List of deities in Sanamahism

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Template:Sanamahism Sanamahism (Meitei religion) is a polytheistic religion with thousands of deities, gods and goddesses of varying power, quality, features, and character.

Symbol of Sanamahism

The religion originated in the Kingdom of Manipur, and is still practiced in modern Manipur, India, distinct from both the Indosphere and the Sinosphere.

The following is a list of deities, gods, goddesses, demigods, mortals, immortals and a few mythical creatures. This does not include the full list of mythical creatures of ancient Meitei folklore, for which see List of creatures in Meitei folklore.

Main deities[edit]

There are five main deities in the ancient Meitei religion and Meitei mythology, namely:

Asheeba - He's the Guardian God and the protector of mankind. He is also known as Sanamahi.^[1]
Apanba - He's the Supreme ruler of the universe and the destroyer of evils. He's also known as Pakhangba.^[2]
Atingkok - He's the Creator of the Universe. He's also known as Atiya Sidaba.^[3]
Leimarel Sidabi - Supreme Goddess, mother earth.^[4]
Imoinu Ahongbi - Goddess of Wealth,^[5] she is also an Incarnation of Goddess Leimarel Sidabi

Among them, Lainingthou Sanamahi, Leimarel Sidabi and Imoinu Ahongbi are the household deities worshipped.

Atingkok[edit]

The creator of Universe in Sanamahism is believed to be Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba, father of Lainingthou Sanamahi and Pakhangba.^[6]

Lainingthou[edit]

The term "Lainingthou" literally means King of Gods or the Divine King and it is applied to various deities such as Lainingthou Khoriphaba, Lainingthou Soraren, etc. However, it is generally used to refer Lainingthou Sanamahi.^[7]

Pakhangba[edit]

There are several serpent deities in the pantheon. However, the supreme mosy one is Lord Pakhangba.^[8]

Pakhangba, the serpent deity

Pakhangba Temple, Kangla

Shayon (incarnations)[edit]

Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme goddess has incarnated several times in various divine forms with diverse attributes.

Goddesses	Romanization	Attributes
ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯑꯍꯣꯡꯕꯤ	Imoinu Ahongbi^[9]	Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ	Panthoibi^[10]	Goddess of war, wisdom and courage.
ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯢꯕꯤ	Phouoibi	Goddess of paddy, harvest and bounty.
ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ	Ereima	Goddess of water
ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ - ꯉꯥꯔꯩꯃ	Nga Leima or Ngareima	Goddess of fish
ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ	Thumleima	Goddess of salt
ꯅꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ	Nongthang Leima	Goddess of charm, music, seduction, thunder and lightning.
ꯄꯤꯊꯥꯢ ꯈꯣꯡꯗꯥꯢꯕꯤ	Pithai Khongdaibi	Goddess of motherhood
ꯍꯤꯀꯨꯕꯤ ꯌꯥꯢꯀꯨꯕꯤ	Hikubi Yaikubi	Goddess of gems.
ꯁꯤꯜꯔꯩꯃ - ꯁꯤꯜꯂꯩꯃ	Silreima or Silleima	Goddess of work and occupation.

Related deities[edit]

Celestial maidens[edit]

In Meitei mythology, there are seven prominent celestial maidens, which are referred to as either goddesses or nymphs.

Lai Nuraa Taret[edit]

The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven goddesses or "Lai Nuraa Taret ", the creation of the Lord Atingkok Maru Sidaba. They are the consorts of Lord Pakhangba and are the mothers of the seven clans, one for each.

Helloi Taret[edit]

The seven celestial maidens are considered as seven nymphs or "Helloi Taret ", who are the daughters of the Sky God Soraren. They are then believed to be spinsters.

