents =
, height =
, age =
, tree =
, day =
, color =
, number =
, consorts =
*
Laikhurembi
)
, deity_of = Chief Queen of the Underworld Goddess of argument, justice, good counsel, divine law, order, retribution and secrecy
, member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais
, image = LAIKHULEMPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption ...
*
Lainaotabi
)
, deity_of = Goddess of charm, magic, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = LAINAOTAPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Lainaotapi", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of the g ...
*
Thongak Lairembi
)
, deity_of = Gatekeeper Goddess of the Entrance Gate to the Underworld Kingdom
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = THONGAK LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Thongak Leima", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of ...
*
Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi
)
, deity_of = Enchantress goddess of death who carries off the souls of people to the underworld
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = KHAMNUNG KIKOI LOUONPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Khamnung Kikoi Louonpi", the ...
, parents =
, siblings =
Poireiton
, offspring =
, predecessor =
, successor =
, army =
, mount =
, texts =
*
Poireiton Khunthok
*
Nongban Pombi Luwaoba
, gender = Male
, Greek_equivalent =
Hades
, Roman_equivalent =
Pluto
Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Sun. It is the largest ...
, Etruscan_equivalent =
, Christian_equivalent =
, Slavic_equivalent =
, Hinduism_equivalent =
Yama
Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...
, Canaanite_equivalent =
, equivalent1_type =
, equivalent1 =
, equivalent2_type =
, equivalent2 =
, region =
Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur)
, ethnic_group =
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 ...
, festivals =
Lai Haraoba
Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional Deity, deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means ''merry making of the Gods'' in Meitei language, Meiteilon. In this festi ...
Thongalen (also, Thongalel, Thongaren or Thongarel) is the
god of the dead
Many have incorporated a god of death into their mythology or religion. As death, along with birth, is among the major parts of human life, these deities may often be one of the most important deities of a religion. In some religions in which a ...
and the king of the
underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwor ...
( mni, Khamnung) 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, ...
of
Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur).
He is the Guardian God of the
nadir
The nadir (, ; ar, نظير, naẓīr, counterpart) is the direction pointing directly ''below'' a particular location; that is, it is one of two vertical directions at a specified location, orthogonal to a horizontal flat surface.
The direc ...
. The
underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwor ...
( mni, Khamnung), which is the land of death, has ''Khamnung Sawa'' as its capital 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 ...
.
He is the ancestor-God of the
Khuman clan of
Meitei people
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 ...
.
Laikhurembi
)
, deity_of = Chief Queen of the Underworld Goddess of argument, justice, good counsel, divine law, order, retribution and secrecy
, member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais
, image = LAIKHULEMPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption ...
and
Lainaotabi
)
, deity_of = Goddess of charm, magic, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = LAINAOTAPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Lainaotapi", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of the g ...
are his wives.
The ''Pakhangba Nonggarol'' ( omp, Pakhangpa Nongkalol) text says the God of death is called ''"Leinung Thongarel"'' ( omp, Leinung Thongalel).
Mythology
In the Poireiton Khunthok
King Thongaren ( omp, Thongalen) asked his highest ranked Queen
Laikhurembi
)
, deity_of = Chief Queen of the Underworld Goddess of argument, justice, good counsel, divine law, order, retribution and secrecy
, member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais
, image = LAIKHULEMPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption ...
( omp, Laikhulempi) to go with his brother Chingkhong Poireiton on a long trip. Poireiton was a
widower
A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died.
Terminology
The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can s ...
; his wife had died, and he had six children to raise and also had to go to the
Tai Pang Pan. King Thongalel thought his brother needed a wife to go with him on their trip. However, Queen Laikhurembi did not want to go. She said she was already the king's wife. Trees had already been planted in her honor because she and the king had lived together for a very long time. So, instead of Queen Laikhurembi, King Thongalel sent his second wife,
Leinaotabi
)
, deity_of = Goddess of charm, magic, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = LAINAOTAPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Lainaotapi", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of the g ...
, to go with Poireiton and be his wife.
In the Pombi Luwaoba
Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was a prince in the
Luwang
Luwang is one of the seven clans of the Meitei people. Luwang consists of several Yumnaks which are native peoples of ancient Kangleipak (now Manipur), one of the States of India.
Origin
Luwang was the son of Iputhou Pakhangba also known as K ...
dynasty. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba and his wife Namoinu were happy. Then she died suddenly. She died because of the God Thongalel. Prince Pombi Luwaoba refused to perform the
funeral of her dead body. He hoped the God Thongalel would send her
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...
back into her body so she would be alive again. God Thongalel received a message from the prince through a
pheasant
Pheasants ( ) are birds of several genera within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera native range is restricted to Eurasia ...
bird. The message said that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba was ready to fight God Thongalel if he did not send Namoinu's soul back. This made the God Thongalel angry. He sent two of his brothers, but Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba beat them both. He took them prisoner. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba sent the pheasant bird with another message to God Thongalel. The message said that if the God wanted to get back his brothers alive, then he had to sent back the soul of Namoinu to her body.
Finally, God Thongalel came to meet Prince Pombi Luwaoba himself. But instead of fighting, the prince prayed to the God Himself. God Thongalel was happy that Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba showed him respect. Thongalel brought Namoinu back to life. He also gave her a gift: She would live for 100 years and have 100 sons.
Hymns
The Meitei people in ancient times, worshipped the deity along with a hymn, which reads as follows:-
Texts
* According to ancient Meitei chronicle "Poireiton Khunthok", a band of colonists led by Poireiton came from the land of death, whose king was Lord Thongaren.
* According to ancient Meitei chronicle "Nongban Pombi Luwaoba", there was a conflict between Nongban Pombi Luwaoba and a messenger of Thongaren and subsequent reconciliation with Lord Thongaren himself.
Association with other deities
God Thongalen is sometimes identified as God
Wangpurel ( omp, Wangpulel). Thongalen is the King of underworld. Wangpurel reigns over the direction south. Some
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 ...
believe that the direction south is the land of death. So, when 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 ...
got converted into
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
, both Thongalen and Wangpulel became counterparts of Hindu God
Yama
Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...
.
See also
*
Nongpok Ningthou
)
, deity_of = Sovereign of the East Guardian God of the Eastern Direction
, member_of = Maikei Ngaakpa Lais and Umang Lais
, image = NONGPOK NINGTHOU.jpg
, alt =
, caption = "Nongpok Ningthou", the name of t ...
*
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 ...
References
{{Sanamahi1
Arts deities
Arts gods
Death deities
Death gods
Fortune deities
Fortune gods
Justice deities
Justice gods
Kings in Meitei mythology
Life-death-rebirth deities
Life-death-rebirth gods
Liminal deities
Liminal gods
Love and lust deities
Love and lust gods
Magic deities
Magic gods
Maintenance deities
Maintenance gods
Meitei gods and goddesses
Names of God in Sanamahism
Nature deities
Nature gods
Ningthou
Peace deities
Peace gods
Savior deities
Savior gods
Time and fate deities
Time and fate gods
Underworld deities
Underworld gods