Maikei Ngaakpa Lai

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A Maikei Ngaakpa Lai is a member of the Guardian deities ("Ngaakpa Lai"s) of the ten directions ("Maikei"s) in Meitei mythology and religion. The foremost of them are Marjing (Malching), Thangjing (Thangching), Koubru (Koupalu) and Wangbren (Wangpulel).^[1]

Four Major Directions[edit]

The deities who guard the four directions are as follows:

Koupalu[edit]

Koupalu (ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ) or Koubru (ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ) is the Guardian of the North West direction. He is the patron of the Mount Koubru in Northern Manipur.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Marjing[edit]

Marjing (ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡ) or Malching (ꯃꯥꯜꯆꯤꯡ) is the Guardian of the North East direction. Besides, he is the inventor of the Sagol Kangjei, a primitive form of modern polo, and Meitei horse. He rides on Samadon Ayangba, a mythical winged horse.^[5]

Thangching[edit]

Thangjing (ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ) or Thangching (ꯊꯥꯡꯆꯤꯡ) is the Guardian of the South West direction.^[6] Besides, he is the patron deity of the Ancient Moirang.^[7]^[8]

Wangpulel[edit]

Wangpulel (ꯋꯥꯡꯄꯨꯂꯦꯜ) or Wangbren (ꯋꯥꯡꯕ꯭ꯔꯦꯟ) is the Guardian of the South East direction. Besides, he is the deity of underwater world and disaster.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Four Cardinal Directions[edit]

Kounu[edit]

Kounu (ꯀꯧꯅꯨ) is the Guardian of the Northern direction. She is the goddess who dwells in the snows of far north. She is the consort of Koupalu and the mother of Loyalakpa.^[12]

Lok Ningthou[edit]

Lok Ningthou (ꯂꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ) is the Guardian of the Southern direction. Little is known or mentioned about him in the legends.

Loyalakpa[edit]

Loyalakpa (ꯂꯣꯌꯥꯂꯥꯛꯄ) or Loyarakpa (ꯂꯣꯌꯥꯔꯥꯛꯄ) is the Guardian of the Western direction. He is the only son of Koupalu and Kounu. He is best known for having a divine wrestling match with Khoriphaba.^[13]

Nongpok Ningthou[edit]

Nongpok Ningthou (ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ) is the Guardian of the Eastern direction. He is the patron of the Nongmaiching Hill in Eastern Manipur.^[14]

Two Extra directions[edit]

There are two extra directions, which are zenith (upwards) and nadir (downwards). The two deities are:

Salailen[edit]

Salailen Sitapa (ꯁꯂꯥꯏꯂꯦꯟ ꯁꯤꯇꯄ) is the Guardian of the upward direction. Besides, he is the king of gods and the ruler of heaven.^[15]

Thongalel[edit]

Thongalel (ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ) is the Guardian of the downwards direction. Besides, he is the god of the death and the ruler of the underworld kingdom.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]

References[edit]

[1] ttp://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html

[2] ttp://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#koubru

[3] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=lDFy8Q9d0J0C&q=koubru+deity&dq=koubru+deity&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj78Oytpv3uAhWIbn0KHT4VCekQ6AEwA3oECAYQAw

[4] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=NkMwAQAAIAAJ&q=koubru+deity&dq=koubru+deity&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5qayNp_3uAhXMfX0KHWeqAXA4ChDoATAGegQIBBAD

[5] ttp://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#marjing

[6] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=Qs4BAAAAMAAJ&q=thangjing&dq=thangjing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi91vGU4vruAhXLIbcAHRhBBKEQ6AEwCXoECAEQAw

[7] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=vDduAAAAMAAJ&q=thangjing&dq=thangjing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi91vGU4vruAhXLIbcAHRhBBKEQ6AEwBnoECAkQAw

[8] ttp://www.manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#thangjing

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

[10] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=qtWAAAAAMAAJ&q=wangbren&dq=wangbren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-mOminvvuAhW2ILcAHYGsCaMQ6AEwBXoECAcQAw

[11] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=F1luAAAAMAAJ&q=wangbren&dq=wangbren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-mOminvvuAhW2ILcAHYGsCaMQ6AEwBHoECAMQAw

[12] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?redir_esc=y&id=GmZuAAAAMAAJ&dq=kounu+leima&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=kounu+leima+koubru+

[13] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=9jtuAAAAMAAJ&q=loyarakpa&dq=loyarakpa&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiS8aajkeHuAhWObisKHeGBCOoQ6AEwAnoECAQQAg

[14] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=WEQqAAAAYAAJ&q=nongpok+ningthou&dq=nongpok+ningthou&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx9diRpfruAhUZOSsKHUy5AhAQ6AEwA3oECAEQAw

[15] ttp://manipuri.itgo.com/the_lais.html#mapu

[16] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=S_4dAAAAMAAJ&q=thongaren&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0tr727_XuAhWDc30KHTvbDkMQ6AEwAHoECAMQAw

[17] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=w577ssi6CTAC&pg=PT39&dq=thongaren&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPmOao8PXuAhVUU30KHYGDD_U4ChDoATADegQICBAD#v=onepage&q=thongaren%20death&f=false

[18] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=9t47AAAAIAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death

[19] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death

[20] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=LvRtAAAAMAAJ&dq=thongarel&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=thongarel+death

[21] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=TPiAAAAAMAAJ&dq=Thongaren&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Thongaren+land+death

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