Apokpa (ancestral deities)[edit]

In ancient Meitei religion, the ancestral deities of every families and clans were called Apokpa. They are worshipped by their respective families (Yumnak) and clans (Yek Salai).^[11]

According to T.C. Hodson's book The Meitheis, the Meitei people are the only people who have a tradition of worshipping their ancestral deities in Manipur.^[12]

Dragons in Meitei mythology[edit]

The following is a list of a few dragons of Meitei mythology:

Dragon Deities	Description
Pakhangba	He's the Great dragon Lord of the universe.^[13]
Kangla Sha	He's the Protector of the Kangla Palace.
Lord Khamlangba	He's a cousin of Lord Pakhangba.
Salailen Sidaba	He's the Creator of the Universe, father of Lord Pakhangba. He can assume both human as well as dragon figures.^[14]
Nongshaba	He's a lion like dragon God, cousin of Lord Pakhangba.
Loktak Maru Sidaba	He's the great dragon of the Loktak lake.
Samurou Lakpa	He's a form of Lord Pakhangba.
Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba	Dragon Lord of the ancient Moirang kingdom.
Tangja Leela Pakhangba	The primitive ruler of the Kanglei world.
Nongda Lairel Pakhangba	The great dragon Lord and the ruler of the Kangleipak kingdom.

Planet deities[edit]

According to a PuYa "Khenchonglol" (literally meaning, study of Heavenly bodies, Planets, Celestial bodies in the Ningthou Turel or Milky Way Galaxy of the Universe), there are nine Planets which are considered as deities. Even the Sun and the Moon are considered as planets in Meitei Philosophy.^[15] They are as follows:

Deities	Roman equivalent
Nongmaiching	Sun
Ningthoukaba	Moon
Leipakpokpa	Mars
Yumsakeisa	Mercury
Sagolsen	Jupiter
Irai	Venus
Thangja	Saturn
Shakok	Uranus
Shamei	Neptune

Star deities[edit]

According to Khenchonglol, there are twenty seven stars which are referred to as deities, out of which the constellation Orion is the most significant.^[16] They are as follows:

Sajik (Arietis)
Thaba (Musca)
Khongjom Nubi (Pleiades)
Apaknga (Lunar, pauri, masion)
Sachung Telheiba (A Orionis)
Likla Saphaba (Orion)
Chingcharoibi (G Geminorum)
Chungshennubi (Cancer)

Umang Lai[edit]

There are more than 365 forest deities or "Umang Lai" in Sanamahism. They are always associated with a Sacred grove each in Kanglei World. The term Umang Lai is also used to refer to the sacred abodes of the deities. Some of the significant ones are:

Nongshaba - The highest deity associated with Sacred grove or "Umang Lai" in Sanamahism.
Konthoujam Lairembi gi Khubam
Ebudhou Khamlangba
Ima Khunthok Hanbi
Hiyangthang Lairembi
Ima Langol Lairembi
Langol Ningthou
Thanga Ching Ningthou
Ipathakok
Ikop Ningthou
Laininthou Naothingkhong Pakhangba
Ima Tamphaton Petangaa

Directional gods[edit]

In Meitei religion and mythology, there are ten directions in Meitei philosophy, for which there are ten deities who are the protectors and the guardians of the respective directions.^{[citation needed]}

Deities	Directions
Marjing	North East
Thangjing	South West
Koubru	North West
Wangbren	South East
Kounu	North
Nongpok Ningthou	East
Lok Ningthou	South
Loya Lakpa	West
Salailen Sidaba	Zenith
Thongalel	Nadir

Local deities[edit]

River goddesses[edit]

There are various river goddesses worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism. The main rivers associated with these goddesses originated from Manipur.

Some of them are as follows:

Thongjarok Lairembi of Thongjaorok River
Iril Lairembi of Iril River
Imphal Turel Lairembi of Imphal River
Kongba Turel Lairembi of Kongba River

Lake goddesses[edit]

There are various Lake Goddesses worshipped by the followers of Sanamahism, considering the spirits as the guardian and protector of the periphery region of the lake. Some of the deities are:

Loktak Lairembi of Loktak Lake
Pumlenpat Lairembi of Pumlenpat Lake

Market goddesses[edit]

People worshipped one goddess for each market area considering the spirit of the goddess as the protector, guardian of the region. Some of the goddesses are as follows: