Sanamahists

Sanamahists

The five classical elements of fire, water, air, earth and ether/space, depicted in the holy and sacred symbol of the Sanamahists
An artwork depicting a group of Sanamahists attending a religious ceremony
Regions with significant populations
India, Bangladesh and Myanmar
Religions
Sanamahism
Scriptures
Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya and other PuYas
Languages
Liturgical: Amailon (ritualistic),[1][2][3] Classical Meitei (literary) Spoken: Meitei/Manipuri, Kabui/Rongmei, Maring, Chothe, English
Related ethnic groups
Meitei Hindus, Meitei Christians, Meitei Muslims

Sanamahists^[4] or Sanamahi Chatpa (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯆꯠꯄ; transl. Sanamahi followers)^[5] or Sanamahi Laining Chatpa^[6] (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ ꯆꯠꯄ; transl. Sanamahi religion followers) are the people who regard themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously related to the aspects of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion, originated from Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). The term is mainly used by the Meitei people and many indigenous ethnic communities of Manipur, who follow the traditions of their ancestral religious cultural heritage.^[7][8][9][4] They are also known as Sanamahi Manai (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯃꯅꯥꯏ), which literally means "the subject of Sanamahi" or "the servitor of Sanamahi" in devotional and worshipping tone.^[10]

Sanamahists are accepted within the broader Meitei religious landscape, with the majority of Meitei Hindus described as “half-Sanamahists.” Scholars often compare this relationship to the coexistence of Buddhism and Shinto in Japan, where individuals may participate in multiple religious traditions.^[11]

Demographics

Society and culture

The Sanamahist population of the Meitei, Kabui, Maring, and Chothe ethnic communities celebrate the holy and sacred festival of Mera Chaorel Houba, in the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, as well as in the Kangla. They worship Atingkok Maru Sidaba, Yaibirel Sanamahi, and other Umang Lai gods and goddesses.^[29]

The Sanamahist sections of these four communities namely Meitei, Kabui, Maring and Chothe groups, were also notably known for worshipping God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi, celebrating the new year day on the Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba.^{[25][26][27][28]}

In 2023, the Kabui people established a religious institution named "Kabui Loishang" (also spelled as "Kabui Loisang") under the jurisdiction of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, Imphal, with the participation of Kabui Customary Council, Kabui Women Organisation, Kabui Union Manipur, Kabui Students Association, Kabui Youth Wing. The religious body looks after the Sanamahist activities of the Kabui ethnicity, including the rites of passage, from birth ceremony to death ceremony.^[30][31]

Organizations

• International Sanamahism Students' Association^[32][33][34]
• Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB)^[35][36][37]
• Lainingthou Sanamahi Puya Santhok Lup (LSPSL)^[38][39][40]
• Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak (LSSP)^{[41][42][43][44]}
• Kabui Loishang (alias "Kabui Loisang")^[30][31]

Notable Sanamahists

• Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the first ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty to sit on the throne of the Kangla, who is deified and often syncretised with the cult of serpentine dragon deity Pakhangba
• Laininghan Naoriya Phulo, an Indian religious revivalist
• Maharaja Okendrajit, the then King of Manipur, converted to Sanamahism from Meitei Hinduism in his reign. So, the royal Meitei Hindu temple (Govindaji Temple) separated from the palace (Sana Konung) and established a managing trust of its own.^[45]

• Sougrakpam Hemanta and Yumnam Nilachandra, the two Indian actors converted on 16th of April, 2021.^[46]

• Laishram Rangilal and Logjam Rajen, the two Indian comedians converted on 21st of April, 2022.^[47][48]

See also

• Ancient Meitei literature
• Ancient Meitei hymns
• Meitei ritual songs
• Chang Thokpa
• Nachom
• Ngamu Usin
• Nongkhong Koiba
• Paklei Namsa
• Meitei deities
• Meitei festivals
• Meitei calendar
• Meitei astronomy
• Leichillon
• Meitei Christians
• Meitei Hindus

References