Meitei mythology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:41, 17 July 2021

The tableau of Manipur presenting mythological figures from the Meitei mythology, in New Delhi

Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology is a body of traditional legendary myths pertaining to the origin and the religious systems of Ancient Manipur (Ancient Kangleipak), generally retold by the Meitei ethnicity.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Meitei mythology may also references to the modern analysis of the representation of the literature and art of the culture of the Meitei people.^[5] The Meiteis usually treated their mythology as history even though it includes supernatural or mythical or miraculous elements.^[6]^[7]

Source texts

A Meitei manuscript on account of the mythological origin of the human beings

There are sources from both the manuscript as well as oral folklore in ancient kingdom of Kangleipak (present day Manipur). The so-called manuscripts are known as Puya (Meitei texts), which are the original accounts on the religious themes as well as historical events of the Meitei literature. Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, Sanamahi Laihui and Numit Kappa the most prestigious Puya (Meitei texts) in the Kanglei Meitei mythology.

Deities

The Kanglei Meitei deities, are always associated with the Meitei religion, which has been in existence since ancient times in the Kanglei World. The traditional culture and folklore is inherited by the Meitei people from their primitive ancestors till present.

The primary deities in the mythology are:

Atiya Guru Sidaba: He is the Creator God of the entire universe, and the sole breeder of all the living beings.^[8]
Sanamahi: He is the Guardian God of the mankind and the household. He created the human beings in the figure of the Almighty.^[9]
Pakhangba: He is the destroyer and the ruler of the universe. He can assume both human as well as serpentine figure.^[10]
Leimarel Sidabi: She is the supreme mother earth goddess and the consort of the creator God.^[11]
Emoinu: She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Legend says she's an exact copy of Leimarel, who takes another divine form.

In addition to these, the mythology also accounts for the vast numbers of deities as well as mythical creatures. The Kanglei Meitei mythical creatures are found in the vast narratives of both the PuYas as well as Meetei folklore.

References

[1] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=_HmwAAAAIAAJ&q=meitei+myth&dq=meitei+myth&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYtJbYvuLuAhX17HMBHe9CBhgQ6AEwCXoECAkQAg

[2] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=p1cOAAAAIAAJ&dq=meitei+myth&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Manipuri+myths

[3] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=AoECgkZ0Wu0C&q=meitei+mythology&dq=meitei+mythology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLydm4vuLuAhUOgdgFHaKKAmc4ChDoATAHegQIAhAC

[4] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=WEQqAAAAYAAJ&q=manipuri+mythology&dq=manipuri+mythology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiN_MrEp_XuAhXVlEsFHYlvAukQ6AEwBHoECAYQAw

[5] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=AoECgkZ0Wu0C&q=meitei+mythology&dq=meitei+mythology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLydm4vuLuAhUOgdgFHaKKAmc4ChDoATAHegQIAhAC

[6] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=_HmwAAAAIAAJ&q=meitei+myth&dq=meitei+myth&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYtJbYvuLuAhX17HMBHe9CBhgQ6AEwCXoECAkQAg

[7] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=p1cOAAAAIAAJ&dq=meitei+myth&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Manipuri+myths

[8] "The Manipuri Lais". manipuri.itgo.com. Retrieved Mar 1, 2021.

[9] ttp://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#sanamahi

[auto1-10] "The Manipuri Lais". manipuri.itgo.com. Retrieved Mar 1, 2021.

[11] "The Manipuri Lais". manipuri.itgo.com. Retrieved Mar 1, 2021.

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 == Source texts ==
 {{Main|PuYa}}
-[[File:PuYa_1.jpg|thumb|right|[[PuYa|A Meitei manuscript]] on account of the mythological origin of the human beings]]
+[[File:PuYa_1.jpg|thumb|[[PuYa|A Meitei manuscript]] on account of the mythological origin of the human beings]]
 There are sources from both the manuscript as well as oral folklore in ancient kingdom of [[Kangleipak]] (present day [[Manipur]]). The so-called manuscripts are known as [[Puya (Meitei texts)]], which are the original accounts on the religious themes as well as historical events of the [[Meitei literature]]. [[Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya]], [[Sanamahi Laihui]] and [[Numit Kappa]] the most prestigious [[Puya (Meitei texts)]] in the Kanglei Meitei mythology.
+== Deities ==
+{{Main|Lists of deities in Sanamahism|Sanamahi creation myth}}
+The Kanglei Meitei deities, are always associated with the [[Meitei religion]], which has been in existence since ancient times in the [[Kangleipak|Kanglei World]]. The traditional culture and folklore is inherited by the [[Meitei people]] from their primitive ancestors till present.
+[[File:The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg|thumb|right|The symbol of [[Sanamahism]]]]
+The primary deities in the mythology are:
+* [[Atingkok Maru Sidaba|Atiya Guru Sidaba]]: He is the [[Creator God]] of the entire universe, and the sole breeder of all the living beings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#mapu|title=The Manipuri Lais|website=manipuri.itgo.com|accessdate=Mar 1, 2021}}</ref>
+* [[Lainingthou Sanamahi|Sanamahi]]: He is the Guardian God of the mankind and the household. He created the human beings in the figure of the Almighty.<ref>http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#sanamahi</ref>
+* [[Pakhangba]]: He is the [[destroyer]] and the ruler of the universe. He can assume both human as well as serpentine figure.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#pakhangba|title=The Manipuri Lais|website=manipuri.itgo.com|accessdate=Mar 1, 2021}}</ref>
+* [[Leimarel Sidabi]]: She is the supreme mother earth goddess and the consort of the creator God.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#leimaren|title=The Manipuri Lais|website=manipuri.itgo.com|accessdate=Mar 1, 2021}}</ref>
+* [[Emoinu]]: She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Legend says she's an exact copy of Leimarel, who takes another divine form.
+In addition to these, the mythology also accounts for the vast numbers of deities as well as mythical creatures. The [[Lists of Creatures in Meitei Folklore|Kanglei Meitei mythical creatures]] are found in the vast narratives of both the [[PuYa]]s as well as [[Meetei folklore]].
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}