Sanamahism

Sanamahism
	Ema Khunthok-haanbi, Guardian of Thangmeiband Area (Manipur, India)
Total population
	approx.235,000
Regions with significant populations
	Manipur, India
Scriptures
	Puya / written in Meitei Mayek (Manipuri)

Sanamahism or Sanamahi Laining refers to the traditional Meitei beliefs and religion found in the northeastern Indian states near Myanmar. The term is derived from Sanamahi, one of the important Meitei deities. According to Bertil Lintner, Sanamahism is an "animistic, ancestor worshipping, shaman-led tradition".^[2]

Sanamahism is practiced by the Meitei, Zeliangrong and other communities who inhabit Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Myanmar and Bangladesh, with small migrant populations in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

Revival

According to 2011 census, about eight percent of Manipur belong to religions stated as 'other'.

Religion in Manipur is thought to have passed through three stages.^[3]

Form of worship

In assimilate features such as the worship of forces of nature like fire, water, mountain, ancestor worship (Apokpa), Lamlai (Outdoor Dwelling Gods and Goddesses), Yumlai (House dwelling Gods and Goddesses), Ningthoulai (King God) and Umanglai (Forest Dwelling God). Religion of antiquity – in its pure native form, it is as all as the history of Meetei/Meitei people from the time immemorial.

Deities

There is reference to the worship of Sanamahi by Ningthou (King) Kangba in the Hayi age. Manipur is a polytheistic land with Atiya Sidaba as the supreme god. Atiya Sidaba, Apaanba and Asheeba are the three manifestations or incarnations of God as the creator, the preserver and the annihilator of this universe respectively.

Panthoibi is the Mother of the Universe and Nongpok Ningthou is her mate.^[4] Besides those, three hundred and sixty-four deities with their consorts are the most important deities worshipped by the Meiteis.

The Plain Kabui are observed in worship of Sanamahi and Ima Leimarel.^[5]

Sanamahi (also known as Asheeba) has a creator brother (like him) named Paakhangba (Konjin Tukthapa).^[6]

Some of the important gods and goddesses worshiped by the Meiteis are:^{[citation needed]}

Shidaba Mapu (Immortal Owner)
Lainingthou Sanamahi (Supreme God of the Household Gods and Goddesses)
Ebudhou Paakhangba (Younger Brother of Lainingthou Sanamahi and the Ruler of the outside world)
Ima Leimarel Sidabi
Apokpa (Prime Ancestor God and Goddess, different according to different surnames)
Ebendhou Emoinu (Goddess of prosperity, wealth and kitchen)
Ema Panthoibi (goddess of valor and battle)
Yumjao Lairembi (Household Goddess)
Ema Phouoibi (Goddess of Bounty)
Ebudhou Marjing (God of sports and also the protector of North-East Direction)
Ebudhou Thangjing (God of power and also the protector of South-West Direction)
Ebudhou Wangbrel (God of rain, death and also the protector of South-East Direction)(Kumar 2004, 92)
Ebudhou Koubru (God of strength and also the protector of North-West Direction)

They also worshipped the Umanglais (forest dwelling gods and goddesses). Umanglais are the protectors, preservers of their corresponding areas/localities which includes houses, fields, welfare of the people, etc. In short, the Umanglais are the guardians of the outer world of the people and also these gods and goddesses are associated with each and every doings of the people in day-to-day life. Hence, They are considerrd to be very powerful.

Some of the Umanglais are:^{[citation needed]}

Lainingthou Nongshaaba
Lainingthou Puthiba
Lainingthou Awaangba
Lainingthou Marjing
Lainingthou Khoiriphaaba
Ema Khunthok-haanbi
Ema Haoreima Sampubi
Ema Eereima
Ekop Ningthou
Thoubal Ningthou
Ema Kondong Lairembi
Nongpok Ningthou
Langol Ningthou
Ema Langol Lairembi
Ebudhou Naothingkhong Paakhangba
Ebudhou Khamlaangba
Ebudhou Oknarel
Ebudhou Thangnarel
Ebudhou Yangoiningthou

The title "Lainingthou" refers to the incarnation from Lainingthou Sanamahi and the title "Ebudhou" refers to the incarnation from Ebudhou Paakhangba.

Offerings

Meiteis offer praying to the household gods and goddesses twice a day, once at dawn and once at dusk. They offer incense sticks/burner and candles/meiraa along with flowers and water.

Devout Meiteis offer food at sacred spots daily to the goddess of kitchen and prosperity, Ebendhou Emoinu.^[7]

References

^ 2001 Census
^ Bertil Lintner (2015). Great Game East: India, China, and the Struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier. Yale University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-300-19567-5.
^ P. 199 Social Movements in North-East India By Mahendra Narain Karna
^ P. 4290 Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature By various
^ People of India By Kumar Suresh Singh, S. B. Roy, Asok K. Ghosh
^ P. 82 A History of Manipuri Literature By Ch Manihar Singh
^ P. 62 Feminism in a traditional society by Manjusri Chaki-Sircar

Bibliography

Kshetrimayum, Otojit (2014), Ritual, Politics and Power in North East India: Contextualising the Lai Haraoba of Manipur, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-50-8
Hodson, T.C. (2015), The Meitheis, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-56-0
Singh, Dr. Saikhom Gopal (2015), The Meeteis of Manipur: A Study in Human Geography, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-21-8
Singh, Dr. Saikhom Gopal (2015), Population Geography of Manipur, Ruby Press & Co., ISBN 978-93-82395-25-6

[1] 2001 Census

[2] Bertil Lintner (2015). Great Game East: India, China, and the Struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier. Yale University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-300-19567-5.

[3] P. 199 Social Movements in North-East India By Mahendra Narain Karna

[4] P. 4290 Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature By various

[5] People of India By Kumar Suresh Singh, S. B. Roy, Asok K. Ghosh

[6] P. 82 A History of Manipuri Literature By Ch Manihar Singh

[7] P. 62 Feminism in a traditional society by Manjusri Chaki-Sircar

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